Deter package thieves with glitter bombs and fart spray
The era of online shopping has created a new type of criminal: the package thief. Companies and shoppers alike are working diligently to find solutions to this ever-increasing problem, from enhanced home security to locked storage containers that can only be accessed by delivery people. YouTuber Mark Rober, however, created an ingenious solution by combining his passion for engineering and his love of “Home Alone.” After six months of designing and prototyping, Mark created a bait package that, when opened, covers the thief in 1 lb. of glitter while spraying fart gas every 30 seconds. The bait package even records the reactions of the criminals. In a recent video, Mark shares details of how he engineered this marvelous prank, as well as footage of several thieves getting their comeuppance. Kevin McCallister would be proud.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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