--- title: NASA Engineer Makes Glitter Bomb to Thwart Package Thieves description: NASA engineer Mark Rober came up with a sparkly way to thwart would-be thieves trying to steal packages from his doorstep. canonical: https://time.com/5483076/nasa-engineer-glitter-bomb-package-thieves/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-12-18T19:08:43.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:56:31.210Z og:title: NASA Engineer Makes Glitter Bomb to Thwart Package Thieves og:description: Surprise! og:url: https://time.com/5483076/nasa-engineer-glitter-bomb-package-thieves/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda7f491d588a76d1/698941cfdb298749a92617c1/glitter-bomb-package-thief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: 2018 Happy New Year background Multicoloured glitter og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: NASA Engineer Makes Glitter Bomb to Thwart Package Thieves twitter:description: Surprise! twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda7f491d588a76d1/698941cfdb298749a92617c1/glitter-bomb-package-thief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # NASA Engineer Came Up With a Sparkly Way to Thwart Package Thieves > Sponsored content. 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There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d0be5b6-6ecd-40cd-968c-e72bdce12d73&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1)  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Dec 18, 2018 7:08 PM UTC  mikroman6—Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Dec 18, 2018 7:08 PM UTC A resourceful [NASA engineer](http://time.com/5458488/international-space-station-20-years-anniversary/) used both his industry expertise and some clever creativity to thwart thieves stealing packages from his porch. Mark Rober, an engineer for NASA, came up with a sparkling, ingenius solution to stop bandits with [a glitter bomb disguised as a parcel](http://time.com/3665913/glitter-enemies-website/). In a YouTube video, Rober demonstrates what happens when a would-be thief attempts to steal what looks like an Apple Home Pod delivered to his home; when the package is opened, it sprays fine glitter everywhere and repeatedly distributes fart-scented spray in the air. The design took 6 months to develop and uses GPS technology, four cameras and lots of super fine glitter, among other tools. A note to would-be package thieves: you might want to think twice before taking a package from Rober or others — it could lead to your demise via lots of shiny, sparkling glitter. 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