The article mentioned tear gas canisters be equipped instead. I can't wait for a delivery robot to be near my property, someone tries to mess with it and gets gassed, then I get to enjoy tear gas as well from my front porch.
I'm assuming the canisters would only be released if the door is forced open. I highly doubt it's going to activate a few slightly knock it I mean hell, those things drive into lamp posts on occasion.
With the care and attention tech companies give to the safety of their devices, I can definitely see it spraying someone unintended. Probably even the person it was delivering to. Any company sensible enough to properly implement this likely will finder better less potentially dangerous solutions to the problem. This idea stinks of someone who gave it 5 minutes of thought and wants it implemented as quickly as possible.
Interesting hand to play: stealing food from a robot is equivalent to any severity of criminal act. Let's talk again after licking some more of that trippy boot.