It’s that time of the year again. Package thefts are on the rise.
Many residents nowadays have invested in doorbell cameras, but oftentimes even that isn’t enough to stop porch pirates.
According to local U.S. Postal Inspector George Clark, an uptick in complaints is common around the holiday season. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to track down a suspect and a package once it’s already been stolen.
Clark said thousands of theft complaints are investigated every year. He recommends taking steps to be proactive about your deliveries.
“I would suggest if you live in a place where you can have an item delivered to a back door or side door," he said, "that might not be a bad idea to instruct the delivery personnel to, rather than drop something on the front porch, to drop it somewhere where it’s less visible."
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“You can also create some sort of barrier, whether it’s plantings or something, furniture on a porch, that makes what you have on that porch less visible, because a lot of parcel thefts are a crime of opportunity.”
That means if your delivery is in sight, it’s also at risk.
“If someone’s walking down the street or driving down the street and they don’t see a parcel, they’re not going to bother,” Clark said. “If they see they see it and it’s a clear line of sight … it just makes it easier.”
You can communicate specific instructions with delivery personnel too, either when you place your order or via a note on the door so your packages aren’t left unattended.
If possible, try sending your packages to your place of work or a family member or neighbor’s house, where you know someone will be home.
Also, check your area for private mailbox options, including P.O. Box services that usually work for a small cost.
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If your package is taken, it’s best to contact the retailer and then file a complaint online with the U.S. Postal Service. The latter step is just as important.
“If there is a trend in an area, that can only be identified through complaints,” Clark said. “Stuff might kind of bubble to the top. Suspects might be identified, something of particular uniqueness might be stolen. That helps identify who stole it. Those things are helpful."
“If you don’t complain, we’ll never know. So please complain.”
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