BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - There's been an increase in thefts of packages during the holiday season and officials believe it will only increase over the next week and a half.
"Overall in 2020, there's been an over 50% increase in retail packages and residential package theft being reported compared to 2019," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said about Buffalo. "I suspect a lot of those have occurred over the past month or so due to the holiday shopping. In Cheektowaga, there's been an over 50% increase in packages being stolen."
Buffalo had 231 reported thefts in 2019 and 358 reported this year. Packages are being stolen in Amherst, Hamburg, and other suburban areas of the county.
Flynn said he is worried about the next week and a half because of Christmas deadlines. That's why he's recommending that you be home when there's a delivery, ask a neighbor to hold the package until you return, leave a note on your door requesting the package be left somewhere more safe on your property, opt for curbside pickup instead of delivery, and purchase a doorbell camera to monitor when your package arrives.
"These doorbell cameras are indispensable," Flynn said. "They are a phenomenal piece of evidence for us to use in crimes. Not only for larceny crimes but crimes in general. These doorbell cameras can sometimes show the entire street in front of their house going out a number of feet from their front porch. I highly recommend these doorbell cameras."
Flynn said his office will prosecute those caught stealing packages. Charges include grand larceny, petit larceny, and criminal possesion of stolen property.