SCPD Tips to Prevent Package Theft From Your Porch

Online holiday shopping has many of us have ordering gifts for friends and loved ones.  Packages are being delivered by the truckload on front porches numerous homes in the Santa Cruz.

Packages that are left unattended make for easy targets for criminals. These thefts commonly occur during normal working hours, since many people are not at home. This is a crime that occurs in virtually community in our country.

 

Image: www.august.com 

SCPD recommendations to avoid becoming a victim of package theft:
1. If your employer will allow it, have packages delivered to your office.
2. Request that the shipper hold your package at their pick-up facility so you can pick it up in person at your convenience.
3. Have packages delivered to a place where they can be received in person, such as the home of a trusted neighbor who stays home during the day, or a retired relative.
4. If purchasing something from a large retailer, request that your package be delivered to a local branch of the store so you can pick it up in person at your convenience.
5. Request a specific delivery date and time from the shipper when you know you will be home.
6. Provide delivery instructions to the shipper so that packages can be left at a safe location at your home that is out of sight from the street.
7. Sign up for delivery alerts (text messages or e-mails) from the shipper; call a trusted neighbor when the packages are delivered, and ask them to take the packages inside for safekeeping until you get home.
8. Request that the shipper require a signature confirmation upon delivery; this will prevent your package from being left at an unattended home.
9. Check out other secure delivery options. For example, Amazon.com has an option for purchases made on their website called "Amazon Lockers," which delivers your package to a secure site. There are three Amazon Locker locations in Santa Cruz. For more info on finding an Amazon Locker location near you, see https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html…).

This is a great time of year to get to know your neighbors and encourage them to keep eye out for suspicious behavior.  Call 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity immediately in your neighborhood.

If you see a theft in progress do not attempt to stop the suspect on your own. Call 911 and give the operator a detailed description of the individual, including clothing description, physical description, vehicle description, and direction of travel.

SCPD Blog and Facebook are two of the many ways we provide crime prevention information to our community. Encourage your neighbors to connect with SCPD on social media to learn about crime prevention tips for your neighborhood (like package theft!).
Happy holidays!