More Package Theft and Burglaries Likely in 2018

Although 2018 is now underway, many are still wrapping up the 2017 holidays.

Last year was a record year for shopping and travel. According to CNBC, Amazon announced a record-setting holiday sales season that included four million new Amazon Prime memberships in a single week and a 70 percent increase in shopping on the Amazon App.

And Auto Club, AAA, had projected that 107.3 Million Americans would travel across all modes of transportation between December 23, 2017 and January 1, 2018.

Even though the holiday season is over, eCommerce is continuing to expand – even with the addition of new market areas. More and more consumers will shop online in 2018 and have packages delivered. People are now ordering everything online, from clothes to groceries and now prescriptions.

Travel will continue to experience healthy growth in 2018 according to research reports.

With all this consumer activity continuing to grow, one fallout from it could be online fraud, package theft and even burglaries. Criminals not only case neighborhoods to seek out porches with deliveries left on them. They are using social media to target homes that may be left empty during travel peak times –whether that is during the holiday season, Martin Luther King weekend or even Spring Break.

It’s important to take stock of this now and protect yourself and your family from what could happen. Here is an infographic with an interesting look at what is happening out there – not just during the holidays, but all year long.

To protect yourself and your family, remember:

when you are away from home…

• Leave a light on.
• Have a trusted friend or a neighbor pick-up your mail, put in garbage cans and check on your home.
• Install a security system that incorporates a camera, alarm, voice and other features.
• Don’t post on social media about your trip while you are away.

when you are expecting a delivery…

• Notify a friend or relative that packages might be coming. Give them a key to go into your home and put them inside.
• Schedule a specific package delivery drop-off time when you will be home.
• Have packages delivered to a locker at a retail location.
• Request a signature for delivery.