New Canaan Police Provide Tips To Avoid Package, Mail Thefts

NEW CANAAN, CT — As New Canaan moves further into the holiday season, police remind residents to protect their mail and packages from potential thieves.

In a Facebook post, police November and December are part of the year's biggest shopping season.

"Unfortunately, this is also prime season for package thieves and mail thieves," the post reads.

Police remind residents making online purchases over the next few weeks to follow these tips to prevent package and mail thefts:

1. Sign up for USPS Delivery Confirmation and delivery alerts for packages so you know when your delivery is scheduled - and when the package has been delivered.

2. If you're not able to be home when a package will be delivered, ask a trusted neighbor to hold it for you.

3. If possible, require a signature for all deliveries.

4. Consider shipping packages to your place of work or use the ship to store option.

5. Be a good neighbor! If you see a package on your neighbor's doorstep, reach out and ask if they would like you to hold it until they are home. Better yet, if you work from home, offer to allow your neighbors to send their packages to your house.

6. Install security cameras in the area of where your packages are delivered.

7. Don't leave mail in your mailboxes overnight. Make it a habit to remove mail each day.

8. If you do have mail stolen conduct a credit report to see if your identity has been compromised. Refer to the FTC website for information on identity theft.

"If you do have any packages stolen," the post reads, "first contact [police] and then check with your neighbors to see if they saw anything suspicious."