A Poem From New Haven Police On Avoiding Package Thefts

NEW HAVEN, CT — As the holiday season approaches New Haven Police want to remind residents to protect their packages from would-be thieves.

Officer David Hartman, police spokesman explains in poem form.

‘Tis just weeks until Christmas in the City of Elm
And the larceny stats would not overwhelm
Block Watches and citizens were on the look-out
For despicable thieves who were lurking about

The crooks look for trucks of the delivery style
And follow their drivers in a manner so vile.
From East Rock to Westville they rudely stop by
To see what nice parcels are on your lanai

Chief Campbell’s committed to keep you abreast
Of Grinches who deserve to be under arrest
Safeguard your goodies so as not to get stressed
By a criminal element that must be suppressed.

There were fewer reported thefts last year compared to other years during the season and police hope the trend continues.

Some tips from police:

 Require a signature upon delivery.
 Request a tracking number and delivery confirmation.
 Insure your packages.
 Specify delivery instructions, indicating where the package should be left.
 Arrange to pick up packages at the post office or delivery service location.
 Ship packages to your workplace, if the company allows it.
 Ask a friend or neighbor to look out for your order and accept & pick up your
packages.
 If you are sending a package, let the person you are sending it to know that
it is coming and when to expect it to arrive. Follow up to make sure it was
received.
If you suspect that your package was lost or stolen, you should:
 First, check outside your residence (or other delivery address) to see if the
package was placed out of sight, such as in the hedges, by the garage or on
the porch.
 Ask your neighbors if they witnessed the delivery or if the shipper accidentally
delivered the package to them.
 Contact the shipper first to be sure the items were sent properly. If you
determine that the shipper was not at fault, file a complaint with the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service.
 File a police report.
If you made the purchase with a credit card:
 Federal law allows consumers to dispute charges for credit card purchases if
they are damaged or stolen.
 Consumers whose good faith attempts with merchants have failed should
contact their credit card issuers to reverse the credit card transaction.
 Most credit card issuers offer purchase protection, which protects items
against theft or damage for a specified period of time (usually 90 days).
Check with your credit card company to see if you are covered.

Image via Shutterstock