'Package Pirates' On Prowl During Holidays: Police

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is warning holiday shoppers about “package pirates” - thieves who swipe mail-order packages from doorsteps right after they’ve been delivered.

In a post on its Facebook page, the sheriff’s office says these thieves “have been known to cruise around neighborhoods looking for recently delivered packages, and have even followed delivery trucks along their routes.”

The sheriff’s office provides tips to online shoppers to prevent these kinds of thefts:

• If you are not going to be available at the time of delivery, choose to have the package shipped to your place of business.
• Many shipping companies offer shoppers the option of tracking and insuring packages.
• Install security cameras at your home to catch package thieves in the act.
• Be vigilant about any strangers or suspicious people in your neighborhood, and make sure to call 911 if you see something that just isn’t right.

The growing popularity of Cyber Monday has led to more mail-order deliveries and more thefts, a sheriff’s office spokesman told WSB-TV Channel 2.

The Better Business Bureau also offers tips on avoiding package pirates - please click here.