Beware Of Holiday Mail Theft

MILFORD, MA- The holidays are here and that means plenty of online gift purchases are making their way to front doors all over. While it's a treat to open you're front door and find the gift you ordered, these packages can become gifts to a new wave of thieves nicknamed "porch pirates".

On Wednesday, the Milford Police Department received two reports of larceny. One call from an apartment on main street reported having a package stolen from their front porch. The other call came from someone on Alfred road reporting their mail was being stolen.

According to SafeWise, an online security-review site, 26 million Americans had their packages stolen from their porches last year. While Christmas is around the corner there are still some ways you can protect your packages.

If you plan on having something shipped request a signature. If it's something of high value – or you just want to be sure items aren't left unattended – you can require a signature for packages to be released.

Major shippers are working seven days a week during the holidays. Customize your deliveries on a day or during a time frame you plan on being home.

You can be proactive for things already on the way out and track your packages online or redirect your packages to a safe location when they're on their way.
If you're uneasy about leaving it at your home, consider an alternate destination, such as your workplace or a friend or neighbor who is home during the day.

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