Prevent Doorstep Thieves this Holiday Season

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Every year around the holidays, there is an increase in packages ordered online and delivered to homes. This also can come with an increase in thefts when the packages are left unattended outside.

Victims usually report the theft to their shippers so the police department may not know the extent of these thefts, according to a news release from the Minneapolis Police Department.

Doorstep delivery can be a crime of opportunity. It could be someone following a delivery truck or it could be someone who happens to be in the area and sees a package delivered.

The Minneapolis police has provided the following suggestions to help keep you packages safe:

• Before you ship, choose the right service for your needs. Ship the package to a location where you know someone will be available to receive it. Consider selecting the “signature required” option.
• Send any FedEx package directly to a FedEx Office location near you or choose from several delivery options. You can have it held for pickup at one of the stations.
• UPS also has stores that a package can be routed to and have several options for delivery choices.
• The United States Postal Service has a number of ways to track and secure safe delivery for your packages. You have options on how you want the package delivered as well as tracking and insuring the package. Many of their tips are similar to UPS and FedEx.
• As neighbors, if you see something suspicious such as a person picking up a package off your neighbor’s front step or a car following a delivery van, please call 911 immediately
• If you are a victim of this crime, please contact 311 or file a police report online. If you have suspect information, call 911.

Depending on who was set to deliver your package, you can also file a mail theft complaint through the US Postal Inspection Service, file a lost package through UPS, or file a claim through FedEx. If you used another carrier, check with them on what you need to do in order to file a report for a lost or stolen item.

Contact your crime prevention specialist for additional prevention information. Call 311 (or 612-673-3000) to locate your crime prevention specialist by neighborhood.

Image via Tracey Adams, Flickr, used under Creative Commons