Glen Rock Police Give Tips To Avoid Holiday Gift Theft

GLEN ROCK, NJ — At 8 p.m. Nov. 12, a resident of the 100 block of Harding Road reported a stolen package from their front steps.

The package, stolen during the late afternoon hours, police said, reportedly contained Apple AirPods which were shipped from Best Buy through the postal service.

Glen Rock police took this moment as a reminder to residents that, as the holiday season approaches, "porch pirates are on the prowl."

"With thousands of packages expected to be delivered to homes throughout the season, most packages are left unattended and vulnerable," they said, in a news release.

Here are a few tips from the department to protect your holiday packages:

• Schedule delivery for times when you'll be home.
• Require a signature from your package carrier.
• Monitor your front porch (Xfinity Home, Ring doorbell, Nest and others).
• Try a lockbox. Lockboxes can be used to protect packages until you can make it home and retrieve them.
• Track your shipment online (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Amazon) so you know when it's delivered and can ask someone to hold onto it until you arrive home
• Make sure to check for & bring in packages, don't let them sit out.
• Talk to neighbors who may be home during the day and could take in packages for you.