'Porch Pirates' Strike In Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Take heed of the following. And follow a few tips to make sure it doesn't happen to you. Tuesday afternoon, a woman returned home to the 1400 block of Washington Avenue and found a package delivered to her front porch that had been opened. The contents, valued at $500 were gone, according to Fredericksburg Police.

She apparently was hit by so-called porch pirates, who prowl around neighborhoods during the holiday season waiting to pounce. In a move also dubbed "front porch shopping," observant thieves will follow delivery trucks and steal recently delivered packages from porches and stoops.

Police and security experts have shared some reminders on how to thwart "porch pirates" and ensure you receive your packages:

• If possible, have your package delivered to a location where it can be received by a trusted person.
• Request that the shipper holds the package at their facility for pickup.
• Track deliveries online and confirm delivery has occurred.
• Insure valuable items.
• Provide delivery instructions so packages are left out of sight from the street.
• Watch out for vehicles following delivery vans through neighborhoods. Some thieves will simply shadow deliver drivers and go from house to house stealing newly delivered packages.
• When sending packages, take them to a post office or other shipping facility rather than leaving them outside your home for pickup. Let the person you are sending the package to know to expect the package.
• Show off your home security system; make sure you have a sign in the front yard. If you have security cameras, make sure potential thieves know they're there, and if you have a doorbell camera, use it.
• Sign up for email notifications from FedEx, UPS and businesses like Amazon and Urban Outfitters to track your package from initial shipment to its arrival at your home or the recipient's address if you have the gift delivered directly.

Image Patch file via UPS