With Christmas right around the corner, people may take to the Internet to do their holiday shopping. The Longmont Public Safety, or LPS, recently shone light on this fact in a Facebook post, along with tips to prevent against package pirates, or individuals that steal packages off of unsuspecting residents' porches.
According to LPS, people should consider adopting the following methods to make sure they are the recipients of their package orders.
Consider having your packages shipped to neighbors’ houses if they are home during the day, or to your work address if permitted.
If a delivery company gives you the option to require a signature at the time of delivery, utilize this to help ensure your package ends up in the right hands.
Change the package’s shipping address — even if it is already in transit — if you know you won’t be home when it is expected to be delivered. Oftentimes you can reroute the package by contacting the carrier. Although this option may have an additional charge, it lessens the possibility of losing your order to package pirates. Additionally, if you know you won’t be at the shipping address when the package is supposed to arrive, contact the delivery service and request they hold the package at their facility until you are able to pick it up.
Sign up for tracking services to receive messages via text or email about the status of your package. Utilizing these updates, plan to have someone at home to accept the package when it is delivered.
To ward off package pirates, make it look like someone is home when you are out of the house. Generally, package thefts are crimes of opportunity. Take measures like leaving lights on in the house, turning on porch lights, etc., to cause the thief to question if someone is at home, LPS suggests.
In a combined effort against package pirate thefts, LPS recommends getting to know your neighbors, which creates a stronger community. “Be the eyes and ears for your block. They in turn, will help keep your property safe. They may also be willing to pick up your package for you and store it at their home until you arrive. Pay back the favor when they need help,” the LPS post stated.
Finally, having visible security cameras around your home is very often a deterrent from theft. According to LPS, video surveillance has become extremely helpful in solving crimes, identifying perpetrators and serves as valuable evidence in court. Longmont Public Safety has a system that stores the address of those that have security cameras for use in investigations. If you are not already registered for this service, visit longmontcolorado.gov and search “neighborhood surveillance camera registration” to sign up.”
If you become a victim of a package delivery theft, LPS recommends filing an online police report by visiting longmontcolorado.gov and searching “file police online report.”
When a package pirate isn’t caught stealing, they often feel encouraged to strike more than once. By filing an online report, LPS notes, you may prevent other community members from also losing their packages to thieves. “The little information that you may have, coupled with information supplied by another victim, often links all of these crimes together for suspect identification and prosecution,” the LPS post stated.