Its time to take useful steps to avoid holiday package theft.
It’s the time of the year where we shop for our loved ones. Online shopping makes our lives so much easier, however, you must be aware that package theft increase significantly during the holidays.
Just in the past weeks, an incident in the neighborhood of Bucktown intrigue some of its residents. A security camera recorded a man wearing a brown jacket (who appears to have the UPS symbol) approaching a residence to deliver three packages. Instead of leaving, it seems that the same man opened one of the boxes, took a phone,and walked away! A police report was made to report the package theft and the United Parcel Service announced to be making an investigation of their own. In the meantime, if you are concerned about becoming a target of porch package thieves; these are some ways to assure your presents get to the right hands.
Request a signature, security cameras, or office delivery? You have options!
- Plan in advance to schedule a delivery time in which you plan to be at home. In addition, you can request a signature in order for the package to be delivered.
- If you know for sure you will not be able to be present at the time of delivery, you can ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the package. Others also consider sending their packages to their office, as most deliveries take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- If package theft is common in your neighborhood, you can consider installing a security camera. High definition cameras record motion 24 hours a day and the police use their footage to conduct face recognition. More thieves are being apprehended because of these technologies.
- If you simply want to avoid the crowds, shopping online and picking up at store could be a better option for you (at least during the holidays). Most department stores have this service available and if the item is available in store, the pickup time will be fairly quicker than waiting for a delivery.
- Credit Card Fraud. Holiday fraud is also common during the festivities. Whether you opt to shop online or not, you should keep an eye on all your credit card purchases. Consider using only one or two cards to do all the holiday shopping. This can make your life easier and a better way to track your purchases.