Take extra care this time of year when having mail and packages delivered to your residence.

Most deliveries DO NOT require a signature and are generally left at the front door. These packages quickly catch the eye of potential thieves. Package thefts are crimes of opportunity. An offender may not intend to target a particular home, but walks or drives by an area and sees an easy target where something of perceived value can be quickly taken without notice. Not only is a package that is visible from the street vulnerable to theft, but it may indicate that no one is home, making the home a possible target for burglary. Criminals have also been known to follow delivery trucks to residences. The following are some steps you can take to be proactive in keeping your package safe from theft.

1. Bringing packages indoors ASAP. If you bring in your neighbor’s deliveries, they will do the same for you when you’re not around.

2. Require a signature for deliveries.

3. Track your package and request an email, text, or other alert about the status of delivery.

4. Ship your package to a location where someone you know will be available to receive it, which may include your work, a relative, neighbor, or friend’s home.

5. Consider using other delivery options. Shipping companies may deliver to other secured locations, like package lockers, or allow you to pick up at the retail store or package carrier. (i.e. Amazon Lockers, Fedex Pickup locations)

6. If there are no other options, provide specific instructions about where the package should be left on your property. Choose a location that conceals the item.

7. If your packages do not arrive as scheduled contact the sender immediately.

Remember, this type of crime can occur at any time throughout the year, but it usually increases around the holidays due to increased shopping practices of residents. If you see someone stealing a package, call 911 immediately. Provide a description of the offender, any vehicle they may be using and their direction of travel. The police may not arrive immediately, but continued 911 reports will increase police coverage of the area.

Police also recommend that you write your address on the outside and inside of your recycle and trash bins. Thieves use bins to transport stolen goods. After washing off the outside address, they may attempt to sell it. Police are on the lookout for bins, and are often able to track the thieve’s movements if they find the address “hidden” on the inside. These tips come from Sergeant Massi of the 26th District.