Mail or Package Theft Prevention. And television news shows, social-media outlets and online neighborhood groups increasingly publish footage to catch these modern-day buccaneers. Get an app. READING -- With the holiday season approaching, Chief David Clark and the Reading Police Department would like to provide tips for how to prevent theft for residents expecting package deliveries in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please feel free 1052 Hits. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. UPS, for examples, has UPS My Choice to help track and reroute package deliveries. What is TheBlankBox? Doreen Frances Oswald, 64, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, has been charged with burglary and theft, the Walton County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office says. Use a tracking feature to check online when a package is scheduled to arrive. Members of Gen-Z, Millennials, and Gen X have taken the hardest hit as far as frequency, but older Americans and seniors have suffered the biggest losses. More than 54 percent reported multiple deliveries stolen in the previous 12 months. Or a hiding place. Specify instructions for the delivery. Package theft prevention Luckily, there are ways of keeping packages safe from theft. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up. It's much easier to prevent your package from being stolen than to try to get it back, and it's far less stressful as well. Unfortunately, package theft is prevalent during the holidays. If you have to sign for your items, the packages cannot be left on the doorstep. Comments: 0. To learn more about package theft prevention during these uncertain times, keep reading. "Even as many customers shop and work from home, unattended deliveries create opportunities for thieves to steal packages before the resident collects them,” she warns. Schedule deliveries with the shipping company. TheBlankBox is an effective way to deter someone from stealing from you, plus, it makes for some entertaining video! “Porch pirates” are common at all times of the year and more so since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. Schedule deliveries for times you will be home. The Vancouver Police Department wants to remind you to consider package theft prevention strategies when ordering gifts or item online. If you see a delivery driver from the doorbell camera feed, you can unlock the smart lock on your front door via your smart home app, allowing your delivery driver to place your packages directly inside your home. O’Connor points to the UPS My Choice ® and UPS Access Point ® programs. Free calculators to help manage your money, Rate bonus on high-yield online savings account, Real-life solutions to help close the retirement savings gap. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Safety.com’s recent survey revealed that the average American will have $224 in merchandise sitting on their porch in plain sight around the holidays. A lot of really bad parents will send their children to retrieve packages from front porches of unsuspecting victims. Don't leave outgoing mail unattended in your mailbox for pick up. Some shipping companies will allow you to choose a preferred time and date as well as to change locations when the package is in route. Fed Ex accepts vacation holds for up to 14 days; it also will store your delivery for free for up to five days at many locations. Even if the postal service did its job, porch pirates could easily snatch your precious packages away. It can be hard to tell when your packages will show … Postal Service and delivery firms: 1. And in Tampa, Florida, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has debuted, scoop up packages delivered to front doors, Creator of phony sweepstakes mail shares how he convinced people they won money, 4 free or inexpensive tools to prevent fraud, Cybercrooks pose as Amazon in phishing email scheme, High Yield Savings from Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Sign up for free Watchdog Alerts, review our scam-tracking map, or call our toll-free fraud helpline at 877-908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim. Sticky-fingered porch pirates have recently pilfered all of these, and much more. The, (USPS) allows you to file a claim, submit a Help Request Form, a Mail Search Request, and more. Some swoop in on foot or bikes; others skulk in by car. 4. This results in long conversations with customer service, delays to … According to CNBC, “about 1.7 million packages are stolen or lost every day in the U.S.” We have some tips as well as tools you can use to help prevent package theft. Amazon and BoxLock also offer solutions for making sure your packages are delivered safely. Retrieve a package as soon as it arrives. Or avoid delivery by using ship-to-store or curbside pickup. Advertising helps our insights remain free. The Round Rock (Texas) Police Department is hosting "Operation Front Porch” for the third year through Dec. 18. … for the third year through Dec. 18. Choose an alternative pickup location. Retrieve a package as soon as it arrives. Looking for package theft prevention solutions so you won’t become a package theft victim? If someone did steal your package, notify the local police. They may be able to assist further. This keeps packages … 3 Dec Let's Stop the Grinch from Stealing Packages this Holiday Season! The table shows the different types of package theft products, devices and prevention methods that are currently available on the market. Being home at the time of delivery is helpful to prevent theft. Save 25% when you join AARP and enroll in Automatic Renewal for first year. Thieves even have been known to “tailgate” behind delivery trucks. www.aarp.org/volunteer. 2. There are a few precautions you can take to help deter or prevent package theft from ruining your holiday season. … REQUIRE PACKAGE SIGNATURE. Video doorbells are lower profile than security cameras, so they aren’t as effective … Sadly, 1 in 4 Americans aren’t proactively planning to protect themselves from burglary this holiday season, which raises concern. We know personally how devastating it can be to have a package stolen. 8. And in Tampa, Florida, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has debuted "Operation Pinch-A-Grinch,” which runs through Dec. 21. Many retailers allow you to create specific delivery instructions … Therefore, one of the most effective ways to prevent package theft is not to allow packages to sit outside for too long. Package Theft Prevention Package theft is a crime that occurs throughout the year as online shopping becomes more and more common. Gen-Xers are planning to spend about $270.87 on packages. Posted on November 14, 2014 by BPD Tech February 22, 2018. Parcel Pending offers a wide range of solutions that ensure the simple and secure delivery and retrieval of packages and online orders. If that is not possible, requesting a signature upon delivery or sending it to your workplace are also options. 33 percent of respondents had done nothing in the previous year to prevent package thefts. As the holiday season approaches and the pandemic rages on, the number of Americans who will utilize online shopping will continue to increase. But more people said they planned to have items delivered: 73 percent, compared to 62 percent in 2019. Deposit mail in a mail slot in the post office, at a Postal Service mailbox, or hand it to your letter carrier. for up to 14 days; it also will store your delivery for free for up to five days at many locations. Check your video doorbell or security camera footage to see if anyone has stolen your package. Package theft may seem like a sporadic and isolated crime, but the truth is that close to 40% of Americans claim or suspect that they have been a victim of front porch theft. A bottle of gin. Here are some quick ideas for how to protect your parcels—and your peace of mind. Amid anxiety over COVID-19, holiday spending is expected to drop 7 percent this holiday season, falling to $1,387 per household, from last year, a recent survey by Deloitte found. Sure, this may be a hassle, but it’s also a great way to deter package theft. Compare Package Theft Prevention Products We’re committed to putting a stop to package theft. The crooks — also called “box bandits” — scoop up packages delivered to front doors before the recipients retrieve them. Postal Service and delivery firms: 1. First, make sure your package has been marked as “Delivered.” If you opted into package alerts, check your email or texts to see if you’ve received a notification. FedEx has more than 14,000 sites in the U.S. including FedEx Offices, FedEx Ship Centers and retailers including Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger and Dollar General. Package Theft Prevention In order to prevent future package thefts, respondents who have had a package stolen said they took multiple measures in the form of home security. The FedEx mobile app lets package recipients electronically sign for a package, request a vacation hold or choose a hold at one of its locations. Let your local police department know that you think your package has been stolen, as soon as possible, l. By sharing this information, you never know how they or your neighbors might be able to help you locate the package. related to AARP volunteering. Ship your package to a location where someone you know will be available to receive it, which may include your work address or a relative, neighbor, or friend’s home. The video also showed that the package, which contained $136 in lamps, had been delivered just three minutes earlier. Reading Police Share Tips to Prevent Package Theft this Holiday Season. Please note that some retailers may handle lost or stolen packages on a case-by-case basis. Such projections have Federal Express girding for a “surge in volume during the upcoming holidays, on top of peak levels of demand we've already experienced during COVID-19,” says Sederia Gray, a FedEx spokeswoman. Here are a few ways to keep your packages safe before you can get home and secure them inside. Instruct delivery firms where to leave your package so it isn't visible from the street. by Katherine Skiba, AARP, November 10, 2020 At Safety.com your privacy is very important to us. If you're not going to be home, set up a specific delivery time when you will be. Some carriers deny responsibility once a package has been delivered. Require a Signature. Secure your delivery location. | Javascript must be enabled to use this site. UPS lets you track your shipment on its app. Remember that many thieves are opportunists. If it. Some signal your phone, tablet or personal computer if your doorbell is rung. Together, we can stop package theft. Package Theft Protection Done Right With the holidays fast approaching, and Christmas shopping online already underway for many, this is a security issue that everyone needs to keep in mind. 2. Oswald was charged after the sheriff’s office posted the video on Facebook and Twitter. FedEx has a. service that allows you to track and redirect packages if needed. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly With more online purchases, thieves know their opportunities are greater. If you decide to purchase a home security system or camera, you’ll want to be sure that you have access to mobile alerts. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item's make, model, serial number and other information. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. Proactively Preventing Holiday Package Theft. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. 1. If you’re able to review the footage for 24 hours or more, look for moments of activity. Post a warning sign. AARP members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change. One respondent reported losing $4,800 worth of items from a single package. Baby clothes. Request that your package is sent with the “signature required” feature so it can't be delivered without one. 3. This is where innovative proptech solutions like Parcel Pending’s smart package lockers come into play. USPS’ free, "hold mail" requests must be for at least three days and for a maximum of 30 days. WAKEFIELD —With the holiday season approaching, Chief Steven A. Skory and the Wakefield Police Department would like to provide tips for how to prevent theft for residents expecting package … If not and your package has tracking, check your tracking updates online. again. TIPS TO PREVENT PACKAGE THEFT December 9, 2020 In an effort to protect yourself from having your packages stolen during the busy holiday season, consider the following tips: Have your packages delivered elsewhere, such as your place of employment, an Amazon delivery site, P.O. In this case, there are still other options you can pursue, like filing a claim or submitting a mail search request. Additional Package Theft Prevention Tips. Wakefield Police Share Tips to Prevent Package Theft this Holiday Season. Package theft has become an increasingly common crime not just in Montebello, but throughout California. Package Theft Prevention. TheBlankBox originated from watching people run away with our packages while we were at work and we wanted a way to prank a porch pirate! Use a tracking feature to check online when a package is scheduled to arrive. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. receive communications related to AARP volunteering. The following outlines our privacy policy. Combine a doorbell camera with a smart lock for extra protection. How Common is Package Theft? Burglary Deterrents: What Works and What Doesn’t? After surveying over 1,000 Americans, ValuePenguin found that “nearly 1 in 5 consumers have been victims of porch piracy amid the coronavirus crisis.” We can infer that since the start of the pandemic, more people have been ordering their products online. Traditional prevention methods such as videos, fences, and obvious signs someone is home, do not appear to deter package theft. Golf clubs. General mail theft tips, from the United States Postal Inspection Service: Don't send cash in the mail. She allegedly stole two packages in front of a home in Point Washington, Florida, about 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. Some security cameras let you use an app to watch over your home from your smartphone. En español | Televisions. 9. Or have the package sent to a trusted person who will be home. The Billerica Police Department would like to remind citizens to take extra care this time of year when having mail and packages delivered to their residence. While a home security system isn’t the only option that can help homeowners and renters protect their valuables, it is imperative to have a plan in place. But there are always thieves who will target the mail. The most popular is to install a doorbell camera such as Ring, Google Nest or Vivint. Instead, a note will be placed there letting you know the date they will try to make another delivery (or where you might be able to pick up the item instead). Engrave new items to help identify them in the event they are stolen. The boy's father, 26, told authorities he was high on crystal meth when he told the boy to steal the package. A stolen package will spoil your day. 7. Here are several of the best ways to help you avoid porch pirates and protect your packages. In our recent survey, we also found that Gen-Xers are planning to spend the most out of all generations this upcoming holiday season. Safety.com is an independent review site. Posting a sign in a visible location that states that your property is under 24 … About Us . Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try They may even help you catch the culprit in the event of a grab-and-run. These devices and tools that can help keep your deliveries safe. Based on the results of our study identified above, and other factors discussed in the full report, we make the following proposals for reducing unattended package theft at residences. We also found that 68% of Gen-Xers don’t have a home security system, which could potentially put them at risk. Here’s how to prevent package theft: Have packages delivered to your work. Join AARP today. 6. TheBlankBox is a entertaining way to deter package theft or a prank device that gets A LOT of attention. You can start taking action today with these tools and tips. Prevention methods include concealing packages (e.g., removing branding on boxes, placing packages out of view), removing the target (e.g., delivery to a POD, delivery in late afternoons), increasing the effort (e.g., lockable containers), and increasing the risk (e.g., … Your credit card company may be able to replace or reimburse you for your lost package. Postal Service ® with billions of letters and packages, and the vast majority of those arrive safely at their intended destinations. Here are tips from law enforcement, the U.S. This holiday season shoppers have lost nearly a In July, a thief outside El Paso, Texas, was arrested after being caught on a home security camera. Check with the retailer to find out what their policies are on lost or stolen packages. Add new items to your home inventory. . Or avoid delivery by using ship-to-store or curbside pickup. Package Theft Prevention. They may be able to replace the item or provide a refund. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. In this period, the average loss was about $110, and Americans age 75 and older suffered the largest average loss, $210. It could be the side of your house. you can wait longer or contact the shipping company. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Though not common, leading up to the holidays some law enforcement agencies let local residents have packages weighing less than 50 pounds shipped to their stations for pickup later. 5. Instead, you need to take package theft prevention into your own hands. About 43 percent of respondents had had a package theft at some point. Before I get into those, I want to caution you against using force if you encounter the perpetrator. There are a number of delivery options that are available to our residents that can reduce the number of packages stolen. “They give you control, convenience, and the ability to choose when and where your packages are delivered," he explains. Here are some of your options: Box, or FedEx/UPS location. As they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Some People Avoid Online Shopping Due to Fear of Package Theft: Shorr Packaging’s survey also … Prevention Proposals. TAKEAWAY—Vehicles were commonly used to facilitate the thefts, and offenders tended to run or walk quickly after taking the package. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Video doorbells. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails You will be asked to register or log in. “The sheer volume of shipments expected this season may create increased opportunities for so-called ‘porch pirates.’ “. Such piracy shows up on police blotters across the country from Brooklyn to the Bay Area. They’re on the hunt for easy targets. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. To understand the evolving nature of package theft in the U.S., and as a followup to our extensive 2017 Package Theft Report and the 2018 Package Theft Occurrence Analysis, we surveyed 1,052 online shoppers about their eCommerce purchasing habits, experiences with package theft and the actions they take to deter porch pirates. Here are tips from law enforcement, the U.S. If you purchased your item with a credit card, check and see if you have any package protection benefits. Package thefts are crimes of opportunity. Postal Inspectors investigate these crimes and arrest thousands of mail and package thieves each year. If you are leaving town, ask for your shipments to be held. PACKAGE THEFT PREVENTION TIPS & IDEAS . Accordingly, we have developed this policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The footage showed the man in a car with his 6-year-old son; the boy left the vehicle and snatched a UPS package from a victim's doorstep, authorities said. Shop Package Protectors. If you are wondering how common package theft is during the holiday season, the answer is very common. When a package is stolen, there’s often nothing you can do except order a replacement. Each year, Americans trust the U.S. By filing a police report, you can help others in your community combat package theft. The 10 Best Home Security Systems of 2020, Best Smart Devices For Saving Money & Energy. Some 18 percent of Americans had a package stolen between March and June, during the first four months of the pandemic, with an average loss of $106, according to a survey for ValuePenguin.com, a financial website owned by LendingTree. 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