Crime & Safety

Preventing Holiday Package Theft: How to Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe

With thieves targeting delivered packages, authorities are urging residents to be on alert.

Holiday grinches are stealing gifts right off people’s doorsteps, and it’s more common than people realize.

In South Pasadena, authorities are alerting residents of a thief who was caught on video surveillance stealing a package right off a resident’s porch in broad daylight.

According to Glendora Police, thieves are known to target a home right after a delivery is made. They will even follow delivery trucks such as FedEx, UPS and US Mail as they make deliveries. Many of the crimes occur during the daytime hours while most residents are away.

Find out what's happening in Glendorawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To ensure your packages arrive safely, and reduce the chances your holiday packages are stolen, Glendora Police offers these tips:

  • Choose a shipping option that requires a signature.
  • Track delivery status online.  Many retailers have this online feature, and some will send an alert to your cell phone when items have been delivered.
  • Arrange to have your package shipped to another location where someone can receive it. 
  • If you know you will not be at home to receive the package, leave a note with special instructions asking the delivery service to leave the package with a trusted neighbor.
  • Or last resort, have the delivery service hold your package for customer pick-up.
  • If you do not receive your package on time, check with the retailer to confirm the delivery.  If it was delivered and you did not receive it, report the loss to the retailer, the delivery service and to law enforcement.
  • If you see a delivery truck making the rounds in your neighborhood, be alert!  Report anything that might seem out of place or suspicious such as a vehicle following behind a delivery truck or unfamiliar persons walking in the area.  Report this activity to the Glendora Police Department at 626-914-8250.  Be sure to be give descriptive information such as type of vehicle or the number of persons, this will help officers with their investigation.

 

Find out what's happening in Glendorawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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