istock photo
1248789819
Front Door of House with Stack of Delivery Boxes from Online Ordering and E-commerce
It's high season for package thieves and porch pirates, with some people following UPS and FedEx trucks around Alexandria neighborhoods to steal packages within minutes of delivery. A recent post on Nextdoor noted a package was stolen within three minutes of delivery.
Even with the speed at which thefts occur sometimes, there are a lot of steps that residents can take to prevent their holiday presents from disappearing.
Schedule Deliveries
A number of companies will allow you to schedule a delivery to occur when you know someone will be home to receive it. Some companies will send a text message and a photo when a delivery occurs, as well.
A smart doorbell camera can also discourage theft, but many thieves have gotten bold and a camera is no longer considered a particularly strong deterrent. It can, however, help police build a case and prove theft to the company you ordered from. (Some require proof of theft to get a refund or replacement.)
Deliver to Alternate (Secure) Locations
One of the best ways to prevent package theft is by having items sent to a secure location where theft would be difficult.
- Amazon has dozens of lockers around the area, where you can pick up your packages.
- You may consider having items sent to your office or workplace instead of to your home, ensuring that a person is in your office to receive packages.
- You can choose to get a package delivered to a neighbor who will be home to receive the package if you are at work.
- If you are getting packages delivered to your home, you can install a secure package delivery box, like these made by adoorn.
In addition to being aware of when packages are arriving, you might consider opting for "signature required" on delivery, which means the delivery person should not leave a package unattended on your doorstep.
Opt for In-Store Pickup
Many stores offer an in-store pickup option for customers, including local stores and national chains.
What to Do If Your Package is Stolen
In the City of Alexandria and in Fairfax County, you can file an online police report immediately, instead of waiting for a police officer to come to your property. City of Alexandria residents can learn more here; Fairfax County residents can learn more here.
Some companies require a police report to process refunds or replacements — check with the company itself for information.
