10 Tips for Your Holiday Season Deliveries
Have you ever had someone tell you they mailed you a package that you never received? I have. While I’ve suspected that a couple of them just wanted me to think they mailed me something, in a vast majority of cases it’s likely the package was stolen from in front of my door.
Although this happens throughout the course of the year, it occurs most frequently during the holiday season. Thieves know that many packages delivered this time of year are nice gift items, so they pilfer what they can and either use it or sell it.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the chances that you will be the victim of a theft such as this. Here are 10 of them:
- Ask for a tracking number. Most major shipping companies offer this service at no charge. This number allows you to track your packages and notifies you when they will be delivered.
- Request a “Signature Delivery Option.” This requires a signature when the packages are delivered and ensures they will not be left at the front door.
- Request a specific drop-off time and date when you will be home to accept your packages.
- Arrange to have your packages held at the shipping service so you can pick them up.
- Ask the delivery service to leave your packages at a side or back door.
- Have your packages delivered to your workplace.
- Have your packages delivered to the home of a relative or neighbor who will be there to accept them.
- Ask to have your packages delivered to a retail store so you can pick them up at your convenience.
- Ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep a watchful eye out for your packages. If they’re willing, ask them to safeguard your packages until you return home.
- If your packages do not arrive as scheduled, contact the sender immediately.
Following those steps won’t guarantee that you will not be ripped off during the holidays, but it should be a big help.
“Porch Pirates” aka something for nothing free-loaders deserve to have everything they have and own taken away from them,especially their freedom.
These nae-do-wells are selfish shallow people. They only steal to re-gift or sell on Craig’s list your item for cash.
How do you thwart these crooks? Follow the above recommendations; plus have a good security camera that shows the front door area and those that pass on your street, (ie. getting their license plate.) Also have a neighborhood watch system going in your area. If your camera can’t get the license plate perhaps your neighbor can.
In any case, when these crooks are caught make sure that they get the full amount of justice the law will allow. Make them think twice before stealing from you or anyone else again.
I don’t have a problem having packages taken. Unfortunately, no one can get to my house, so packages get dropped inside the gate, at which time my German Shepherd tears up the box.