Prevent Package Thefts This Holiday Season in Walpole

By ADAM SWIFT (Patch Staff)

It’s that time of year again when the UPS, FedEx, USPS, and every other delivery service has an extra fleet of trucks and its employees working overtime.

Package thefts are common during the holidays. Local police recommend taking the following steps to avoid being targeted by a thief taking packages that have been delivered to your home:

• Have your packages delivered to a location where they can be received in person, such as a neighbor’s house or your workplace if allowed.
• Ask the delivery company to hold your package at their closest pick-up facility until you can pick it up.
• If purchasing from a larger retailer, consider having your package delivered to a local store for pick-up.
• Choose a specific delivery time when you will be home if that is an option.
• Take advantage of delivery alerts so you can be notified when a package arrives at your home.
• Ask the shipper to require a signature confirmation of delivery in order to prevent packages from being left when no one is home to sign for them.
• Provide delivery instructions so packages can be left out of sight from your yard or the road.

Report any package thefts to police.

Doing so allows them to track trends in the neighborhood.

Also, remember that your parked, unlocked car is also a target for thieves, especially if you have items in plain view inside. Always lock your doors and put the car windows up even if you are running a quick errand.