Worried about Package Theft? Here’s how to Prevent It!
Keep Packages from Being Stolen This Holiday Season!
With the popularity of online shopping at an all-time high, more parcels than ever are being delivered every day in the United States. While this method has grown over the years, regrettably, it also means an increase in parcel theft. Nearly 49 million Americans have reported at least one stolen package over the past year.
So, how can we be sure that once our items are delivered, they’re safe until we retrieve them? We’ve compiled easy steps you can take to ensure your holiday gifts make it under the tree and not into the hands of porch pirates!
Call Your Neighbors!
We all know there are numerous benefits from having a neighbor nearby. One of those is especially prominent during the holidays. Asking your neighbor to scoop up your delivery from your porch is an easy way to ensure its safe delivery. Give your neighbor a heads up as to when you expect the delivery. Once you receive a notification from the carrier, your neighbor can head to your house and put your holiday purchases in a secure location.
Reschedule or Divert Your Delivery
If your package is scheduled to arrive while you’re not home, don’t worry! There are a few things you can do to ensure your purchase makes it safely into your hands. One fantastic alternative is to divert your delivery. If you’re traveling during this holiday season and realized you have a package due to arrive at home, you can log into the carrier’s website and choose to divert your shipment. That way, your package arrives at your temporary destination rather than back at home. This is an especially helpful solution for higher-priced items that may cause extra worry. You can also choose to reschedule your delivery all together if you’d rather be present for its arrival. This can also be done with a few clicks on the carrier’s website.
Use a Secure Storage System
If you live in a building that doesn’t offer any type of mail security, or own a home in a busy area, you might want to utilize an alternative option to keep your holiday purchases safe. Smart lockers are a relatively new option that stop package thieves in their tracks. These lockers can be stored outside and utilized by your mail carrier. They’re created to physically secure your packages, not just alert you when a crime is occurring, as a security camera would. You can sign up for notifications the moment your package enters the locker, to be sure your new possessions stay safe until you access them.
Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store
Nowadays, nothing is more convenient than making holiday gift purchases online. But, when it comes to delivery of those items, there are more secure options to consider! Ordering online and picking up in-store is a safe bet when it comes to package security. Around the holidays, many consumers cite seasonal discounts and offers as reasons for choosing online shopping rather than in-person browsing. But, you can still utilize these enticing offers if you skip the at-home deliveries. Most merchants now allow you to purchase online, and pick up curbside. This is a clever, simple approach to completely avoid parcel theft. You’ll enjoy the added assurance that your package will never be left unattended and still get to reap the rewards of online shopping.
Arrange for a Signature Delivery
It would be worthwhile to request a signature on any Christmas present items being delivered to your home, even though most consumers choose not to utilize this option. With large online businesses and even smaller ones, this is frequently a choice you can check off when making your purchase.
Before you finish your order, speak with a customer service agent about using a delivery signature if you don’t see it listed as an option. This guarantees that the items will reach you promptly and won’t be left outside for a long time.
