Local police say that a little bit of vigilance can keep your deliveries from ending up in the hands of porch pirates.
As spring brings warmer weather to the region, the OPP says thieves will become more active in looking for unattended packages left at someone’s residence when there is no one at home to accept them.
You can curb the theft of your parcels by following a few tips, such as:
- Requesting a signature upon delivery
- Shipping the package to a trusted neighbour or relative who will be home
- Having the packages delivered to your work, if allowed by the employer
- Tracking your deliveries online so you know when they’re slated to arrive and plan to be home upon delivery
- Opting for in-store or curbside pickup wherever possible
- Installing video cameras and posting signage to indicate surveillance is in effect
- Requesting that the package be left out of sight at a rear or side door
If packages are stolen from your home, report the incident to your local police and the shipping company. If you see suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, contact your local police or Renfrew County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at www.valleytips.ca.
(written by Kasey Egan)
