More Americans than before are online shopping. Thieves are taking note and targeting front porches. “Don’t allow this to happen to you. Have your package delivered to your place of work, or even to a reliable friend or neighbor. Here’s to safe and happy holidays.”
The sheriff’s office’s suggestions, the site Safewise.com features a few other ideas.
Holiday online shopping? Watch out for package criminals
Take advantage of home delivery services. UPS has the UPS My Choice service. When you enroll in an absolutely free membership, you can get delivery alerts, sign for a package online, and even as that you hold a package at a UPS facility instead of having it shipped to your house. For extra money, you can get it sent to another address. FedEx has a similar program with Delivery Manager.
USPS has the Package Intercept program. For a fee they’ll hold the package for pickup additionally, you can have it delivered to another address.
Have a security camera on your porch. This helps if your package is stolen so that police can catch the thief. Plus, should the package be damaged, you can use it as evidence against insurance.
Use signature confirmation. This way the package is not left out in view since a signature is needed.
If a package is stolen, file a police report first, then contact your carriers. In the event you bought through Amazon, contact them too.
Also if you used a credit card, consult with the credit card company. Some might be willing to assist in recovering your money.
As outlined by Adobe, which tracks online retail transactions, consumers spent $3.34 billion shopping online on Friday alone.
The increase of mobile usage as well as the more widespread use of high-speed internet is also making it easier for people to purchase online.
Mobile purchases on Black Friday were up to $1.2 billion, more than ever before.
The National Retail Federation says shoppers will spend $655.8 billion in November and December, up 3.6 % from a last year.