With many people shopping online for Christmas gifts, RCMP say they are seeing a significant increase in reports of package theft.
Constable Dennis Redekop says this is an ongoing issue, but it is always more pervasive during the holiday season. He has some tips to keep your parcels safe.
“If you're expecting a package for the day, maybe have a neighbor watch out for when a delivery person comes by and just maybe hold on to it until you get back from work. Or, if you're out running errands, maybe just have your neighbor look after it.”
Redekop says some online stores let you give delivery instructions which you can use to make sure packages are left in specific areas that are not visible to the public.
He adds “Maybe have your packages delivered to your work, or maybe to a neighbor's address for the time being, if you're not expected to be home at the time.”
If your parcels are stolen, Redekop says the best course of action is to report it to the police.
“We won't know unless it's reported so even if there's no surveillance or nothing to go off, it's important to let us know. We do keep track of those things to see which areas are being targeted. Also, maybe call the company or the delivery company to let them know that you haven't received their package or that it was stolen from your front porch, and maybe they can assist as well.”
Meanwhile, Canada Post has some recommendations and guidelines for safely sending mail and packages.
They say it is never a good idea to send cash in the mail and it is best to deposit your mail close to the scheduled pickup time posted on the mailbox. In addition, it is a good idea to mail items containing sensitive or financial information at your local post office instead of your local mailbox.
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