topic Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe! in Community Chat

Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Pearlee — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:38:07 GMT

I live in a very good/safe neighborhood. Yet, last Christmas, my next door neighbor had a package stolen that Fed Ex had just delivered to her doorstep. On the news here, and I just also heard on the national news, was a warning that people are following around the UPS, P.O. and Fed Ex trucks in cars and picking up packages immediately after they've been delivered. Interviewed was one lady who was at home when the package was delivered and in the few minutes until she got to the door it had been stolen!

Please keep an eye out for your packages - keep track of them via delivery confirmation and realize when they are due to be delivered so you'll be ready for them. If you aren't home all day, maybe arrange with a neighbor who is to take the packages in for you.

Adding to the problem is that there are a lot of seasonal hirees who are helping the regular delivery people deliver the packages for the holidays. They aren't taking the time to conceal them under doormats or the usual places where your regular carrier might know to put them so they stay stafer untli you get home. A word to the wise: try to keep your packages safe that are being delivered. They are much more likely to get stolen at this time of year right from your doorstep.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Camry22 — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:32:03 GMT

Great advise / reminder! I'll be sending packages to my work too. Wish I didn't have to but UPS leaves them front and center on my doorstep and I know thieves are making the rounds.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Pearlee — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:39:43 GMT

@Camry22 wrote:
Great advise / reminder! I'll be sending packages to my work too. Wish I didn't have to but UPS leaves them front and center on my doorstep and I know thieves are making the rounds.

@Camry22 I'm glad you mentioned this - I'd forgotten to.

The reporter on the news did recommend re-routing the packages to work or somewhere else you'll be when they are delivered. That's really the best solution! Thanks for the reminder.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

sidsmom — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:41:00 GMT

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 15:18:43 GMT

Excellent reminder, @Pearlee !!!!

I would like to add one thing .......

keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and if you see a vehicle following a delivery truck and/or someone taking packages ...... get their license plate number and call the police!!

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Venezia — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 17:05:03 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Excellent reminder, @Pearlee !!!!

I would like to add one thing .......

keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and if you see a vehicle following a delivery truck and/or someone taking packages ...... get their license plate number and call the police!!

Great advice! It's the "If you see something, say something" idea.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

chickenbutt — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 17:23:42 GMT

I'd love to see more people report these vehicles following the UPS/FedEx trucks, including the drivers themselves. If they are paying any attention at all, they should be able to notice such a thing.

While I'm glad they get the extra help this time of year, some of those 'helpers' are maddening. One thing they've been known to do, many times, is shove a big, heavy, box right up against my storm door so that there is no way I can open the door to get it. What thought process goes into that? (rhetorical)

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

jaxs mom — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 17:26:53 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
I'd love to see more people report these vehicles following the UPS/FedEx trucks, including the drivers themselves. If they are paying any attention at all, they should be able to notice such a thing.

While I'm glad they get the extra help this time of year, some of those 'helpers' are maddening. One thing they've been known to do, many times, is shove a big, heavy, box right up against my storm door so that there is no way I can open the door to get it. What thought process goes into that? (rhetorical)

I get that once in awhile too and wonder what the heck are they thinking?

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

handygal2 — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 17:59:30 GMT

In light of what's been going on, what boggles the mind is that the UPS man doesn't even ring the doorbell. So if l'm home, the packages could be sitting on my doorstep for hours before l even realize they are there. How much extra time and trouble would be involved to ring the bell, which is directly above where he puts the packages??

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

151949 — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 18:23:55 GMT

When my DH was working as a salesman and travelled a lot the UPS driver used to put his deliveries right in front of the garage door on my side several times a week.They were too heavy for me to move usually as they were large boxes of catalogs. We placed a note on the garage door saying do not place UPS deliveries here on my door and please place UPS deliveries here on the other door. It didn't work. My DH said just drive over them and when they get tired of having to refund my company because the stuff has to be replaced he will get the message from UPS and sure enough - that worked.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

chickenbutt — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 18:29:38 GMT

handygal wrote:
In light of what's been going on, what boggles the mind is that the UPS man doesn't even ring the doorbell. So if l'm home, the packages could be sitting on my doorstep for hours before l even realize they are there. How much extra time and trouble would be involved to ring the bell, which is directly above where he puts the packages??

I agree that ringing the doorbell, especially in certain circumstances, is a necessity. If the parcel is perishable (it will be marked, or comes in an ice chest so it's obvious), or if it's delivered after dark. That's what I would ask if I had my druthers.

I have a puppy alarm so we usually knows when the truck is out in front of my house but sometimes he's either out back or sleeping soundly and doesn't hear a thing.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Shorty2U — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 19:00:15 GMT

Good reminder. I track my packages and am home all day long and sitting here, so I can see right out the window when delivery trucks pull up. So, I get to the door way before they do.

What my son in law does is, he has all their Christmas packages delivered to his office @ work. Good idea, plus then there is no risk of the kids accidentally seeing their packages on the porch at home!

To add- When I lived in the city, delivery people rang the bell for every delivery. They never left any packages at the door (no matter the cost), due to possible thefts. I personally think they should do the same everywhere, because contrary to popular belief, there are thieves everywhere!

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Blahblahvampemer — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:27:49 GMT

We had $300 worth of packages stolen last year, and now I have to sign for everything from UPS unless I take on the responsibility and leave a signed note on the door. Funny thing is that they left a Fed Ex package behind.

Anyway, I try to be home on days I'm expecting something, and we watch the mail like a hawk. We go out early in the morning or after 1p.m. just so nothing sits at the door. Security cameras are next with multiple signs warning anyone who even drives by the property.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Toppers — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:45:38 GMT

@handygal2 wrote:
In light of what's been going on, what boggles the mind is that the UPS man doesn't even ring the doorbell. So if l'm home, the packages could be sitting on my doorstep for hours before l even realize they are there. How much extra time and trouble would be involved to ring the bell, which is directly above where he puts the packages??

I don't understand this, either.

One year in particular, our usual UPS route driver was training some temporary helpers during the holiday season. It seemed to be some kind of a "free-for-all."

I was getting packages left outside of our building entrance-that he insisted were mine-that weren't even addressed to me-my name wasn't even on them. There was one that was so large that it was even blocking the outside doorway.

He wasn't even having anyone ring the bell either, but was just literally leaving the packages outside where anyone could get to them, and take them if they wanted to.

I ended up calling UPS to get the whole situation sorted out.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Mz iMac — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:57:45 GMT

@blahblahvampemerblah wrote:

Security cameras are next with multiple signs warning anyone who even drives by the property.

Has never stopped the package theives. Only a few are caught IF the video footage is "clear."

YouTube is loaded w/videos of package theives.

The videos that my tv local news shows are actually funny because the theives wave at the video security cams & a few even wink.

The caught theives are not from the neighborhoods they steal from & most are out of state or county if you live in a tri-state area and/or a multiple county state.

The smart theives go to the so called "safe neighborhoods." You know the ones, "those things don't happen in our neighborhood" mind set.

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:00:52 GMT

I remember years ago a package being delivered to our house and the driver rang the bell. As it turned out, my mom was near the front door and yelled at the delivery man because his ringing the bell woke up my baby sister from her nap!

You can't please everyone ......

Re: Keep Your Delivered Packages Safe!

Shiloh09 — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 01:16:22 GMT

Two years ago a package was sent to my home. Unfortunately,I did not get home until after 4:00. When I arrived, I found the window in my backdoor smashed and my house burglarized. The police officer suggested that since the package remained at the front door it was quite possible that the thieves drove by several times before deciding to break into my home. At the time, I did not have a security system,but a neighbor did. What the officer said was absolutely true! It was creepy to watch my home being burglarized, but ultimately the video footage helped catch the guys! I have everything I order sent to my place of business and have great video security. A package left at your front door is like an invitation to the bad guys!