topic Re: Warning about accepting deliveries... in Community Chat

Warning about accepting deliveries...

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:53:18 GMT

There was a story on the evening news a couple of nights ago about a man (I believe in Texas) who opened his door to what he thought was a UPS driver. The delivery man was dressed in brown and was holding a package. As soon as he opened the door, three other men with guns jumped from behind the bushes and rushed the door - the family was robbed at gunpoint. The police told people to not open your door - just tell them through the door to leave the package and then wait until you see the coast is clear. They mentioned some UPS uniforms have even been stolen making their ruse a little more believable.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

MyGirlsMom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:57:01 GMT

Thanks for the 'heads up',

My UPS driver doesn't know where my doorbell is, he honks the horn, leaves the package on the steps and is back in the truck before i can open the door,

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

raven-blackbird — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:00:42 GMT

the FIRST clue they should have had was the "UPS" man was standing at the door with a package..........everyone knows, you know it's the UPS man if you hear a noise on your front pourch and look out the window and see the back side of a guy in brown running to his truck............THEN you know it's the UPS man........................................................raven

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

pommom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:01:13 GMT

I've had the same UPS driver for more than 3 years. If another UPS driver should deliver, I would tell him to leave the package at the door.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

bonnie f — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:06:04 GMT

for the 1st time in yrs, my mom had to sign for a package from qvc? the driver always just leaves it at the door... so if a man comes dressed in fed x uniform & has a fed x truck of course you'd think its for real.... quite scarey

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

Snowpuppy — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:10:08 GMT

Get a dog.

Mine always discern who's at the door. Friend or total stranger.

As far as the home invasion, sounds like they knew of each other. They brought help & likely knew what they were after.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

GCR18 — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:17:33 GMT

It's rare that I open the door if I'm not expecting company. I also have a storm door that adds a little protection. If I open the door, I don't open the storm door. I usually hear the drop on the porch and a truck driving away, then I go look. That's awful for that family.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

Nightowlz — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:27:41 GMT

Where was the UPS Truck? I look out the front window when the doorbell rings. I can see the UPS, FedEx Truck, Mailman etc. I don't answer the door if I don't know who it is man or woman. I also know when I'm supposed to have a package delivered before it gets here.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

Nightowlz — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 18:30:07 GMT

@raven-blackbird wrote:
the FIRST clue they should have had was the "UPS" man was standing at the door with a package..........everyone knows, you know it's the UPS man if you hear a noise on your front pourch and look out the window and see the back side of a guy in brown running to his truck............THEN you know it's the UPS man........................................................raven

@raven-blackbird LOL!!! That's true. They run off so they can get their job done instead of having to talk to lonely people.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

jaxs mom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:00:31 GMT

I can see the truck from my front window. I'm not even worried about it. If they stick around after hearing my GSD freaking out, they have huevos.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

sidsmom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:04:48 GMT

http://abc13.com/news/homeowner-brutally-beaten-by-fake-ups-delivery-driver/1636109/

While this story reminds all of us to be mindful of our safety

and I'm glad this gentleman who was attacked is ok,

there's something that...doesn't smell right about it.

Maybe I'm just too close to law enforcement to question

everything but...

- Why was this guy targeted?

- Why this many attackers for this one house ('UPS' guy & 3 others in plain clothes)?

- Studies show when someone is beaten, they know their attacker getting into a victim's personal space).

- Why didn't the wife sign for the package?

- Why did they take a car, as well?

At first glance, this almost sounds like a gang initiation. It also sounds like a sophisticated attack where they planned everything out...ie, they know the home & where the safe/jewelry/guns were. Especially at 8:30pm, lots of people around, that many attackers...something doesn't add up. Lots of questions.

Again, no matter what becomes of all this, it serves as a good reminder for the rest of us to mindful our of surroundings....and to question everything.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

sunshine45 — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:14:13 GMT

our home does receive packages that must be signed for.

i would look for a uniform and truck outside on our driveway or on the street for any delivery service.

i know our ups man be cause we get regular deliveries......he is such a great guy and has been our driver for years.

every once in a while i give him a few beers to take home. we are one of his last stops.

if he is going on vacation he usually tells us when he is going and when he is coming back.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

MyGirlsMom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:31:33 GMT

Our driveway is 250 long and I can still hear the UPS (diesel engine) a long way off. He ALWAYS honks the horn coming up the driveway, then I hear the sliding of doors and then the dogs start barking. Other than two month packages that need to be signed for, everything gets left and he's on his way to the next house.

I never hear Fed Ex and sometimes surprised when I find a package on my doorstep. One was there from Harry and David..for my neighbor. We took it to them the next day.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

sandraskates — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:56:23 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
Where was the UPS Truck? I look out the front window when the doorbell rings. I can see the UPS, FedEx Truck, Mailman etc. I don't answer the door if I don't know who it is man or woman. I also know when I'm supposed to have a package delivered before it gets here.

And that is what they said to do at the conclusion of the story - look for the actual truck first.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

chrystaltree — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:01:03 GMT

Sounds like an urban myth to me. But even if it is true, so what? It's one single isolated incident that means nothing. What should we do, lock ourselves in our homes, hide under the bed and wait to die?

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

truffle — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:08:51 GMT

A few of my deliveries from Amazon arrived by private vehicle with no signage and I'm not talking about old vehicles with faded paint, but shiny black sedans and suv's. They rang our doorbell and waited to hand us our packages. More coming this week. Only thing I dislike is not being able to sign up for text alerts. I always know ahead of time when UPS and USPS is coming and if I'm on the road will head home.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

ROMARY — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:26:21 GMT

I saw the surveillance video on the news. That's the problem when folks continue to open their doors to door-to-door whatevers. We see it all around here. On an almost daily basis. All ages, too, including kids opening their doors. I just don't get it. And, as long as folks continue to open their doors, the longer the perpetrators will continue doing their (bad) deeds. Feel very sorry for the residents in this case. It's a frightening, long lasting memory to have to endure. .......... I might add that in our area even the authorities recommend not even opening our doors to uniformed 'police officers'. We're supposed to call the local non-emergency number to find out if an officer was sent to our home. I'm guessing that there are police impersonators. .............Also, just to be safe: It's a good idea to look out our front window, though, just in case a fire truck is out front, and in case they are warning us of danger.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

sidsmom — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 23:20:41 GMT

@truffle

I posted on another thread about my experience about this exact same thing. Was expecting a package from Amazon.

Got a knock on the door, looked out for the UPS/USPS truck...nothing.

Knocked again...then I saw a young lady in a grey sweatshirt

walking back to a car...with the backseat filled with packages.

I waited until she was gone & opened my door. There was my package.

She was a private courier companies hire during the holiday season.

It kinda spooked me for a second.

Note: She didn't have a uniform, didn't knock & say 'Amazon', her car did not have Amazon signage...nothing about her represented the company she was working for. No way I would open the door. Heck, the UPS guy doesn't even give me a chance to get to the door before I open before he's gone.

I don't care if you're my Mom or 'Opportunity'...if you knock but don't call or let me know you're coming, I ain't answerin'.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

truffle — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:22:07 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
@truffle
I posted on another thread about my experience about this exact same thing. Was expecting a package from Amazon.
Got a knock on the door, looked out for the UPS/USPS truck...nothing.
Knocked again...then I saw a young lady in a grey sweatshirt
walking back to a car...with the backseat filled with packages.
I waited until she was gone & opened my door. There was my package.
She was a private courier companies hire during the holiday season.
It kinda spooked me for a second.

Note: She didn't have a uniform, didn't knock & say 'Amazon', her car did have Amazon signage...nothing about her represented the company she was working for. No way I would open the door. Heck, the UPS guy doesn't even give me a chance to get to the door before I open before he's gone, so...

I could be wrong but I have a feeling they work for Manpower or some other temp agency.

Re: Warning about accepting deliveries...

raven-blackbird — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:36:07 GMT

@truffle wrote:
A few of my deliveries from Amazon arrived by private vehicle with no signage and I'm not talking about old vehicles with faded paint, but shiny black sedans and suv's. They rang our doorbell and waited to hand us our packages. More coming this week. Only thing I dislike is not being able to sign up for text alerts. I always know ahead of time when UPS and USPS is coming and if I'm on the road will head home.

If I am not mistaken, that is because Amazon will use Uber drivers for some deliveries to meet their deadline..................................raven