Protect your Packages this Holiday Season

Between holiday gift orders, seasonal sales, and last-minute shipping, many of us will have more boxes arriving at our doors in the next few weeks than at any other time of year. Thieves know this too. Package theft tends to climb in the holiday season, but a few simple habits can keep your deliveries safe.

Start with the delivery, not the doorstep

The best protection happens before the package ever arrives.

Pick a safer destination. If you won't be home, send your order somewhere it can be collected on your schedule. Many retailers offer in-store pickup, and carriers and shipping companies often provide lockers or pickup points. USPS can also hold mail and packages if you will be away.

Take control of timing. Most carriers let you choose a delivery day or window, and many send text or email alerts as soon as a package is on its way. If you know when it is coming, you can be home, or have a neighbor or family member grab it.

Ask for a signature. For valuable items, a signature requirement means the package isn't left behind unless someone is there to accept it.

Give clear delivery instructions. Where the carrier allows it, ask for the package to be left at a back door, in a side gate, or behind a planter, anywhere out of view from the street.

Make your home a harder target

Let cameras do the work. A doorbell camera or a visible security camera is a strong deterrent, and a "this home is under video surveillance" sign adds to it. If a theft does happen, footage can give law enforcement something to work with.

Keep the porch tidy. A porch that looks watched and cared for is less appealing than one with boxes stacked by the door. Good lighting helps too.

Watch out for your trash. Empty boxes at the curb can advertise what you just received. Flatten them and tuck them into your recycling bin, or turn the printed side inward.

Look out for each other

Neighbors are one of the best defenses we have. If you see a package sitting out on a neighbor's porch, let them know or bring it to a safe spot for them. Consider agreeing with the folks nearby to keep an eye out for deliveries when someone is traveling. If you see someone following delivery trucks or lingering around porches, trust your instincts and report it.

If a package goes missing

1. Check first. Look at your tracking details and the delivery photo, if the carrier provided one. Confirm with neighbors, since it may have been left at the wrong address.
2. Contact the carrier and the retailer. Many will replace or refund lost or stolen items.
3. File a police report. Reporting helps law enforcement spot patterns and repeat offenders. For non-emergencies, use your local non-emergency line. If you see a theft in progress, call 911.

A little planning goes a long way, and your holiday gifts are worth protecting. From all of us at Harris County MUD 449, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

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