Here are 7 tips on avoiding porch pirates in New Orleans from the police department
The holiday season is here in New Orleans, which means presents are on their way to porches citywide.
And while there’s no better feeling than seeing yours or someone else’s gift when you get home, realizing what you ordered online is now gone puts a damper on the Christmas spirit.
Package theft is an unfortunate reality to consider as gifts make their way off of delivery trucks to your home.
Here are the New Orleans Police Department’s tips to help avoid becoming a package theft victim this holiday season:
Provide instructions for delivery
Give delivery services a specific spot to leave your packages upon delivery that would be out of plain sight.
Consider buying a porch lockbox and instructing delivery services to place packages inside.
Schedule and track packages
Pick a delivery time and date through your delivery service.
Also, set up alerts to notify you when the package is en route and when it is delivered.
Pick an alternate delivery destination
If you do not feel delivery to your residence is secure, have the package delivered to your workplace or to a family member, friend or neighbor who is home during the day to accept the delivery.
You can also select “Ship to Store” or secure locker options for businesses with brick-and-mortar locations when available, or delivery to P.O. Boxes or mail/shipping centers for pickup.
Also consider shipping through registered mail, which adds a layer of oversight regarding your package documenting chain of custody.
Request a signature
When shipping something of high value or just to be sure items aren’t left unattended, request a signature for packages to be released.
Request a doorbell ring
If possible, instruct delivery drivers to always ring your doorbell or knock on your door when leaving packages.
Going out of town? Place a vacation hold
If you will be away from home for an extended time, plan ahead with USPS or businesses/shipping companies to have mail and packages held until you return.
Add a security camera
Video surveillance cameras can be an effective deterrent to thefts from home exteriors, as well as signage alerting that your residence features security monitoring.
The NOPD also recommend registering your security camera online with SafeCam Platinum (https://www.safecamnola.com/[1]) to partner in improving public safety by sharing footage with the city’s Real-Time Crime Center.
If you find yourself to be a victim of package theft, call the NOPD Non-Emergency Line at 504-821-2222 or visit NOPD Online (https://nola.gov/nopd/nopdonline/[2]) to begin the process of filing a police report.
Also, contact the retailer to inquire about refund or replacement of the item.
References
- ^ https://www.safecamnola.com/ (www.safecamnola.com)
- ^ https://nola.gov/nopd/nopdonline/ (nola.gov)