ASHBY — With the holiday shopping season officially here, Chief Fred Alden and the Ashby Police Department wish to remind residents of several precautions they can take when ordering items online to help prevent their gifts from falling into the wrong hands.
“Package theft is an unfortunate side effect of the holiday gift-giving season,” Chief Alden said. “Thankfully, the thefts are largely preventable, and by following these helpful tips, we believe that our residents can minimize their risk or losing a coveted present that is destined for a loved one.”
FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, Ashby Police recommend the following strategies:
- Request notifications on your deliveries, via phone or email, to monitor your packages in transit and upon delivery.
- Always require a signature on your deliveries to ensure packages are never left unattended.
- Consider sending deliveries to an alternate location where someone will be able to receive them – whether that be a workplace, a neighbor or friend’s house, or a FedEx or UPS location.
- Schedule your delivery for a specific date and time that you’re expected to be home.
- Set up a vacation hold if you plan on traveling during the holidays so gifts won’t be left on the doorstep.
- Be aware of “tailgating,” which refers to the people who follow delivery vehicles and steal the packages after they are dropped off.
- If you find your package has been stolen, reach out to Ashby Police and report it immediately.
- Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased.
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