'TIS THE SEASON TO PROTECT YOUR PACKAGES FROM THIEVES

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you to be alert and aware of what you order online and when deliveries are made.  With the Holidays approaching people will be receiving more packages and gifts through the mail and delivery companies.  Thieves go through mailboxes and check porches looking for newly delivered packages.  If you know deliveries are on their way make arrangements to have them picked up so they aren’t setting in a mailbox or on a porch for a long period of time.  Ask a neighbor to help or when buying things online have the post office hold all packages during the Holiday season instead of doing a home delivery. If allowed, have your packages delivered to your work address.  If you have home deliveries place furniture or items on the porch that blocks the packages from public view.  Postal carriers look for these places so packages are more secured.  Sometimes companies allow you to leave special shipping instructions when ordering so you can have deliveries put on a side porch or a specific location.  Lastly, use informed delivery so your package can be tracked and you can be alerted by text message or email when it arrives.

Here are some holiday package tips to remember.

Holiday Package Delivery Safety Tips

1. DELIVER TO YOUR OFFICE

If your place of work allows it, have your packages delivered right to your office. You may not be able to get weekend delivery if you’re not there, but it would be a convenient, safe way to handle package delivery when you can’t be home to wait.

2. USE PICK UP POINTS

Different than a P.O. Box, delivery services are setting up temporary delivery points for you to have your packages delivered to. You can then pick up your packages on your way home from work. Amazon and UPS provide areas in local grocery stores, convenience stores, storefronts and more.

3. USE A TEMPORARY PO BOX

Many delivery services such as UPS or FedEx will not deliver to a traditional P.O. Box address, but will deliver to a street address that just happens to be in a Postal Delivery Service Office. Many of those offices will even call you when you have a package arrives, and take a photo of it for you to see ahead of time. The UPS Store has this service, as well as many privately owned companies. Check your local listings to find one a location near you, then rent the P. O. Box through the season. Be mindful of contract times and fees.

4. REQUEST A RE-ROUTE OR RE-DELIVERY

You can request that a package be held at the delivery facility of your deliverer, rerouted to another location, or delivered on another day.

• Call UPS or FedEx once you have a tracking number from the company you’ve purchased from, and have UPS or FedEx hold the package at their facility for pickup later.

5. USE A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE

Keeping your packages safe during the day is hard if you’re working all the time, but you can find a neighbor who may be willing to accept deliveries for you. Or, if you’re the entrepreneurial type, start a service for a small fee for friends and family. You can become your own Amazon Locker!

6. USE A WIRELESS HOME MONITORING SYSTEM

Use a wireless door monitor or security system that allows you to see your porch. You’ll know when packages are delivered, and will be able to see visitors, even when not at home. It works through a Wi-Fi-enabled camera at your door and an app on your phone. You can set off alarms for snoopers, as well as ask questions to those approaching.

7. REQUEST A SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION

Requesting a signature delivery is a little harder in this day of order and drop, but you may be able to call the delivery service to request a required signature for a package using the tracking number. This insures that the package isn’t just dumped. Packages sent through USPS have the option for a small fee.

8. REQUEST A KNOCK

Our UPS delivery folks are hit and miss with this quick convenience. It is helpful to hear that a package has been delivered, even when you’re home, so that you can pick it up, instead of it sitting outside. So request it in the notes on your order form, call your delivery service with tracking number and put that request in, etc. You are not going to be guaranteed a knock, but it is a note that will be on the delivery for the carrier.

9. CREATE A DELIVERY CORNER

You may be able to hide smaller package deliveries behind planters or decorations on your porch. This is not a guarantee that a delivery person will actually put a package there, but many try to make sure that packages are put in places that don’t draw attention.