Sheriff Maciol gives warning, advice for “porch pirates” as holiday shopping season nears

There are quite a few families who do their holiday shopping online in today’s world, which leaves opportunity for thieves to steal delivered packages from people’s porches.

As we roll into the holidays, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to the public with an announcement to be on the lookout for what they call “porch pirates.”

To protect against thieves looking to swipe your packages, Sheriff Maciol says it’s important that you follow these tips:

• Always utilize package tracking to know when your package is out for delivery.
• Request a signature upon delivery whenever possible.
• If you are not home to sign your package, check for services that allow you to automatically redirect your delivery to a trusted neighbor's address.
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out for your package. 
• Take advantage of technology by installing a video doorbell or security camera to deter or capture photos of a thief.
• Invest in a porch lock box or mailbox sensor.
• Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and USPS offer lockers and post office boxes to keep your packages secure until you pick them up. Some of these services are free.
• Customize Delivery Times - So you receive can your packages near a desired time.
• Ship to the Store - If the retailer has the option, ship the package to the store, some retailers also offer contactless pickup.
• Leave Instructions - Leave instructions for your carrier, and ask them to place package in an area out of plain view.

Image courtesy via the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.