Dumb. Any package that is to be delivered to my address has a stipulation, if package is not deliverable, if not home, please take package to the Post Office, will pick up package when I return. This has been a policy for years. It works great and nothing gets misplaced, stolen or misdirected. No medications are to ever be left on the deck, too. With the theft of packages that has happened in the past I learned my lesson the hard way - Gabapentin left in 2008 on the deck - can be sold for quite a bit on the street. An 18 year old girl was watching for medication packages and when she saw the package left on the deck - return address medical provider she took the package. A 90 day supply of medications netted her $3000.00.
When I get morphine tablets, that is when I go to the pharmacy - a narcotic. I pick up the medication and carry my pistol in a harness. I park in front of the store, wheelcahir in and out and keep an eye out for anyone watching me. The junkies are looking for a quick fix. This month there has 9 arrests in the little area I live in for prescription drug thefts and heroin.
How to keep doorstep thieves from ruining your holiday
By CHAD UMBLE | Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 4:36 pm
Combined, UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service estimate that they will deliver more than 1.3 billion packages this holiday season.
That’s a lot of boxes landing on doorsteps and potentially staying there long enough to draw the attention of thieves.
While not widespread, thefts of packages that have been delivered to homes are not surprising this time of year, said Lt. Tammy Marsh of the East Hempfield Township Police Department.
On Monday, the contents of at least half a dozen packages were reported stolen from porches of homes in East Hempfield Township. The items were valued between $16.60 and $95 and included a down vest, a sweatshirt and a dress.
“Quite frankly with online shipping become the norm, there’s just so many packages being deliver,” said Marsh. “It is a crime of opportunity.
Here are some tips from delivery companies and police for preventing the theft of packages, and what to do if a theft occurs.
How can I keep my package from getting stolen?
• Customize delivery. Delivery companies allow for specific instructions that could include having a packaged delivered to the back door, behind a bush, or in a shed.
• If you can, have the package delivered to your work.
• Have the packaged delivered to a trusted friend, relative or neighbor who you know will be home during the day.
• Specify that you want to have the package picked up at the shipping center. It’s less convenient, but safer.
• Request a signature. This may not help if no one will be home when the package arrives, but it will keep it from being left on a doorstep in plain view.
What should I do if I think my package has been stolen?
• Make sure the package has actually been delivered. Using a tracking number, see for yourself that the package has been left at your address, noting that it may not have arrived at the exact delivery time noted in the system.
• Check with your neighbors. Packages sometimes get delivered to the wrong address, so see if someone else got it by mistake.
What should I do if I’m sure my package has been stolen?
• Remember that any insurance taken out on a package will not cover theft after delivery. The delivery company’s obligation to care for your package essentially stops once it has been dropped off at your address.
• Make a police report on the stolen item. The theft of a package delivered to your house is a criminal matter and should be handled like the theft of any other property. A police report may be needed to get a replacement item.
• Contact the retailer you bought the item from. The good news is that many retailers, especially large ones, will ship a replacement item when a package is stolen.