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The holiday season is in full swing. As you order gifts to your home, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) has created a guide to prevent “porch pirates” from stealing your packages. We’ve read through it and picked out the highlights. Check it out.
Prevention
Make sure to keep dark areas well-lit and utilize home security technology to monitor your property. Being notified by security technology about when a delivery has arrived to your home makes it easier to identify when or if it has been stolen.
Neighbors should avoid leaving their deliveries unattended for long periods of time. Setting a delivery time with the shipping company, following the package tracking number and requiring a signature are all ways to minimize the chance of a package being stolen.
Alternative delivery options include: having your package delivered to a neighbor, friend or workplace, or picking up your package at an offsite locker.
What to do if your package is stolen
Contact the seller or the shipping company — they may have defined processes and policies for stolen packages.
Notify DPD by filing a report. If the theft occurred in the City of Dallas, neighbors will be able to report it via the Dallas Online Reporting System, or at any patrol station. According to DPD, the punishment for “porch pirates” can result in several years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines in Texas.
If an individual is not able to get the purchase refunded or replaced, insurance or credit card companies may be able to provide extra coverage to cover losses.
