Chief Gary F. Sullivan
46 Lothrop St.
North Easton, MA 02356
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018
Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
Easton Police Offer Tips to Prevent Holiday Package Theft
EASTON — With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Chief Gary F. Sullivan and the Easton 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.
A recent report indicates that online holiday shopping will rise nearly 15 percent this year, and a consumer survey indicates that a staggering 80 percent of Americans will scour Amazon for gifts this year.
“We understand that many residents are often not home during the day to receive their packages, leaving them at risk of being taken,” Chief Sullivan said. “Coordinate your deliveries to be sent to a secure location so you do not lose precious items to theft.”
FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays.
To best ensure that your packages are not stolen, the Easton Police Department recommends the following tips:
- 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, call the police immediately.
- Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased.
- Do not leave packages out in the open in your vehicle. Always lock your vehicle and store all the items out of sight. Bring in all items once you’ve arrived home — do not leave them in your car overnight.
Additionally, the Easton Police Department has set up a Safe Exchange Zone in front of the station. The parking area is designed to facilitate a safe, secure and public meeting place for people to meet and complete online transactions on websites like Craigslist. Residents are welcome to meet in the designated area, however, please keep in mind this space is not monitored with cameras.
The men and women of the Easton Police Department wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season!
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