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 During the holiday season many people send and receive gifts through delivery services such as FedEx and UPS.  Sometimes, these delivery services may leave packages at the doorstep, making them easy targets for theft.   The Greenville Police Department asks residents to follow a few simple steps to help them avoid becoming a victim of delivery package theft.

• Request a signature confirmation on all deliveries.  UPS and FedEx will not leave packages at the door for items requiring a signature upon delivery.
• If you do plan to receive packages at your door, alert neighbors of expected deliveries and ask them to hold the package for you or place it inside your garage or other area where it is not visible to would-be thieves.
• Keep up with the delivery of your package with its tracking number, which will give you an expected delivery date.
• Consider having valuable items insured.
• Consider having packages delivered to another location where someone is more likely to be present during delivery.  For example, your workplace or a friend or family member’s home.
• Notify the Police Department immediately if you see anything suspicious.
• Be a good witness by providing accurate information on suspicious persons and/or vehicles to include tag numbers, vehicle color and suspect description.
• Leave special instructions if possible to have a package left at the side or back door, out of sight from the road, instead of the front door.

With the ease of the internet, purchases can be made in the convenience of your own home, on your own time, with the rewards showing up on your doorstep.  But packages left unattended on your front steps, even for a short while, may just be too attractive for thieves to pass up.

Remember, crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility.