Chief Joseph O’Connor
219 Walden Street
P.O. Box 519
Concord, MA 01742
For Immediate Release
Monday, Dec. 4, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Concord Police Offer Tips to Prevent Holiday Package Theft
CONCORD — With the holiday shopping season officially here, Chief Joseph O’Connor and the Concord 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.
“Everyone should be cognizant of the fact that their online purchases could be targeted by criminals,” Chief O’Connor said. “I hope residents will take care to ensure that the items they’re buying for loved ones this holiday season end up where they belong.”
FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, Concord Police recommend the following strategies:
- 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, reach out to Concord Police and report it immediately.
- Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased.