As the digital flyers and promotional emails herald the advent of early Black Friday deals, the Denver Police Department has issued a cautionary note, reminding us that thieves or, as colloquially known, 'porch pirates' are on the prowl for unattended packages delivered to doorsteps. In a social media post that tackles the practicalities of package theft, the department offers straightforward advice on how to outsmart those intent on swiping your seasonal shopping hauls.
The Department's Facebook post lays out a multi-pronged strategy to circumvent the plans of would-be thieves: tracking packages to coordinate at-home reception, signing for deliveries, redirecting parcels to workplaces, sending them to the abodes of acquaintances with more accommodating schedules, opting for carrier hold services, and the utilization of self-service lockers; all are suggested to ensure that the exchange from merchant to consumer is completed without the unsavory intervention of opportunistic marauders.
According to the Denver Police Department, "Track your package so you can arrange to be home when it arrives, and be sure that it requires a signature," is a line of defense, urging consumers to engage actively in the safeguarding of their packages. In addition, by suggesting the strategic redirection of packages, "Have it sent to your workplace or the home of a family member or friend who is more likely to be home," the police underscore the significance of preemptively crafting a delivery scenario that minimizes the risk of theft.
The post also advises residents to act proactively by collaborating directly with shipping companies, "Have the shipping company hold your package and arrange to pick it up at a sorting facility," as per Denver Police Department, eliminates the window of vulnerability that a lonely package on a porch would otherwise face in addition they recommend, "Have it shipped to a self-service locker, so you can pick the package up at your own convenience," offering an alternative for recipients to securely retrieve their orders on their temporal terms, thus closing another avenue for thievery.
