Delivery Package Robbery – A Serious Criminal Offense

‘Tis the season’ for front porch package thievery. It is the holiday season and package deliveries are at an all-time high. Despite the increase of home security camera systems, package theft continues to be widely common in many residential communities. Recently, a home surveillance system captured the moment in which a nanny caught a robbery taking place at the residence she was supervising. Video of the impactful moment showcased the moment the nanny chases after the alleged thief who seemingly attempts to make a quick getaway to a nearby vehicle. To the dismay of the fleeing woman, the driver in the awaiting vehicle speeds off not giving her a chance to fully get into the car, thus propelling her out of the moving vehicle. The chasing nanny is then seen taking the fleeing woman by the arm as it becomes evident that the alleged accomplice has now left her behind.

While the homeowners are thankful that the nanny caught the alleged burglary suspect, they will not be the only theft victims this holiday season. Unfortunately, mail theft is not limited to holiday gifts. Frequently and unknowingly, a package thief can steal a person’s livelihood, personal information, or even medical supplements. According to a survey conducted by the Shorr, Packaging Corp., an incredible 31% of their respondents revealed that they had experienced package theft. 

Protecting Yourself from Package Theft

There a few, simple steps that can be done regularly to protect awaiting packages. While the following steps are not difficult to do, they are nonetheless extremely helpful in the prevention of package theft.

• Request a signature for your package. Oftentimes, a delivery can be requested to include a signature for the confirmation of the delivered package. What this means is that a package will not be delivered if there isn’t someone home to receive the package.
• Don’t ship to your home. If there is a probability that the package will remain outside, have the package shipped to a trusted friend’s house or a friendly neighbor. Having someone receive the package as soon as it arrives can be one of the most successful methods in preventing mail theft.
• Pick the item up at the local mail facility. While not all mail facilities offer this as a free service, it is often convenient to reroute packages to a local mail center. In this instance, a P.O. Box could also be beneficial.
• While this tip is by far the less secure, it could definitely nevertheless be beneficial: leave a notice to the mail carrier where you feel the package will be the most shielded. Not all places have a secure location, such as apartments and homes that do not have front porches. Nonetheless, there are areas that could keep a package out of eyesight in the event that a retailer does not offer a signature request.

Your Package Has Been Stolen

With the increase of package thieves, some packages will not be successfully saved. In the event that a package has been stolen, a few tips can help recuperate your losses.

• Notify the seller. If you were fortunate enough to pay for insurance, a purchased item can be fully replaced.
• Contact your renter’s insurance or the credit card used for the transaction to see if they offer theft protection.
• File a police report. Upon filing a police report, some credit card companies can potentially refund you the purchased item.
• If there is not immediate solution for your loss, alert your neighbors. While you might not always be replenished for your loss, you can help save the package of a fellow neighbor and increase the neighborhood watch in your area.

If you were recently arrested for burglary, and the County District Attorney is attempting to bring charges against you, a criminal defense attorney can provide valuable information about your rights and responsibilities as the accused. Many defendants in a criminal court case may assume that they have no rights, or that they may not have any chance of changing their outcome, but those decisions should be left to experienced legal professionals. If you are looking for a criminal defense attorney in your area to help you, you can search and view profiles for criminal defense attorneys in Santa Barbara. Don’t give in and assume you don’t have a chance to fight. Do your research, weigh your options and move forward from there.

 Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel

About the Author:

Joel Smith