NJ State Police
Ridgewood NJ, We are well into the 2018 holiday season. Black Friday is over. Cyber Monday is over. But holiday shopping is far from over. The seasonal shopping tidal wave won’t break for weeks to come, and this means you can expect big crowds at the malls and frequent home deliveries to online shoppers.
Unfortunately, this season of giving also inspires those who mistakenly think it’s a season of taking. During this time of year, package thieves target neighborhoods, seeking to steal unattended packages delivered while you’re away or at work. Our patrols are on the lookout, but there are a few steps you can take to avoid becoming the victim of package theft.
Sign up for delivery alerts so you know when your delivery is scheduled and when the package has been delivered.
If you’re not able to be home when a package will be delivered, ask a trusted neighbor to hold it for you.
If possible, require a signature for all deliveries.
Consider shipping packages to your place of work or use the ship to store option.
Be a good neighbor! If you see a package on your neighbor’s doorstep, reach out and ask if they would like you to hold it until they are home.
If you have a home surveillance system, monitor it more closely when packages are scheduled to arrive.
And although a Grinch stealing holiday gifts won’t break the spirit of the season, no one wants to have this happen to them! As always, if you observe suspicious activity, please report it to your local police or the State Police barracks that patrols your town.
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