For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Wakefield Police Offer Tips for Preventing Doorstep Theft this Holiday Season

WAKEFIELD — As holiday shopping commences, Chief Rick Smith and the Wakefield Police Department advise residents to be cautious when placing online orders to avoid doorstep theft.

“With more and more people buying gifts online, we want to make sure the community has the necessary resources they need to assure their gifts arrive safely,” Chief Smith said. “When placing your order, remember to sign up for tracking alerts so that you can monitor your packages and make sure you’re home to receive them.”

FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, Chief Smith recommends the following:

• 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 that someone will at to receive them- whether that be a workplace, a neighbor of 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 travelling during the holidays so gifts won’t be left on the doorstep.

If you find your package has been stolen, reach out to Wakefield Police and report it immediately. Unfortunately, if the item was not insured, it’s unlikely that you will get it back.

Never accept a surprise delivery where a  payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased.

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