Take steps to prevent porch thefts during holidays
While the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, it also presents a particularly opportune time for thieves to plunder holiday loot off the porches of unsuspecting households.
For the last several years, there have been a number of reported thefts of packages from the porches or doorsteps of Houston-area residents. Some thieves were even bold enough to follow delivery trucks from one home to the next.
Fortunately, there are steps home shoppers can take to reduce the chance their deliveries will be stolen. Please keep these tips from the BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas in mind to prevent the theft of your packages this season.
If you haven’t already ordered your items, there are several options avail- able to you to ensure the safe and secure delivery of your packages:
• For online orders, you can try delivering to the store itself or check on other store pick-up options. Using this option avoids delivery to your home entirely.
• As an alternative, have your package delivered to a location where someone can receive it in person. A neighbor or relative who is usually home could accept the delivery, or you may try having the item delivered to your office instead.
• When possible, request a signature confirmation of delivery, insure valuable items, and/or provide delivery instructions. If packages will be left while you are not home, try to have them left out of sight from the street. For packages already in transit: • Encourage your neighbors to watch for deliveries and agree to secure each other’s packages. This includes being watchful for any stranger who is going onto porches for no apparent reason or following delivery trucks.
• Request the delivery company to hold your package at the closest pick-up facility. You even can use this service if the package is being sent to someone else; just redirect the package to a pickup facility closest to the recipient. The company will then contact the recipient to let them know they have a delivery waiting for them.
• Utilize delivery alerts. Many delivery companies offer — at no cost — text notification to your cell phone when a package has been delivered. Take advantage of delivery alerts and call a trusted neighbor as soon as you learn your package has arrived.
It’s unfortunate some people have no qualms about stealing right off your porch. Use some caution when ordering things for delivery.
If you do fall victim to the doorstep thieves, you should act immediately with all the merchants involved to replace your items.
Once you’ve confirmed that the pack- age was delivered, notify the merchant and make them aware the package was stolen.
It’s also advisable to file a police report which may assist you with recovery you may get from the company you bought the items from. Then choose a more secure form of delivery for future orders.
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews and BBB Wise Giving Reports to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. For information or to check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit www.bbbhouston.org, which includes our BBB Accredited Business Directory, or call 713-868-9500. Leah Napoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas. Send questions regarding homeowner issues to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail her at lnapoliello@bbbhou.org. Include mailing address and phone number on letters and emails.