All those deals you snagged on Cyber Monday—traditionally the biggest online shopping day—may be arriving soon in the mail. And in a few weeks, you might be expecting holiday gifts at your apartment.
Chances are you can’t sit around at home waiting for your special delivery. Instead you cross your fingers that your packages are there waiting for you when you get home from work.
As more people shop online, there’s more opportunity for thieves to steal packages not just this time of year but year-round, said Mark Reynolds, U.S. Postal Service spokesman.
Just look at the statistics: This year’s Cyber Monday sales surpassed $3 billion, up 16 percent compared with last year, according to Adobe Digital Index, which published research based on data of more than 125 million visits to 4,500 retail websites. Online shopping from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday was estimated by Adobe to total $11 billion this year, an increase of 15 percent over last year.
Between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, FedEx is projecting it will move 317 million shipments in its global network, a 12.4 percent increase compared with last year, according to a news release.
“More and more people are shopping online. That means we’re delivering more and more packages to doorsteps and front porches,” Erin Truxal, FedEx global media manager, told RedEye.
Additionally, the U.S. Postal Service is estimating 600 million packages will be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, an increase of 10.5 percent over last year, according to a release.
UPS, which delivers about 18 million packages every day, said in a statement that theft incidents involving UPS deliveries are rare and that the rate has been relatively flat over the past few years.
Still, with all those packages arriving, Reynolds pointed to the phrase, “If you see something, say something.”
If you notice a car following a postal truck or someone swiping packages, report it to the police. If you suspect a package was stolen, report it to the police and the entity that handled the delivery.
“The package you save may be your own,” Reynolds said.
From social media to surveillance videos, people across the country have warned others to be aware of thieves taking packages from building lobbies and front porches. Last month, a man was charged with stealing packages from apartment buildings in Lakeview and Bucktown, the Tribune reported.
Chicago Police didn’t provide any stats on package thefts, but last year authorities told RedEye that the police department does not keep data tracking the rate of package thefts separately from other kinds of theft.
Rather than rushing home to make sure the Grinch didn’t steal Christmas or those presents, here’s how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of the five-finger discount.
1. Get personal. You can customize your home deliveries, tell the driver when and where to leave the package, and get notified of when the package will be delivered through FedEx’s Delivery Manager, U.S. Postal Service’s My USPS, and UPS My Choice. You can use startups Doorman or Shurpa for on-demand delivery service in which packages can get sent to a dedicated location. They’ll notify you when the package arrives, and you can schedule the delivery at night, when you’re home from work.
2. Be alert. Sign up to get email and text alerts on your phone to check on the status of the delivery.
3. Change plans. You can redirect your packages to your office, friend or neighbor to accept the delivery even if the package is mid-route by using the shipping company’s customizable options. The U.S. Postal Service can intercept a package with a tracking number for a $12 fee that is charged only if the package gets intercepted.
4. Sign here. Require a signature for packages to get delivered if you’re waiting for a package or sending one.
5. Hold it. Reroute the package to the nearest FedEx Office location, where they can hold it for up to five business days for free. Packages can also be stored at a UPS Access Point location that is open late at night and on weekends. You can store your package at the post office like you can when you’re on vacation.
