December 4, 2023
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI (NewsFirst) — The Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Sheriff’s department reminds everyone to be vigilant with your packages this holiday season.
UPS recommends customers have packages “sent to where they are — not where they are not.” Shipping packages somewhere where you know someone will be available to receive them may be a good idea. Package Guard says 74 percent of packages are swiped during the day while homeowner’s work.
Inspectors with the U.S. Postal Service said letting a trusted neighbor know you’re expecting a package is ideal. They recommended making sure your parcel requires a signature so the shipper will only leave it on your porch if someone signs for it. It’s the “best way to ensure that it is delivered to a person and not left on the porch.”
It would help if you were specific with the shipper.
UPS will let you give specific instructions on where to drop your package. You can be creative to have them put your package somewhere better hidden than your front porch.
USPS also encourages people to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the postal service’s law enforcement arm, and local law enforcement if they have a theft.”
The Sheriff’s Office has arrested individuals in the past who were following UPS and FedEx trucks into subdivisions and then waiting for the packages to be dropped at the door. They then proceeded to the residences after the truck left and stole the packages.
Be vigilant, check your security cameras/ring doorbells, etc, and make sure they are operational. Stay safe out there, Cape County, and call us if you need us.
