Press release from Asheville Police Department:
The Asheville Police Department is seeing an increase of reported package and delivery thefts across the city. With more individuals having packages and deliveries of essential goods, such as groceries, delivered to their homes, thieves have an increased opportunity to commit this crime of opportunity.
The Asheville Police Department would like to share a few tips to protect our residents against this type of crime:
-Consider arranging to have packages delivered to neighbors who are home during the day, or get them delivered to your work, if permitted.
-Sign for it. Signatures services via USPS helps ensure your package ends up in the right hands by requiring a signature at the time of delivery.
-Use internet-enabled security cameras. You can install them inside and outside your home, watch your property from anywhere and record any activity. If the cameras are visible, they might deter thieves from stealing your deliveries in the first place.
-Have packages delivered to an Amazon Locker. Instead of having deliveries left unsecured at your front door, you can have them delivered to one of Asheville’s several Amazon Lockers for pick up at your convenience.
-Give special instructions to the package delivery service. Some services let you indicate where to leave your package if you’re not home. Using UPS’ My Choice tool, or Delivery Manager from FedEx, you can instruct drivers to leave a package at a back door, with a building superintendent, in a coded lockbox, or with neighbors.
-Choose a time for grocery delivery when you know you will be home. Keep an eye on the front door for the grocery delivery and bring items in immediately.
-Sign up for alerts. Some carriers offer text or email alerts so that you know when a delivery will be made and can adjust your schedule accordingly.If your delivery or package is stolen you can report the theft online by visiting https://ashevillepd.policetocitizen.com/ReportIncident or by contacting APD’s non-emergency number at (828) 252-1110.
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