ORLANDO, Fla. – As Amazon Prime Day approaches, it’s not just deals and discounts that are on the rise — so are package thefts.
With millions of people expected to be ordering online, security experts warn that the number of stolen packages could surge dramatically.
Corie Wagner of Security.org, tells News 6, “Since package theft is a crime of opportunity, it tends to peak around times when people are ordering more packages.”
A 2019 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute study, in collaboration with the New York Times found that 1.7 million packages are stolen or lost every day in the U.S.
Security.org analysts expect a 40% increase in package theft cases following Prime Day, which equates to about 2.4 million incidents per day during the event.
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To counter the doorstep heists, Wagner offers several practical tips, including scheduling deliveries for times when you are home. Enabling delivery alerts can also help you track your package’s arrival in real-time, giving you a better chance of bringing it inside before thieves have a chance to strike.
If you’re unable to be home for a delivery, consider having your package sent to your workplace or to Amazon Pickup locations. These secure locations, called Amazon Hub Lockers or Amazon Hub Counters, are often situated at gas stations or inside grocery stores, offering a safer alternative to having packages delivered directly to your doorstep.
Package theft is a year-round problem. An annual report by Security.org estimates the value of stolen packages in the past year to be eight billion dollars.
In the unfortunate event that your package is stolen, it’s crucial to notify local law enforcement. Research by Security.org found that fewer than one-in-seven package thefts are reported to the police. However, filing a police report helps authorities track high-risk areas and improve community safety.
Additionally, Wagner suggests notifying the delivery company, “whether that’s USPS, UPS, FedEx, or other types of parcel delivery services. They should be aware, too, of what’s going on so that they can monitor trends, so they can give their drivers more resources and safety.”
If you have a consumer issue email makeendsmeet@wkmg.com
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