What can I do about missing or stolen parcels during the holidays?

Many people choose to do their shopping online, perhaps more now than ever considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

This can lead to potential thieves or “porch pirates” as they are sometimes known as, stealing unattended deliveries. Const. Michael Alford of the Nova Scotia RCMP said the best way to prevent thefts such as these is to make your deliveries difficult to steal.

Consider other options if you don’t plan to be home, like sending the package to your workplace or to a friend or relative who is home during the day.

You can also request signature confirmation. This means that someone has to accept the package and sign for the delivery so it won’t be left unattended. You can do this by contacting the sender.

Another option is to ask for the package to be left somewhere out of plain sight, such as at a side or back door instead on the front doorstep. You can request this in the “delivery instructions” on some websites or by contacting the seller or delivery company.

If you were planning to be home for a delivery but unexpectedly have to leave, call the delivery company and ask to make other arrangements.

You could ask a neighbour who is home during the day to bring your package inside when it arrives or you may want to invest in a parcel drop box, security cameras or a video doorbell.

Of course, the RCMP asks you report any theft or suspicious activity to the police immediately.

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