Prevent theft of parcels delivered to your home

With the Christmas online shopping season now in full swing, Northamptonshire Police is sharing advice to help people avoid the risk of doorstep parcel theft.

This kind of theft can leave victims with a headache both in terms of working out what has happened to their delivery, and arranging a replacement in time for the big day.

To help keep deliveries safe, the Force’s Crime Prevention Team is sharing some simple advice for online shoppers.

Crime prevention officer Kate Bailey said: “Being at home when a delivery is due can be tricky, but trying to work out if a parcel actually arrived or has been stolen is a real pain, not to mention then having to organise replacing it if it was a gift.

“But following our advice and making a few simple changes to how you have items sent to you can really reduce the risk of you losing items to opportunistic thieves.”

Protect your parcels from theft by:

• Tracking your delivery status

• Requesting signature on delivery

• Fitting a doorbell camera system

• Having items sent to a secure drop-off location – some local shops provide this service

• Collecting your parcel from the delivery service’s depot

• Using Amazon lockers for Amazon parcels

• Enlisting a trusted neighbour’s help to pick parcels up as soon as they arrive

• Having your parcels sent to your workplace

• Having parcels sent to a relative or friend’s house

Report non-emergency crime and suspicious behaviour by calling 101 or going online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. In an emergency always call 999.