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Secure Your Online Holiday Orders Secure Your Online Holiday Orders

By Brendan Tierney

The ease of online shopping is irresistible for millennials.

“It’s so much more convenient, it’s quicker, it’s faster. I can do it anywhere. I can be on my
phone or on my computer or in class and ordering packages.”

More than 6 billion dollars in online sales were made on Black Friday. That means carriers like UPS are bringing a lot of packages to front doors like yours. The key is getting them there safely.

“I know people who have gotten packages stolen, and myself, I have had packages stolen. I am pretty confident in hoping that I’ll be home when they are delivered or someone else
can come and get them.”

“Syracuse Police say anyone, anywhere can become a victim of package theft. A quiet snow-covered street like this one might seem like a very safe place, but it’s actually also great for thieves who are looking to go up — find packages on the front step of houses that have been delivered. There is no one around to stop grabbing them from getting away like they were never delivered.”

Jim Lostumbo represents over 1,000 letter carriers in the Syracuse area. He says a delivery person works up to 14 hour days, seven days a week, during the holiday
season. All to ensure your package gets delivered safely.

“I think the best thing that can happen for the customer, depending on if they know they have packages coming, is to let us know if they would like to leave something on the porch for us to put it in or say ‘hey deliver it in the back’ so it can be out of the public eye.”

He says letter carriers are more than willing to do whatever you would like, but you must contact the post office in advance. Amazon allows its packages to be left at a house even if no one is home.

“In general, we would leave it if nobody is home as long as it is out of the weather. We
don’t want to leave it in the weather with the rain and all stuff like that.”

Syracuse Police have its own guidelines that agree with Lostumbo. It also recommends getting insurance on a package or requiring a signature. Installing security cameras can also deter theft and capture images of any suspects.

If something is stolen, contact police and the company you ordered from — for another one to get in the mail right away. Brendan Tierney, NCC News.

Every year, it seems like more holiday gift shopping is occurring online. This year’s Black Friday saw a 23 percent increase online sales compared to 2017, according to Adobe Analytics.

More than $6 billion was spent on sites including Amazon and Walmart on Black Friday. Add Cyber Monday shopping to that and there is a plethora of packages that are being shipped to houses in the Syracuse area.

“It’s so much more convenient, it’s quicker, it’s faster,” Syracuse University senior Kyla Perlman said. “I can do it anywhere. I can be on my phone or on my computer or in class and ordering packages.”

 

The convenience does come with a risk for shoppers like Perlman. She has ordered a number of packages that were stolen before she could take them off her front step.

“In general, we still leave packages if nobody is home as long as it is out of the weather,” Syracuse National Association of Letter Carriers branch president Jim Lostumbo said. “We don’t want to leave it in the weather with the rain and all stuff like that.”

Union building in Liverpool, N.Y.Lostumbo represents more than 1,000 letter carriers in the Syracuse region. Companies like Amazon tell his members to leave packages even if no one is home, creating a challenge to ensure packages are in a safe place.

“I think the best thing that can happen for the customer, depending on if they know they have packages coming, is to let us know if they would like to leave something on the porch for us to put it in or say ‘

hey

deliver it in the back’ so it can be out of the public eye,” Lostumbo said.

Arrangements like this can be made by contacting your local post office prior to delivery.

Letter Carriers work up to 14 hour days, seven days per week during the holiday season, Lostumbo said. This is caused by an employee shortage and a drive to ensure all packages are safely delivered.

Syracuse Police have seen packages being stolen off front porches and give residents the following guidelines to help protect their packages:

  • Don’t let packages sit on the front step for long periods of time.
  • Have a trusted neighbor/friend pick up the package for you.
  • Ship to an address where someone can receive it, or pick it up at the delivery service location.
  • Install security cameras.  They can deter theft, and provide photos of the suspect if there is a theft.
  • Get insurance on the package.
  • Provide special delivery instructions to the service, such as a side door or rear door, to try to keep the package out of sight.
  • Have the delivery require a signature.

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