With the holiday season approaching and online shopping on the rise, Cobourg Police Service is encouraging residents to take proactive steps to prevent parcel theft from their doorsteps.
Police say thieves often look at visible, unattended packages as easy targets, particularly in residential areas where drivers drop multiple parcels in quick succession.
To help protect deliveries, police recommend tracking packages and being aware of expected arrival times. Residents who cannot be home are encouraged to ask a trusted neighbour to collect parcels or to use store-pickup options offered by many major retailers. Delivery to a workplace or a secure shipping centre can also further reduce risk.
Home-based solutions such as a locked mailbox, secure parcel box or motion-sensing cameras can also deter theft. Police note that doorbell-camera systems should be properly powered, connected and configured to record activity reliably if an incident occurs.
Residents who observe suspicious activity, including individuals following delivery vans or approaching doorsteps without a parcel in hand, are urged to report it. Those who experience parcel theft can file an online report through the Cobourg Police website at cobourgpoliceservice.com/online-reporting.
Police say simple preventative measures can help ensure that holiday packages reach the intended recipients safely and allow residents to enjoy the season without unexpected loss.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
