You see them all the time especially in late November and December – those UPS, FedEx and U.S. Postal Service trucks driving up and down neighborhood streets delivering would-be holiday gifts. Potential thieves see them too. The University City District has issued a reminder that porch thefts, particularly of packages, increase this time of year.
Here are some tips that might help make sure you get your deliveries this year (please feel free to add your own tips in the comments):
• Encourage neighbors to look out for your deliveries and vice versa and bring them inside.
• Have your package delivered to your workplace (if you have an understanding boss).
• Track deliveries and sign up for text message confirmation of delivery.
• Request signature confirmation of delivery. Delivery folks will try again at a later time if you’re not home.
• Provide delivery instructions requesting the package be stowed somewhere out of sight.
• Some online retailers, such as Amazon, offer delivery to secured “lockers” scattered around the city where you can lick the package up at your convenience. The two we could find in West Philly are both at 7-Elevens. One is at 3440 Market Street and the other at 3401 Lancaster Avenue.
Of course, our favorite option of all:
December 5th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
it’s worth getting a private box at the UPS Store. We’ve had one for years and it pays for itself in not having to hunt down packages and risk theft. I will say the UPS Store at 13th and Chestnut is run far better than the Spruce location in UC.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:00 am
I live in an apartment building. For years now, I have packages delivered to my workplace, but I know that’s not an option for everyone. For Amazon orders, I have been using their new Locker system; I use the lockers at the 7-11 on JFK Blvd. It works very, very well.
December 11th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Just wanted to re-iterate this as I am now the cautionary tale. I had a package delivered to my apartment on Larchwood. The package was not big, my neighbor said it was delivered to his door (right next to mine) and he put the package between my storm door and front door. So either I have a shift neighbor or someone had to get very close to my door to see the small package lying in wait. All future packages have been directed for delivery to a UPS store. Big thanks to the LL Bean customer service however for being so amazing.
June 7th, 2021 at 11:27 am
I like the idea of locking away your packages at a convenient place. That could help prevent theft. One of my biggest fears is that someone will come still a package off my porch so a locker could stop prevent that.