Packages are seen at the UPS store in Medicine Hat on November 19. - Photo by Bob Schneider

By Charles Lefebvre

Parcel protection

Companies offer tips to help reduce parcel theft

Nov 20, 2019 | 10:47 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Holiday shopping season is quickly upon us.

The Retail Council of Canada estimates Canadians will spend an average of $792 dollars during the holidays this year, with approximately 28 per cent of that spent online.

At the local UPS store, owner Dominique Hirsch says they’re anticipating a busy couple of months.

“Especially at this time of the year, Christmas is the key focal point of the year, in terms of shipping, and UPS couriers on (their) own is very busy worldwide,” she said.

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However, package theft has become a concern in communities across Canada. Doorbell cameras in multiple cities have caught thieves stealing packages that were delivered to the front door of homes, where owners were not at home at the time.

“It’s a crime of opportunity,” said Sgt. Darlene Garrecht with the Medicine Hat Police Service. “When a parcel is left on the front doorstep, people are curious about what is in this parcel, and they’re not going to know what it is until they take it and open up the package.”

Delivery companies offered several tips to help keep their items safe.

Canada Post sent CHAT News a statement, saying buyers should look into the shipping options available from a retailer, and read the retailers shipping policy before you buy an item.

“Many retailers let you choose if you want your item ‘safe dropped’ on your porch or if you want it delivered straight to a post office for pick up,” the statement reads.

The statement adds “When delivering a parcel, Canada Post follows the instructions it receive from the sender. In some cases, the sender instructs Canada Post to safe-drop the item at the door so the receiver doesn’t have to go to the post office if they are not home.”

Hirsch says shoppers should be aware of their options when buying items online.

“One of the things they should ask for to begin with when they’re ordering online is if there’s an availability to have a signature on delivery,” she said. “That would probably be the key thing.”

If the option to have a signature is not available, Hirsch says UPS also allows people to set up a mailbox at their store to have their items delivered there.

“We get deliveries from every carrier, not just UPS, and they know that it is in a safe place, and they know they can pick it up at their leisure, and they know that it’s here and we can sign off on all of their packages,” she said.

Canada Post has a similar program, called Flex Delivery. It allows delivery to a post office, rather than to your front door. More information about the program can be found here.

Police add having a neighbour pickup your deliveries, or making sure you are home at the time, is another solution to keep your items safe.