Gardai have issued a warning to the public after a number of online orders were stolen in Co. Cork.
With the Christmas shopping season underway police are advising shoppers of recent deliveries being snatched when customers aren’t home.
According to reports, there have been incidents over recent weeks where vans have been following couriers in order to steal packages at locations across the country where homeowners aren’t in.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, some delivery drivers have had the option of leaving parcels in ‘safe places’ when people are not home to receive their package.
Sergeant John Kelly of Fermoy Garda Station issued the warning and said people shopping online with retailers like Amazon should have arrangements in place so their package is left in a safe and secure place.
Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103's Cork Today Show, Sergeant Kelly said that people need to be careful and have plans in place with courier services.
Shoppers are being encouraged to shop local this Christmas to avoid these types of theft while also bringing a much-needed boost to the economy.
"Shop local if you can at all," the sergeant said.
"In regards to the delivery of packages, have a trusted method, ensure one of your neighbours is in."
Kelly said this isn’t the first time that these types of burglaries have occurred and that they always occur when the Christmas shopping season is underway.
"There have been instances of this in the past, and there could be, with Christmas coming, some in the future as well," he explained.
