People living in certain parts of Merseyside have been advised to change how they receive deliveries after police recorded a rise in thefts of parcels and deliveries.
Shoppers in Port Sunlight, New Ferry and Rock Ferry have been warned to be extra vigilant when it comes to deliveries after police received a rise in reports of parcels being stolen from doorsteps. Police have issued advice on how to keep your deliveries safe from "porch pirates", with homeowners advised to change the way they have parcels delivered.
One piece of advice was to install a video doorbell camera to watch over any incoming deliveries. Though police also suggested the use of a different address in a more secure location if possible, or to have parcels delivered to parcel hubs at shops.
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A spokesperson for Wirral Police said on Facebook: "We have noticed a rise in reports of parcel theft in the areas of Port Sunlight, New Ferry and Rock Ferry. We will actively patrol those areas and deal with anyone acting suspiciously however, if you are ordering online you could consider changing your delivery method or follow one of the following points-
"Send packages to a secure location: most retailers provide secure delivery methods now such as delivery to a local shop or locker.
"Provide delivery instructions - For those choosing to ship packages to their homes, providing delivery instructions is one free way to prevent package theft. Leaving with a trusted neighbour or asking the courier to place your item in a secure location, out of sight can help.
"Schedule packages to arrive when you're home, then track their progress - If there are days when you are home, you can try to submit your orders so they arrive on days when you're home and can quickly bring packages into your home. You can also delay or re-route packages.
"Require a signature - As part of the online checkout process, you may have the option to require that the package can only be delivered with a signature.
"Consider installing parcel box near delivery door - A number of companies are now building secure lockboxes that allow varies mail carriers to deliver your packages in a concealed and secured container.
"Install a front door security camera or video doorbell and post a warning sign - The visibility of a security camera or a doorbell camera on a doorstep may discourage porch pirates from stealing your packages. Some data shows that theft is as much as 300% less likely to occur when security cameras are installed."
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