The holiday season is a major time for online shopping and package deliveries, and hand-in-hand comes the unfortunate reality of package thieves — the RCMP and Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) are reminding Canadians to take preventative steps.
During the month of December, online shopping increases, and so do the number of parcels left temporarily unattended, lonely, and vulnerable on residents’ doorsteps.
This creates easy opportunity for porch pirates.
Keep safety top-of-mind and follow these tips from the RCMP and MJPS to prevent deliveries from being stolen:
- Schedule deliveries for a timeframe you know you will be at home, or track delivery progress through notifications;
- Consider having your packages delivered to your workplace, a relative’s home, or a trusted neighbour’s address;
- Ask a trusted neighbour to move the package out of sight;
- Redirect your package to a nearby pick-up location;
- Install a secured parcel lockbox with a one-way lid;
- Request a signature for delivery or for the package to be placed out of sight; and/or
- Consider installing exterior security cameras to monitor your doorstep remotely and capture any suspicious activity.
Always report suspicious persons or activity to your local police of jurisdiction. When all crimes are reported to the police, police officers get a clearer picture of the types and numbers of crimes occurring in their area. This information helps them launch future police projects, initiatives, and education campaigns within the area and the division.
Package thefts in Moose Jaw should be reported to the MJPS via their non-emergency number at 306-694-7600, or via their online reporting form at mjpolice.ca/report.
Outside of Moose Jaw, thefts can be reported to Saskatchewan RCMP through Online Crime Reporting, available at report.rcmp.ca. You can use this always-available, simple option if:
- There are no witnesses or suspects;
- Item(s) lost or stolen are worth less than $5,000; and
- There are no items involving personal identity, firearms, license plates or decals.
Reports made via Online Crime Reporting are investigated the same as if they were reported any other way.
If you see an active crime in progress, it should be reported to 9-1-1.
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