Between last-minute online shoppers and long-distance gift givers, it’s no secret that the Holiday Season is a peak time for package deliveries, but the increase in activity also makes it a busy time for package thieves. The Boston Police Department would like to offer some safety tips to ensure that packages end up in the right hands this holiday season.

•     Make arrangements with relatives if you know they won’t be home when shipping them a package. Arrange for packages to be shipped to a location where someone will be available to receive them—such as a relative’s home or a work address—or leave special instructions for the carrier to leave the package with a neighbor or in another secure location.

•     Don’t assume that common hallways and back doors are “secure” locations. If the door is unlocked and accessible by those who do not reside there, it’s still a vulnerable location.

•     The United States Post Office (USPS) offers special delivery instructions which can be submitted online via the USPS website. Be sure to read them before shipping packages.

•     Ask that mail carriers post a notice that a package is available for pickup at the local post office instead of leaving it unattended.

•     UPS drivers are trained to leave packages in places that are away from public sight and inclement weather, and customers can submit detailed delivery instructions online for where they’d like delivery items to be left in the event they aren’t home to receive them.

•     Customers can choose to have their UPS packages shipped to a specific UPS Store location. A notification will be sent via text message or e-mail when they’ve arrived and are ready for pickup.

•     FedEx offers a “signature for delivery” option. Choosing this option would mean a person would need to sign for the package and it would never be left unattended.

•     FedEx Packages can also be shipped to FedEx Office stores, and customers even have the option to go online and redirect a package to a store while it is en route.

•     Taking advantage of the security options offered by the carriers will help ensure packages are not easy targets for thieves. If you or someone you know has been victimized by this type of crime, please report the incident to the Boston Police Department. If you see criminal activity taking place, or are in need of police assistance, always call 9-1-1.

We hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season!