As more people take advantage of home delivery, the convenience is being exploited by criminals.
Saint John police have seen an increase in unattended parcel thefts over the past two weeks.
“Parcels that are delivered may sit for hours unattended,” the police force said in a news release on Tuesday.
“They are often left on doorsteps, in mailboxes, or in other visible and accessible locations which makes them an easy target for thieves.”
The police force is offering some tips to residents in order to help prevent this type of crime.
- Have a visible security camera on your porch
- Leave instructions to conceal the package
- Use a porch lock box
- Follow package tracking
- Require a signature for delivery
- Request deliveries to a pick-up location
- Have a neighbour receive your package
Anyone who sees suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.