As holiday shopping ramps up, the Richardson Police Department is reminding residents to take steps to protect packages from porch pirates. With more deliveries arriving at homes during the holiday season, unattended packages can become easy targets for thieves.
There are several ways to help keep your deliveries secure. Consider installing a video doorbell or security camera so you know when a package arrives. Video footage may also provide useful evidence if a theft occurs. Signing up for delivery alerts can help you track packages and know when they have been delivered.
If you won’t be home when a package arrives, consider asking a trusted neighbor to pick it up and hold it until you return. RPD also recommends considering alternative delivery locations, such as your workplace, a retailer offering in-store pickup, a P.O. Box or a self-service package locker.
Residents buying or selling items online can also take advantage of RPD’s designated Exchange Zone. Located at the Richardson Police Public Safety Campus, 200 N. Greenville Ave., on the southeast side of the visitor parking lot, the Exchange Zone provides a safer location to meet someone for an inperson transaction. The area is under 24-hour video surveillance and has access to an emergency call button adjacent to the designated parking spaces.
For more information, contact the RPD Community Relations Unit at 972-744-4955.
