For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 4, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Office: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Police Remind Residents to Be Cautious With Online Deliveries During the Holidays

GROVELAND — With the holidays quickly approaching and residents continuing their online shopping, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Gillen and the Groveland Police Department are encouraging residents to use caution when scheduling deliveries in order to prevent unattended packages from being stolen.

“We understand that many of our residents aren’t home during the day to receive packages, so we encourage them to follow these safety tips in order to avoid being a victim of one of these crimes,” Detective Steven Petrone said. “Unfortunately, these types of crimes increase during the holidays, so please make sure your packages are never left unattended and take necessary measures to secure your deliveries.”

Detective Petrone is currently investigating two separate cases involving package theft in Groveland and is working closely with other agencies who have received reports of stolen packages in their own communities.

FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers. To ensure packages are not stolen, consider:

• Requesting a signature on your deliveries, especially those of high value, so they are not left unattended. You can also give specific instructions on where to leave a package so it is not left in a visible spot.
• Signing up for an email alert that will notify you when your delivery is set to arrive.
• Choosing an alternative destination — either at work or at a family member’s, friend’s or neighbor’s house where someone will be home to receive the delivery.
• Re-directing packages, even if they’re already on their way. Send them to your closest FedEx or UPS office, or another secure location.
• Setting up a vacation hold if you’ll be away during the holidays so gifts will not be delivered to an empty house.

If you arrive home to find that your package has been stolen, immediately call the Groveland Police Department at 978-521-1212. Unfortunately, if the item was not insured, the chances of receiving it back are slim.

Residents should NEVER accept a surprise package or gift where a payment is required. Additionally, do not give out any personal information when retrieving a delivery if you initiated the purchase.

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