As the Holiday shopping season approaches, Ontario Provincial Police is advising the public on how to prevent the theft of packages delivered to their homes. Thieves who steal packages that are left at a residence when no one is home or available to accept the parcel are often called ‘porch pirates.’ According to the Canada Safety Council, one in every 10 Canadians has been a victim of such a crime, though the actual number could be much higher, as these incidents often go unreported. Police said porch piracy happens all year long, but is more prevalent during the Holiday season due to an increase in online orders. “With the busy shopping season here, parcels will be arriving fast and furious to front porches everywhere,” the OPP said in a previous news release. “Criminals know this as well.” Prevention tips Tips to prevent porch piracy include: If packages are stolen from your home, police advise reporting the incident to your local police service and the shipping company. No matter what the value of the stolen package, police said, it should be reported. Provincial police advise that if you see suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, contact local authorities, call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. RELATED STORIES:
