How to ensure your packages don’t wind up in the hands of a thief this holiday season

Plenty of packages will be changing locations this holiday season.

However, the postal services aren’t the only ones who will have a role in making sure those packages get to – and remain – in the proper destination.

You need to do your due diligence, according to the Horry Count Police Department.

Often packages are delivered to your doorstep with no guarantee that you will be home when they arrive.

Therefore, that could leave a window of time for thieves to intercept your handoff from and to postal services.

The HCPD tweeted out tips on how to prevent doorstep thieves this holiday season:

• Ask your employer if they will allow you to have your package(s) sent to work.
• Request a signature confirmation from the shipper or ask the shipper to hold the package at their facility for you to pick up.
• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor who is home during the day if your package(s) can be delivered to their home.
• If you are purchasing items from a large retailer online or by telephone, have the packages sent to a local store for pick up.
• Customize your package shipments by requesting a specific delivery date, time or location. You can also get insurance for your packages as well as real-time tracking for your package deliveries.
• Provide the shipper with delivery instruction if you want your packages left in a specific spot not visible from the street.

If you see anyone taking packages from homes or in your community or if you think yours have been stolen, contact your local police department.

David Wetzel: 843-626-0295, @MYBSports

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 9:01 PM with the headline "How to ensure your packages don’t wind up in the hands of a thief this holiday season."