Police respond for stolen package report, offer prevention tips

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 — Bardstown Police responded at about 8:55 a.m. Thursday morning for a report of a packaged that was stolen from the front porch of a home in the 300 block of Creekwood Drive.

A Bardstown Police Facebook post reported an increase in the number of mail thefts in the area, and have offered the following tips to avoid becoming the victim of a Holiday package or mail thief.

 – Remove delivered mail from your mail box as soon as it is delivered. Never leave it in your mail box overnight.

 – Install a locking/secure mailbox if immediate removal is not feasible.

 – Never leave outgoing mail in your mailbox for the postman to pick up. Take and drop it into a secure USPS-approved mailbox or hand deliver it to your mailman or post office. Outgoing mail is a main target of mail thieves.

 – Have a designated area for package delivery or arrange delivery when you, another family member or friend will be home or around to receive the package. Another option is to instruct the person(s) who is sending the package to leave it at the post office or other package shipping facility for later, personal pick up.

 – If you are going to be absent from your home for a period of time, mail delivery can be stopped but check with your local post office to inquire when the mail stop/hold notice should be put into their office. (May take upwards of two weeks for the mail stop request to process and occur.)

 – Have a trusted family member, neighbor or friend pick up your mail if you do not stop delivery at the post office. The same can be said for newspaper and package deliveries. (This can work in your favor for not only is the aforementioned being picked up, your residence will be looked after and it will appear to be “business as usual” to would be thieves and/or burglars.)

 – Have a P.O. Box at your local post office or package delivery service center.

 – Immediately contact your local post office and all those who you do business with via the mail if you change your address.

Contact the Police if and when you believe your mail has been stolen. Contact financial institutions if they were to be sending checks, credit cards or other negotiable items. Never send cash in the mail.

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