BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY SHOPPING SAFETY TIPS
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are hands down two of the most popular shopping days of the year, especially during the holiday season. Over the years, Black Friday shoppers have been slowly but surely making a switch to online shopping. Every year, more and more Americans report stolen packages. In 2018, it was reported that an estimated 1 in 4 Americans have had packages stolen.
With less foot traffic coming through physical storefronts in 2019 and beyond, it’s even more important to be cautious when ordering gifts and personal items online during this busy time of year. The Flying Locksmiths has put together some quick and easy tips that you can use to help prevent your packages from being stolen.
5 EASY WAYS TO PREVENT PACKAGE THEFT
BE HOME THE DAY OF DELIVERY – While being at home during the day doesn’t prevent package theft completely, it can help your chances. While package thieves are getting savvier (following delivery trucks, intercepting deliveries, etc.), they can usually be deterred if they know that someone is home.
INSTALL A HOME SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM – Installing cameras across your property can help you stay on top of your deliveries even when you can’t be home to bring your package inside. With the increasing popularity of Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day, and other online sale promotions throughout the year, people are not only spending more money, but they’re also ordering more items per purchase which means your delivery may contain multiple boxes. A home security camera system will allow you to monitor everyone coming and leaving your home. We recommend installing these cameras at each door entrance where packages may be delivered.
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS – Simply having a good relationship with your neighbors, especially neighbors that may be retired or work from home, can work to help reduce package theft. The more people in your neighborhood that can keep an eye out on your house will not only help with package theft but can also go to improve the overall safety of your home. When you regularly speak with your neighbors, they can inform you of anyone suspicious that may be lurking around your home.
HAVE YOUR PACKAGES DELIVERED TO YOUR JOB – Delivering packages to your place of work is one of the easiest ways for you to cut down on the chances of your package being stolen. Increased visibility will reduce the chances of your package being swiped unexpectedly or accidentally.
ADD DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS – In some cases, you will have the option to provide delivery instructions on your order. Whether you have a specific door or time of day that you’d like your order to be delivered, including notes in the delivery instructions, can help secure your packages even further.
BONUS: TRY AMAZON LOCKER – Step up your delivery security even further by trying Amazon’s locker system at a location nearest you. Amazon now allows you to pick up your delivery in Amazon Locker in select locations across the country with a unique code, which you can punch into the machine to retrieve your package.