This time of year we see a spike in crime around town, especially porch pirates trying to steal your holiday packages.
Sadly it can be a real spoiler right around the holidays. While most of us are focused on finding the best Christmas deals, others are looking for the opportunity to take advantage of us.
"Why would you take something that wasn’t yours? The other thing was just the inconvenience of having to call the folks and tell them that my stuff got stolen, and then waiting for another package,” says Kylie Conover a victim of package theft.
Public Information Officer Damon O’Connell with the Sparks Police Department says there are some things you can do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
"Everybody is ordering from whatever site they're ordering through, everybody has jobs. They can't always be home at night. So obviously what you can do is have your package and pick it up at whatever carrier is delivering,” says O’Connell.
It’s also a good idea to track your packages, and if you’re not home have a neighbor pick it up for you.
You can also ask your delivery company to require a signature before leaving your package, or try installing cameras outside of your residence.
Now to keep your home and vehicle safe during the holiday crime spike and in general make sure all of your doors and windows are locked, including your garage.
Also make sure your home looks occupied, try leaving the lights on or leaving a radio playing.
Your home is also not the only place you can fall victim to this type of crime. Criminals are also looking to catch you off guard when you’re out shopping.
"These types of crimes are crimes of opportunity. These are people who are walking by and look into your vehicle window and see packages in plain view. So those types of thefts they happen more,” says O’Connell.
O’Connell says you should follow the hide, lock and take system. Hide your items, lock your car, and take your keys inside with you while you shop.
He says if you see something suspicious or witnesses someone stealing the best thing you can do is call 911 and tell them what you saw.
"Be a really good witness, tell me what this person looks like, what this person is wearing, what direction this person is going. Call our dispatch center, stay on the phone give us all of that information. Our officers will be coming,” says O’Connell.
