Police: Avoid Package Thefts By Planning Ahead

Metropolitan Police officers are trying to prevent package theft during the holidays by patrolling areas looking for suspicious activities, but they also ask for residents to do their part to prevent theft.

Second District Officer Antonial Atkins, who patrols Police Service Area 206 (PSA 206) in Georgetown, sent a note to block captains to offer suggestions on how residents can prevent their packages from being stolen.

His first advice is to "get to know your neighbor and have them to pick up packages" when you are not home. 

PSA 206 officers are also doing their part, by speaking with UPS and FedEx truck drivers for what to be aware of. Officers are also shadowing delivery trucks to make sure there are not suspicious people trailing the trucks in cars or on bikes, waiting to snag a package once it has been placed at a door, according to Atkins.

Atkins' other advice for residents includes:

• "If traveling and you have auto ship orders, please have your packages stopped or rerouted to an alternate drop off location (ex. your office or a relative's home)."
• "Inform your trusted neighbors when you are out of town by sending them an email letting them know that you will be out of town and to pick up packages that may be left."
• If you will be out of town for more that a few days, send Atkins an email so he can do a vacant house check. He will notify you via email or phone if a package is left and will take it to a neighbor's house for safekeeping.

Atkins can be reached via email antonial.atkins@dc.gov.