NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE
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An Amsterdam Crescent resident had ordered some merchandise on-line and was expecting the items to be delivered to his home. When he returned home later in the evening on Jan. 3, he was surprised that the package apparently had not been delivered yet.
As an added security measure, he had previously installed security cameras on his property and looked back at the video footage from that day to find that the package had been delivered, but stolen from the front porch.
The suspect is described as a white man with blond hair wearing a winter jacket with a lot of reflective striping on it. There also appears that there were three other people in the red, four door Chevy Trailblazer that the suspect drove away in.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Cst B. Gemin at 519-824-1212 at extension #7350. Anonymous tips can be left at Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.
On-line shopping has never been easier with home delivery times guaranteed sometimes as quickly as the next day. However, this convenience has also has created more opportunity for thieves when deliveries are left in plain sight for hours on your front porch when you are not home.
Here are some practical tips when considering your home delivery options:
- Take advantage of parcel delivery services that will ask for a signature when a package is delivered to ensure that it is not left at your door. If you are not home during the day because of work and other commitments…
- Ask a friend or neighbor to receive your packages for you. You might not be home on work days, but plenty of people are. Trusted friends who are retired or who work at home might be happy to let you have packages delivered to them for safe keeping.
- If it is possible, get permission to ship some of those smaller packages to work. That way they aren’t left unguarded at your doorstep for hours where anyone walking by could snatch them.
- If you have no other options, leave clear directions to have the parcels put in a place that is not in plain sight
- Install a video camera on your front porch that can help to identify the thieves when a theft does occur. Placed in a visible place may act as a deterrent for thieves who typically don’t want to be caught on video even if they try to disguise themselves.
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