Submitted on behalf of the Bedford Police Department
With the holiday shopping season officially here, Chief Robert Bongiorno and the Bedford Police Department wish to remind residents of several precautions they can take when ordering items online to help prevent their gifts from falling into the wrong hands.
FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, Bedford Police recommend the following strategies:
- Request notifications on your deliveries, via phone or email, to monitor your packages in transit and upon delivery.
- Always require a signature on your deliveries to ensure packages are never left unattended.
- Consider sending deliveries to an alternate location where someone will be able to receive them – whether that be a workplace, a neighbor or friend’s house, or a FedEx or UPS location.
- Schedule your delivery for a specific date and time that you’re expected to be home.
- Set up a vacation hold if you plan on traveling during the holidays so gifts won’t be left on the doorstep.
- Be aware of “tailgating,” which refers to the people who follow delivery vehicles and steal the packages after they are dropped off.
- If you find your package has been stolen, reach out to Bedford Police at 781-275-1212 and report it immediately.
- Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information to a stranger.
If you are making in-person purchases from websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, the Bedford Police Department has Online Transaction Safe Zones monitored 24/7. Those wishing to buy or sell items online can arrange to meet in the visitor parking area at the Bedford Police Department or inside the public lobby of the police station, located on Mudge Way.
“We want all of our residents to buy, sell, and receive potential holiday presents as safely as possible,” Chief Bongiorno said. “Please take a moment to read and become familiar with these resources so that you can have the happiest holiday season possible and minimize the risk that your presents will be stolen.”
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