Police in Nanaimo are advising the public to take steps to secure parcel deliveries after a package was taken from the doorstep of a home in Lantzville.
The incident happened Monday at about 2:30 p.m. after the thieves followed a courier truck to a residence and stole the parcel after it was left at the front door.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the man who informed police of the incident lives in a rural area of Lantzville and his wife had been expecting the delivery of some clothing that included slacks and a blazer she had ordered online.
“He heard his dog bark. He saw the … courier truck, but he was tied up with something on the phone … about 10 minutes later he heard his dog bark again … he looked out and he just saw the tail lights of a car leaving his driveway,” O’Brien said, adding that the car was an older model, small, grey sedan.
About 20 minutes later a neighbour knocked on the door with a package. The neighbour explained the parcel was found about three kilometres away. It had been ripped open and the blazer had been removed.
“I would surmise that they’re just following the truck and just watching it make deliveries,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes signatures are required, which cuts it out 100 per cent because somebody actually takes possession of it. What they’re waiting for is something to be dropped off on the steps and if there’s nobody home, so a lot of things have to come together for the criminals.”
O’Brien said this kind of theft is expected to increase over the holiday season as more parcels are delivered to homes, so people need to take steps to secure deliveries. He said parcels should be signed for or, if the recipient won’t be home when delivery is made, arrange to have the package delivered to a neighbour. Post offices and courier services will also hold parcels for a limited time to be picked up.
“We expect this to increase, first of all with the online shopping and also with Christmas season upon us, so people really have to get their game together. They have to be aware and also report suspicious activity as well,” O’Brien said. “One of the best ways is, if your work accepts parcels and it’s not going to compromise anything, have it delivered to you at your workplace.”
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