MINNEAPOLIS — If you ordered something over the holiday shopping weekend, now might be the most wonderful time of year when you get to wait for those packages to arrive.
Unfortunately, now's the time of year when crimes of opportunity are rampant. According to C+R Research, of the 2,000 people surveyed, 36 percent of people said they have had a package stolen.
We're all familiar with the anecdotes. So what do you do if you suspect that porch pirates may have taken your precious cargo? First check your package tracking to make sure that the delivery isn't simply delayed.
If you are convinced at this point that your package has been stolen, you can contact the seller. Different retailers have different policies but sellers like Amazon do cover many theft cases. They will work to give you a replacement or a refund.
You could also check to see if a claim with your shipping company is available. It's as simple as visiting their website and reporting an item as missing or picking up the phone to call one of the courier services.
Some credit card companies also have purchase protection features. If you have the right documentation (perhaps a police report), the credit card company might also reimburse you for the item you purchased using that card if it ends up being stolen. You also have to note the restrictions as different companies have different policies.
In order to prevent package thefts it the first place, you could have your packages delivered to work, or to friends and family who you know are going to be home. You could also shop in stores or pick up in stores, or have it delivered to the post office where you can pick it up at your own leisure.
You could also invest in a camera-equipped doorbell. However, camera doorbells only record the moment it happens but is rarely a complete deterrent to thefts.