Safeguard your packages this holiday season

Another holiday season is fast approaching and people nationwide will be ordering presents and packages via UPS or other carriers. With internet sales amounting to millions, much of that merchandise will be sitting on front porches, and the bad guys know it.

During the holiday season, thieves will be trolling looking for packages to pick up. In some cases they literally follow the UPS truck, picking up what was just dropped off. Keep your packages safe this year by requesting that the delivery be left at your back door, delivered to your work address or to a friend, relative or neighbor's house if you are not home to receive it. You can also request that it only be left with someone over 18 and require a signature. You are entitled to make any of these requests from many delivery companies.

Whether or not you have packages delivered, if you notice vehicles that appear to be following a UPS or other deliver truck, or that seem to be hanging out in a neighborhood when a delivery truck is around, take just a few seconds to jot down a license plate and call the Washington County Sheriff non-emergency dispatch number at 503-629-0111. A Deputy will be dispatched to your area to check it out.

This is also the time of year when we typically see a spike in burglaries as well, so again be vigilant in your neighborhood, and call if you see anything that doesn't look right to you. Many a burglar has been stopped in his tracks by an observant neighbor.

For more information on UPS security and safeguarding packages, visit the UPS website at www.ups.com. To sign up for Neighborhood Watch News and/or the Sheriff's Office News, send an email to Marcie Allie, Marcy_Allie@co.washington.or.us

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