Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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It's that time of year. Shipping vans are buzzing through neighborhoods at all hours of the day and packages are piling up in porches and doorsteps.

As consumers increasingly rely on online deliveries, police say reports of package thefts are on the rise too.

Opportunities for porch prowlers are plentiful and easy said Brian Hubbard, a deputy chief in the Crystal Police Department.

"Criminals are recognizing this is a pretty good way to get something and not have to break into a car or break into a house to get it," said Hubbard. "It's just sitting there in the open,"

But residents can reduce their risk of package theft.

Hubbard's department offers the following tips to residents — good for people in Crystal, and anywhere else, he said.

• Activate package tracking and follow shipments to see when packages are delivered, so you can secure them quickly


• Require signatures when practical, to make sure someone is home for deliveries


• Ask a neighbor to watch for packages, and hold them for you if they see them delivered


• Ship packages to secure locations, like your workplace, or to a store, where they won't be left unattended


• If you see an unattended package at a neighbor's door, contact them to ask if they would like you to secure it for them

The U.S. Postal Service has an online service, called Informed Delivery Digest, that will let customers see images of mail and track packages, even without a tracking number.

Amazon offers delivery to secure lockers at 20 locations in the Twin Cities.

Police also urge residents to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

"Vehicles that don't seem to belong or circling the area. This is true year round," said Hubbard. "We want them to call 911 and let us know so we can go and check on it and make sure that they belong there and that there's no other problems," he said.

Don't fall victim to holiday package theft

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