Have you ever heard the expression "Porch Pirates?" It's someone that does their Christmas shopping right off your porch by pilfering the packages the postman just delivered to your home.

It can be a common problem this time of year.

Last week, Sioux Falls Police responded to South Glenview road for someone stealing packages from neighbors after delivery trucks dropped them off.

Lieutenant Dave McIntire with Sioux Falls Police department reminds residents they need to call 911 should they witness any kind of “out-of-place” activity happening in their neighborhood.

Lieutenant McIntire said, "There's not likely to be a police car driving down the street at that point in time but the delivery driver will be there. If they see something, they should definitely give us a call and we will come check it out."

McIntire also said people shouldn't be “afraid of being wrong” if they see something that doesn’t look right. The worst that can happen is finding nothing suspicious.

According to McIntire, there hasn't been any kind of up-tick in packages stolen this season and that these types of things can occur all year round, not just during the Christmas season.

Another way to give yourself a little peace of mind against would be Porch Pirates is to always make sure you have the correct Zip Code listed on your packages. A single digit out of place on a zip code is the easiest way to cause a delay in a delivery. Delays can often cause consumers to worry their packages have been lost or stolen.

Matt Ellis, Owner of ‘Safe Ship’ in Sioux Falls recommends that consumers take advantage and pay the extra money for tracking shipping companies offer. He said his preference is to ensure a signature upon delivery for added security.

That way you will always know your package has reached its desired destination.

Source: KDLT TV

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