WAGGA residents have been warned to ramp up security measures around the home after a spike in package thefts.
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The Riverina Police District warned of the risk, which home security expert Tim Wilson said could be put down to two reasons.
"It tends to come down to two things - either the delivery person said they delivered it and didn't, or there's someone who saw the delivery being made and took it before the owner got to it," he said.
Mr Wilson said the complaint was fairly common in the city, and home security options were the only real way to prove if a theft occurred.
"The only way you can prove if a package was stolen is if you have that definitive footage, otherwise, it's just speculation," he said.
"Obviously in considering different budgets, having some type of a smart doorbell system helps.
"I always strongly recommend one at the front door for those exact reasons, because at least you can see if it actually got delivered, or who took it if that was the case."
The Riverina Police District also passed on a list of helpful tips to keep property more secure:
- Instructions: Majority of online retailers allow you to leave instructions for the courier. The instructions can be as simple as letting them know where they can safely leave your parcel.
- Get smart: Install security cameras and have them point at your entry points (doors, windows, garage) This will pick up anyone loitering or attempting to get into your property
- Put a signature on it: Most couriers will allow you to choose whether or not you would like to sign for your package upon successful delivery. This means that packages cannot be left behind unattended by the courier. Instead, it will be sent to your nearest post office or facility for you to collect.
- Send it elsewhere: If you're not home, why not send the parcel to your work address/family member address/get a parcel locker or pick it up yourself from any the post office.
The latest quarterly update from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research outlined other thefts were also on the rise across the region.
Stealing from a dwelling was up 18.7 per cent on the last 24 months in the Riverina, while theft from retail stores was up 29.1 per cent and stealing from a motor vehicle was up 15.7 per cent.
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Jessica McLaughlin
If something is awry in our community, I want to know. If someone deserves celebration, I want to know. Everyone deserves an honest news source and that's what I'm here to help achieve.
If something is awry in our community, I want to know. If someone deserves celebration, I want to know. Everyone deserves an honest news source and that's what I'm here to help achieve.
