Stolen Packages

[red-sox-09.livejournal.com]

Long time reader, first time commenter.

I was wondering if anyone else has had any packages stolen off of their porches recently.  On Monday, I had 2 packages delivered (by UPS and DHL) around 1pm and by the time I got home at 5:30p, both were gone.  It seems that they were left right out in the open (I live on a busy cut-through street right outside of Davis, heading towards Powder House Square) so anything on the porch is visible.  Has anyone had any luck in getting UPS to deliver to the back?  I know people have mentioned before that they have locked boxes on the porch, but sometimes I get larger boxes so not sure this is an option.  UPS used to come at 5pm and he would hide the packages if we were not home so this hasn't been a problem as much in the past.

Comments

[wheeiminvisible.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's happened to me. I get my packages delivered to my workplace now. Is that an option for you?

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

It's happened to me as well, though not in Davis. I contacted the stores who shipped as well as the carriers. I did get store credit in the end which was nice, but it didn't make up for the asspain of having items stolen.

Like the commentor above, I now have most of my stuff either sent to work or to my landlord's since they're always home.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry your things were stolen. That sucks!

Happens to me too

[amantone.livejournal.com]

I live in Winter Hill (Central Street), not Davis, but it happens in our area. UPS has actually stopped leaving packages in our zip code, according to their customer service reps, because it has become such a problem. Now, I make sure to either request that something be sent USPS or I have it sent to my work place. I've had this problem throughout the 3+ years I've lived in Somerville -- hopefully using an alternate address like work will be an option for you. Otherwise, you could ask that they send the packages to the closest UPS store, and pick them up securely. Good luck!

[gruene.livejournal.com]

My downstairs neighbor had a package stolen, but only after she left it on the porch for several days.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

If it's not boxes getting stolen, it's rain and snow ruining them. I'd not have things delivered to your house if there's any chance they're just going to be left outside.

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

If you have the porch space, build or buy a big sturdy wood box. Add a hasp and combination lock. Leave directions on it, something like "Please put deliveries in this box and lock it."

Sometimes you'll get two packages from different companies, and one will end up either hidden behind the box or redelivered the next day.


Another thing which works is to talk to the other people in the house (if it's apartments) and agree that you'll accept each other's packages. Then put a sign on the door saying "Deliveries: please ring all bells."

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

I would be happy if they would just ring MY doorbell. The last couple of weeks (this was never a problem before so maybe it is because of the holiday rush), my UPS deliveries are always just left at my door, without the bell being rung. I am home and usually hear the truck or the thump on the porch, but I really wish they would ring. I understand their not wanting to wait for somebody to answer the door, but ringing barely takes any time at all!

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

lol, there is a wholllllllle other post on that here -
http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/2418839.html

join the club ;)

"Leave package at back door"

[blalor.livejournal.com]

I'm on Bonner Ave in Medford; we've had a couple of packages go missing, including one with uninteresting contents that a hoodlum left on a neighbor's steps a few doors down. Now we always use the 2nd line of the address to say "LEAVE PACKAGE AT BACK DOOR" (in caps, italics, and bold, if possible!). It works 99% of the time. The times that it doesn't work is when UPS has a more-braindead-than-usual driver.

And then there was the time where UPS delivered a mis-addressed package to a non-existent house…

Re: "Leave package at back door"

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

The only downside there is, if the thieves can read, they know where to go to steal packages...

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

All the time.. this seems to be a sad fact of life here. I get them delivered to my office.

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

Never happened to me.

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

Looks like a package from Amazon shipped by Lasership to us got stolen too. It was delivered on the 7th of December around 3.30pm but we never got it.

Got swiped too

[writerpete.livejournal.com]

First time in 8 years living outside Davis that my package is nowhere to be found. I'm reporting it to FedEx tomorrow. What's been the response of carriers out there? Will they reimburse? Will amazon.com?

Re: Got swiped too

[red-sox-09.livejournal.com]

The retailers have all been good about resending the packages (as long as its in stock, which most of mine wasn't). For my understanding, the retailers are reimbursed by the carriers.

[gavin mccarthy (from livejournal.com)]

I found an obviously stolen UPS box on my property recently. It contained 2 items of clothing ordered from a popular online retailer.....Yours?

[red-sox-09.livejournal.com]

It was a package from the Loft - if thats what you found, I can certainly give you more details on what it was. I also had a package from Barnes and Noble stolen but obviously that is not clothes. Please let me know - fingers crossed!