Take steps to make sure you receive what you ordered!

Every year around the holidays, there is an increase in packages ordered online and delivered to homes. This also can come with an increase in thefts when the packages are left unattended outside. Victims usually report the theft to their shippers so the police department may not know the extent of these thefts.

Doorstep delivery can be a crime of opportunity. It could be someone following a delivery truck or it could be someone who happens to be in the area and sees a package delivered.

In looking at the most frequently used delivery services, here are some suggestions the shippers made.

• • Ship the package to a location where you know someone will be available to receive it. Consider selecting the “signature required” option.
  • Send any FedEx package directly to a FedEx Office location near you or choose from several delivery options. You can have it held for pickup at one of the stations. You can go to www.fedex.com to find the nearest location or call 1-800-GO-FEDEX.
  • UPS also has stores that a package can be routed to and have several options for delivery choices. Their information is www.UPS.com or 1-800-PICK-UPS.
  • The United States Postal Service has a number of ways to track and secure safe delivery for your packages. You have options on how you want the package delivered as well as tracking and insuring the package. Many of their tips are similar to UPS and FedEx. More info: www.usps.com

As neighbors, if you see something suspicious such as a person picking up a package off your neighbor’s front step or a car following a delivery van, please call 911 immediately.

If you are a victim of this crime, please contact 311 or file a police report online. If you have suspect information, call 911. Depending on who was set to deliver your package, you can also file a mail theft complaint through the US Postal Inspection Service (go.usa.gov/x8WjE), file a lost package through UPS (goo.gl/AZc7IY), or file a claim through FedEx (goo.gl/p2NGL0). If you used another carrier, check with them on what you need to do in order to file a report for a lost or stolen item.

For further crime prevention resources, please visit:   http://minneapolismn.gov/police/crimeprevention/index.htm

Burglary Alert for the Lyndale & Kingfield Neighborhood

Eleven burglaries have been reported since 05/18/2018, in the Lyndale and Kingfield neighborhoods. Five of the burglaries were to homes, where the suspect gained entry to lower level windows by cutting the screens and pushing up the unlocked windows.  Of the six garages that were entered, three of the service doors were unlocked and three appeared to be kicked in.  MPD will be conducting extra patrol efforts during the times when the burglaries are occurring, in both plain clothes and in uniform.  They will also be flyering the neighborhoods with prevention tips when we see open garage doors, to try to connect with residents to inform them of the incidents.  If you would like to host a block club meeting in response to these burglaries and learn more about what you can do to keep your home and neighborhood safe, contact CPS/Jennifer Waisanen at (612) 673-5407.  If you have any information that could lead to a suspect on these burglaries, please contact our property crimes investigators at (612) 673-5715.

Home Security Prevention Tips:

• Lock your home, apartment, and garage doors and windows at all times, even if you are in the home or yard.
• Do not leave valuables in plain sight.  This includes laptops, purses, wallets, keys, and anything else that may contain personal information.  Remember: Treat your garage door opener as a key to your property.
• Record the make, model, and serial numbers on your valuables and keep in a safe place.  This information can greatly assist in recovery of items.  Photographs may also be of assistance.
• Secure windows and doors in homes, and garages.
• Use deadbolt locks with at least a 1” throw on all exterior doors.  Use 6” strike plates and 3” case-hardened screws that enter the studs behind the doorframe.
• Pin or add auxiliary locking devices to windows and sliding glass doors.
• Place an opaque material over garage windows.
• Install a solid core door with a deadbolt on garage service door.
• Secure overhead garage door tracks with a padlock.
• Consider installing security film on windows near or on doors to prevent access to door locks via breaking a window.
• Consider using timers on lights, radios and/or a TV when you are away from home.
• If you have a security system, use it even while at home.  Dogs can be a deterrent as well.
• Know who is in your home; service providers and contractors should do background checks on their employees.

How to report a burglary:

Call 911 to report a burglary, whether or not you witness the burglary in progress.  Note missing items, suspect description, tools, objects, or DNA evidence left at scene, possible time and date of occurrence, video surveillance, etc.

See http://www.minneapolismn.gov/police/crimeprevention/index.htm for more tips.

Please call 911 on all suspicious activity including suspicious persons and vehicles loitering near homes and in alleyways, or unfamiliar noises such as breaking glass.