By Mary O’KEEFE

This is the time of season for shopping. Whether shopping along Honolulu Avenue and Foothill Boulevard or ordering online, people need to be aware that this is also the best time for criminal opportunists to do their own type of shopping, including checking cars for unlocked doors and picking up packages dropped off on front porches.

“Sometimes the [criminals] follow the delivery trucks,” said Sgt. Alan Chu, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. ¬– Crescenta Valley Station.

Ordering online may seem easy, but it is the delivery that needs to be thought through.

“You can have the [delivery company] hold the packages for pick up,” Chu said. “Or check with your [boss] and see if you can have them delivered to your work.”

Customers can also leave a notice at their door as to where they want the items delivered, maybe behind a fence and out of sight from those driving along the street, added Sgt. Daniel Suttles, Glendale Police Dept.

“The delivery [companies] are pretty good about abiding with package [delivery] directions,” Suttles said. He added there are those who drive around neighborhoods looking for packages on front steps.

“[Criminals] are opportunists,” he added. If they see an easy theft, they will take that opportunity.

As Chu stated, some of those intent on grabbing the delivered items follow trucks and wait to see if anyone comes to the door to pick up the items. If packages sit out, they will grab them.

In the past week there have been two incidents when packages have been reported as stolen to CV Sheriffs, both on Nov. 22. A resident in the 1900 block of Waltonia Drive in Montrose had ordered items that were delivered in two separate boxes. One was full of toys, the other with Barbie dolls. The resident received an alert from Amazon that his packages had been delivered at about 1:30 p.m. He went to look for them at about 3:30 p.m. but could not find them. At first he assumed they had been delivered to another apartment. He walked around the complex and found two packages lying on the ground near the rear of the apartment complex. Both boxes had his name on them and both were empty.

Another theft occurred during the same time frame at the same apartment complex. The resident had made an online purchase and was notified the items would be delivered in four separate boxes. He left home and, when he returned, found the packaging lying on the ground at his front porch. It appeared the boxes had been cut open. All the items were gone. The stolen items included toys, makeup and kitchen items.

Suttles suggested talking to an apartment manager to see if packages could be dropped off at the office.

Being aware of where and when items are being shipped is important but when shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, shoppers still need to be cautious.

“Keep track of your items,” Suttles advised. “Keep your car doors locked.”

As always, the public is encouraged to contact law enforcement if they see anything suspicious.

“The [thefts] happen in less than a minute,” Chu said.

  Mary Okeefe, robin goldsworthy