(GODERICH, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is offering the following tips and recommendations to help prevent doorstep package thefts in response to a recent case in Goderich.
On Friday, June 5, 2020 at about 1:35 p.m. Huron OPP officers received a call from an Oxford Street resident that reported a freshly delivered package had been stolen from his doorstep. The victim reported he received a notification on his cell phone that the package had been delivered however when he returned home the package was missing. Fortunately the victim had installed a home security surveillance system and was able to view the theft and obtain a description of the suspect.
With the assistance of the victim police located the suspect hiding between two homes in the area of Krohmer Drive and Suncoast Drive East. Police arrested the suspect and a search incident to arrest found the accused to be in possession of a quantity of suspected methamphetamine.
Police were able to locate only some of the stolen property.
Barbara-Jean PIEGEAU, 39 years of age, from Central Huron was charged with Theft Under $5,000 and Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine.
She has been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for October 5, 2020 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
Here are some tips to help prevent crimes of this nature.
Track deliveries online and try to be home at the time a package is delivered.
If possible, request delivery services to get a signature from a recipient
When scheduling a delivery, leave instructions on where the package can be delivered or ask for a phone call when it is delivered. Even leaving a package out of sight may make all the difference
Ask a trusted friend or neighbour to receive your package at the time of delivery
If allowed by an employer, have the packages delivered to your work
Have the package delivered to a delivery depot where it can be held for pickup
Consider installing a motion-detection home security system that records video and sends immediate notice of activity to your cell phone.
Some stores provide a pickup-in-store service that allow you to pick up items from a nearer location
Look carefully when ordering, as retailers may have a way of customizing delivery instructions
Install a locked mailbox
Contact the sender in a timely manner if a parcel does not arrive
The OPP wants to remind all residents that if they observe any suspicious activity to please contact the police immediately at 1-888-310-1122.