MEDICINE HAT, AB — Shopping online can be easy.
It only takes a few clicks and whatever you’ve ordered can be on your doorstep.
A video posted on social media might make some think twice about where they’re having packages delivered.
A 33-year-old woman is in custody facing theft charges after allegedly stealing a package from off of a doorstep in broad daylight.
The video is clear and it didn’t take police long to find the suspect.
S/Sgt. Ryan Thorburn said a FedEx package was left in front of someone’s front door on the southwest hill on April 19th.
Video shared online this week shows a woman walk up the driveway, take the package and walk away.
Thorburn said one of his officers went to the home to view the footage after the homeowner called police and the officer knew immediately who it was.
Thorburn said it’s helpful to share videos on social media, to help police narrow down who they might be looking for.
“It helps a lot, especially if somebody on social media actually knows who that is,” he said. “We may not always know. Most times we do because usually they’re more habitual offenders that do things like this, but it does help if the public knows who those people are.”
CHAT News reached out to FedEx to find out more about their policy when it comes to making home deliveries.
In an email, FedEx said “there are a few steps our customers can take for added peace of mind.”
The email went on to list the customer consider an alternative destination.
“Consider sending the package to your workplace or to a family member, a friend or a neighbour who is home during the day.”
FedEx also suggests sending it to the nearest FedEx office location, where they’ll hold the parcel for up to five business days.
Lastly, they suggest requesting a signature.
FedEx said “if you’re shipping something of high value – or you just want to be sure items aren’t left unattended – you can require a signature for the packages to be released.”
They add that “any customer who suspects that a package has been stolen should contact police.”
CHAT News also reached out to UPS Canada, who said, in an email “a signature is not required for a residential delivery unless the request to capture a signature is initiated at the time the shipment was processed with our UPS Signature Required Services.”
They added that customers also have the option of providing additional instructions through an online tool, which would allow them have the package delivered to another address if they’re not home at the time of the delivery.
Canada Post told CHAT News, in an email, “parcel delivery left at the customer’s door is a standard ‘safe drop’ parcel delivery, as instructed by the sender.”
The email went on to say that “if a customer is not available to receive the item, we will make a safe drop only if:
“There is a safe place that is sheltered from weather and cannot be seen by passers-by, such as inside a porch or inside a storm door.
“The parcel does not require a signature or collection of funds, such as duties, postage fees or other fees.
“The sender has not requested ‘do not safe drop’.”
Canada Post added that if the customer is not available to receive them, they will use their best judgment in making a delivery decision.”
Thorburn added that officers have dealt with Canada Post in the past regarding stolen packages, and adds the service is seeing this happen more often.
