He recommends a planter or decorative box that you can put a package in. The easiest way to thwart pirates, then, is to remove packages from view. Thieves tend to target homes close to roadways with boxes in plain view. The easiest option, though, is to take a few steps to prevent theft, which is largely a crime of opportunity, Dr. Stickle said a majority of victims instead reach out to the shipping company or the vendor when a package goes missing. If you report your theft to the police, they’ll try to solve the crime, but that’s often an almost impossible task, since usually, little evidence is left behind. Plus, claims could substantially raise premiums or have an insurance carrier not renew your policy, she said. But check your deductible before filing a claim chances are it’s higher than the value of what was stolen, said Michele Staron, a licensed independent insurance agent. Technically, your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may cover stolen packages. Beware of ‘porch pirates.’īen Stickle, a criminologist at Middle Tennessee State University, theorizes that porch piracy - or package theft from doorsteps - has likely risen during the pandemic, simply because e-commerce has seen such a huge jump. For those, you’re going to need to think strategically, since unattended packages are ripe for theft. Inevitably, no matter how hard you try to corral your online purchases, a few stray boxes may arrive after you depart. Commonly overlooked subscriptions include pet food, cosmetics, cleaning supplies and even things like specialty coffee. Weinerman recommends you look through your past two credit card statements to check for auto-ship subscriptions you have connected to your home address. (And F.Y.I., Informed Delivery is not offered at every address.)
If you already had Informed Delivery at your old address, you will need to use the code in your Customer Notification Letter to change your address from old to new. Informed Delivery can be useful during a move, and particularly now, when online retail sales are way up and the Postal Service deals with organizational changes. You can also leave instructions for carriers on where to put specific packages.
To ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle as you relocate, the Postal Service recommends signing up for its free Informed Delivery Service, which sends electronic scans of any envelopes headed your way, plus updates on package delivery. It will take between seven and 10 delivery days (Saturdays count Sundays do not) for mail to begin arriving at your new address, so don’t leave this until the last minute. You’ll also receive a Customer Notification Letter at your new address, which contains a code you’ll need if you end up moving home sooner or want to extend your getaway. Once you’ve submitted your change of address form, the post office will send a “Mail Validation Letter” to your current residence letting you know your request is in the system. If you want your goodies, you’ll need a way to get deliveries from the post office.
Box if you are not on an existing postal route.Įven if you think you can live without Postal Service deliveries, remember that the post office does some last-mile deliveries for other shippers - like United Parcel Service and FedEx. Visit your nearest post office to have them set you up with delivery service or offer you access to a free P.O. service (especially if it’s very rural or has been primarily a vacation home). It’s possible you’ll run into a situation where the home you’re moving to has not yet been set up for U.S.P.S. If you don’t want to sacrifice your goodies to marauding porch pirates, you need to be proactive about updating your mailing address. You also may have more packages set to auto-ship than you’ve realized (or you may not remember to change your address before hitting “buy now” on your favorite e-commerce sites). However, essential correspondence (like your absentee or mail-in ballot) is destined for your mailbox this fall. Sure, much of what arrives in your box these days - like bills - can and may already be delivered electronically. A temporary relocation is not the same as even a two-week vacation, when you can put a hold on your mail at the post office and blissfully ignore it until you get home.
Or maybe, if you’re going to be all alone for the next few months anyway, you’ve decided having deer as neighbors in a tiny house in the woods sounds better than communing with the roaches in your apartment.īefore you go, among the things you should think about is how to keep your mail and packages flowing. Perhaps you have relatives who need help with child care, or elderly parents to look after. With many employers allowing staffers to work remotely well into 2021, you may be considering a temporary move.