Porch Pirates

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI) – If you’re expecting Christmas shipments to arrive at your home, there are some important tips to know.

Porch pirates are very active this time of year, and they’re looking for delivered packages sitting on your porch.

Columbus Assistant Police Chief Fred Shelton says delivered packages being stolen while you’re not at home is a common occurrence during the holidays.

He says it’s very important to be alert of delivery dates and to be an alert neighbor.

“If I see a package out there and I know that person is not home, I can go and retrieve that package for my friend, or my persons, and keep it and keep it safe, or if I see someone in the area that does not belong there, I know this person is not home, what I’m going to do is, I am going to call the police and say hey, ‘Mrs. Jones is out of town and there’s a person that don’t live there that’s picking up a package off of her porch,” says Shelton.

Shelton says so far, C.P.D. hasn’t had many stolen packages reported, but have had many reported items stolen from porches, such as Christmas decorations.