Deputies warned the public that package thefts are rising across San Diego County after a woman was caught stealing a package on surveillance cameras.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, as more people shop online, more thefts are happening all over the county.
They advise that it's important to have someone at home when the package arrives. If your delivery is ever stolen from your front porch, file a report.
The warning comes after a woman in Spring Valley was caught on surveillance cameras stealing a package from someone’s front door. Deputies said the package was dropped off less than two minutes before she took it.
Some thieves will follow delivery trucks and steal packages once they leave, explained deputies. These thefts have prompted some online shoppers to pay for an external mailbox that can store the delivery securely. This way they know the package is secure.
"I have people here in the neighborhood who prefer to just shop Amazon," said Chris Stokes, the owner of Mail Station in Mission Hills. "They say they don’t want to go to a store again.”
Stokes said on any given day his store is filled with Amazon deliveries he saves for his customers.
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"We’re happy to provide the service and things work out pretty well," said Stokes.
When asked about stolen deliveries, Amazon released the following statement:
"The vast majority of deliveries make it to customers without issue. In the rare case something occurs, we work with customers directly to make it right."
