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# Online Shopping
Gardaí warn shoppers to be vigilant after UK footage of parcel theft
A homeowner in Surrey had installed a doorbell camera that filmed the theft of a parcel delivered to his house.
GARDAÍ HAVE WARNED shoppers to be vigilant in the run up to Christmas after a UK video showed a parcel being stolen from a doorstep after being dropped off.
The video, which Sky News has seen, shows a van driving up to a house in Surrey. A woman then gets out, takes the package from the doorstep and gets back into the van before it drives off.
The camera had been installed on a doorbell days before the theft. Police in Surrey told Sky News that they were investigating.
When asked by TheJournal.ie if there’s a similar threat here, a Garda spokesperson said that its advice on the first matter would be “to be vigilant”.
A former Scotland Yard Detective, Peter Bleksley told Sky News that as much as possible, try to be at home when parcels are delivered. If people aren’t at home and can’t get a family member or neighbour to accept the package, he advised people to use pick-up points.
“These pick up points are becoming more prevalent and are a great help to people because let’s face it, we’re all becoming a bit busy to sit at home waiting for that vital gift to be delivered.”
Bleksley also suggested that delivery companies and shops could arrange specific times for items to be delivered, to make it easier for people to be at home when something is due to arrive.
Gardaí advised those who are shopping online to also be vigilant in protecting their card details and personal data. You can read more about that on the Gardaí’s Facebook page here.
Read: Gardaí tell people to ‘gift a lift’ this Christmas as drink driving arrests increase
Read: Parcel Motel depot emptied by thieves in Dublin
