Online shopping has become quite prevalent since the pandemic began — especially during the holidays — as it offers a way to avoid going to stores in-person while ordering goods from the comfort (and safety) of your couch.
But with convenience comes the potential for disruption, according to a study by an Illinois-based bidding company. The business aimed to find out which cities in America struggled the most with package theft by analyzing Google searches for the term "stolen package" (and other related terms) from March 2020 to November 2020 in towns with a population of 250,000 or more.
The Queen City wound up in the top 10 list — at No. 10.
According to the study, there were 466 searches for terms related to "package theft" per 100,000 searches. That's compared to the city that came in a No. 1, St. Louis, which had 578 searches per 100,000. Raleigh, North Carolina came in at No. 50 with 200 searches per 100,000.
It appears the issue is not specific to Midwestern cities, or specific regions. According to the study, the problem is seen across the nation.
"Regardless of where you live, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on package deliveries whenever they’re being delivered to your home," the website reads. "Thieves can take advantage of deliveries by quickly grabbing packages off front porches and doorsteps. Doorbell security cameras, shipment tracking and requiring a signature for deliveries are all ways that consumers can deter thieves and keep their deliveries safe."
An online article by cnbc.com outlines several different ways to avoid having your packages stolen, which include:
- Having your package sent to a friend that you know will be home
- Having your package delivered to work
- Having your package held at the post office to pick up
- Have your package shipped to the local store for pick-up
But, the best way to avoid your packages being stolen is to shop local this holiday season (and beyond).
