Irishrose2

The only thing I've had taken was a replacement foot pedal for a vintage sewing machine. I'm not sure there is much of a market for that!

MicheleC

We have a PO Box for our mail for this reason. It is relatively rural where I live. To get mail delivered to our physical address, we would have to set up our own box or buy a space in an established box near our home. Mail theft is pretty common here, especially around the holidays.

I’m so sorry your friend had to experience this. Does she have photos that she can share on a local online group/forum where they were stolen? It might be worth sharing them to try to recover them.

SueZQ from MN

Another suggestion that is a little off topic, but is helpful is to line the inside of your shipping box with a plastic bag. That way, your merchandise is in the bag and protected from weather if the box is left outside and it rains, or your doorstep is wet.

Onebyone

You are so right about that. My husband and I were talking about the blame everything on Covid. It is now the go to excuse for creating a problem.

GingerK

This is so sad. A few years ago, DH ordered a computer and who knows what might have happened to it, if I had not heard a noise outside. Yep, delivery truck driving away, computer box sitting by our front door in full view of the street and if the delivery slip was signed, it certainly wasn't by us!! DH called the computer company and they were not impressed either.

What's the safest option? Deliver it yourself I guess.

Snooze2978

These days I ask UPS and FedX to drop any packages off on my back deck just because things are getting bad. USPS drops them off on my bench on the front porch and its not as readily seen from the street. Plus my neighbors and I keep an eye on each others house these days. Someone is usually always home during the day so hard for someone to come up on the porch unseen.

So sad for her lost of quilts.

Peckish

Friend of mine got sick and tired of her packages being stolen. So she took some meat, let it sit out a day or two so the flies could do their job, wrapped it in a box, and after enough time to ensure maggot harvest, left it on her front porch. It was immediately stolen. She did this 3 times with different size boxes. Hasn't had a problem since.

The thing that irritates me about the delivery person is sometimes they'll drop the box on the porch but they don't ring the bell. We're all home, and the box will sit out there for hours until someone checks.

Another thing you can do is have packages shipped to a business. If we're going to be gone when a package arrives, I'll have it shipped to my friend's office and he'll hold it for me.

donna13350

I ordered a bottle of expensive liquor as a gift for someone, it was delivered by Fedex..LAW required a signature and proof of age upon delivery..he just left it on my porch! It could be that he knows from prior deliveries that I'm well over 21..but that does not discount the law..could be I had grandkids that ordered liquor. The mail from anyone is iffy these days, all carriers are just overwhelmed.

Rff1010

I just received a small pkg. It was postmarked 8/8 and PRIORITY MAIL! It should have been 2-3 days! Its almost 2 wks!

Fabric Galore

I have received emails from companies telling me that my package is on the way and to make sure I am home because it requires a signature. The package is delivered and I don't know it until we walk down to the mail box. We live on 5 acres so USPS puts it in our mail box and Fed Ex and UPS set inside our gate in a plastic bag. I never sign for them. Thank goodness, we live in a rural area and have zero problems with packages being stolen.