Hyde Park police and other local law enforcement agencies have a warning to Hudson Valley residents who are ordering Christmas gifts online.

Thieves have been stealing packages right off of residents' doorsteps. According to The Poughkeepsie Journal, customers in Hyde Park have had packages from UPS and FedEx stolen after they were left by the delivery companies.

Chron.com has some helpful tips for keeping those deliveries safe:

  • Have your high-dollar items sent to your place of employment instead of your home. Using your work address as your shipping address will guarantee the package will make it directly to you.
  • You can also change your shipping address to  the home of a person who you know will be home when the package is scheduled to arrive.
  • Postal officials say that you can leave a note asking for large packages delivered by regular mail to be left at the post office.
  • Opt for signature confirmation. If given the option, a request for a signature will guarantee that your package is handed to a person instead of left on a doorway where it can be quickly stolen.
  • For those who want to invest in a secure solution for deliveries, there is a device called the SammySak that can be attached to your front door to secure smaller packages under lock and key. According to Chron.com, their business has been increasing because of security concerns.

If anyone has any information on the package thefts, or has witnessed suspicious activity they are encouraged to call the Hyde Park police at 845-229-9340.

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