Online shopping is more popular now than ever before, and as deliveries continue during the holidays and even beyond, porch pirate activity is anticipated as well. Protect your packages from being stolen by taking the following precautions:

Schedule your package to be delivered when you will be home, or have your package delivered to your place of employment, or the home of a relative or trusted neighbor that you know will be home.

Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye out for your deliveries, and ask they retrieve and keep safe until you arrive back home.

Customize your delivery with email or text tracking and alerts, and once notified of the delivery, call home and ask a family member to bring the package inside.

Bring packages inside as soon as possible following delivery.

Have your package held at your local post office for pickup.

Take advantage of “Ship to Store” option that many stores offer. Amazon offers a “locker” feature that allows you to pick up your package from a secure location.

Request that your package has signature confirmation upon delivery.

Ask your carrier to place package in an area out of plain view.

To report property theft, call the Oakdale Police Department at 209-847-2231.