CONTRIBUTED
Parcel theft is again in the spotlight, following a study by financial comparison site Finder found 21 per cent of Australians — about 4.2 million people — had a parcel lost or stolen in the last 12 months.
Tyler Blackburn, Finder personal finance specialist said "The average value of the missing parcel was $129, so when you add it all up that is about $2.8 million [worth of] packages being taken," noting that Finder often notice a spike in the number of parcels stolen in the lead up to Christmas and after Black Friday sales when people do more online shopping.
Speaking to Thomas Murdoch of Chifley Police, Cowra Neigbourhood watch were told "We encourage Cowra and surrounding area residents to take proactive measures to deter theft and protect their belongings." adding that if residents were concerned about theft, Inspector Murdoch said "It's worth diverting valuable or personal items to your local Australia Post. A worthwhile investment to prevent mail theft could be to install a lockable mailbox, lockable parcel boxes are also becoming common."
Other measures included enlisting the help of neighbours, when not home - or leaving couriers with specific instructions to deliver in more concealed locations.
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"If you know a package will arrive while you're not home you can ask a trusted neighbour to collect it and keep it safe until you return as instructing couriers to leave your package 'in a safe place' is generally not a secure approach. If you think an item has been stolen, call 131 444 or lodge an online report." said Insp. Murdoch.
Rod and Rachael Duff of Cowra Couriers said that while the Christmas period was their busiest time of year, packages were "Flying in and out of Cowra from all corners of the world."
"Unless the customer has a genuinely secure spot to leave a parcel we advise them not to select 'leave in a safe place'. It's always better to require a signature upon delivery,
because if no one is home the parcel will be safely stored at our warehouse until you're ready to collect it."
The multi generational family business see Rod and Rachael overseeing operations, with their son Max on the road taking care of click and collect, and marketplace orders.
With years of experience, Rod and Rachael said "We already deliver to most of the businesses in and around Cowra, so another option could be to set the delivery address to your workplace. The first step though is ensuring that your package reaches its destination on time, and in one piece - and as a locally owned and operated family business that's something we take great pride in."
