‘Most thieves are opportunistic’: Bend Police Dept. shares how to keep your packages safe this holiday season

(Update: Adding comments from Bend Police, Bend resident)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Mail theft has become more common, as people turn to online retailing, during the holiday season. 

For this Bend resident, his family already takes the necessary precautions. 

"We're home most of the time, but what we do - is my son gets lives around the corner," Paul Cutshaw said Sunday. "So we do go over at his house periodically and we check his front door because, you know, he's got a family and there are ordering from Amazon and all that."

Bend Police recommends working with neighbors around you, to grab packages off your porch, and holding them until you get back. 

Sergeant Andrew Davis said, "Most common thefts are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. So it's during the daytime when people are usually gone. And so if they can arrange their porch in a way that it's not obvious that packages are sitting out in front."

Bend Police said you can protect your packages by having shrubbery, or anything that hides the packages. Setting up surveillance cameras, and motion sensor lights also helps to deter mail thefts. 

Davis said, "Most thieves are opportunistic, so they may not start their day looking to, steal something. but when they see the opportunity, they will seize it. As our packages pile up on the front door, that creates that opportunity that, those then get stolen."

If you encounter any mail theft, Bend Police encourages you to reach out.