Protecting your online purchases from 'porch theft'..

As scores of retail businesses remain shuttered in an effort to stop the spread of

COVID-19, online purchases have increased and with them, so have deliveries to

people’s homes.

The delivery personnel, considered essential workers, are now faced with doing

their jobs while still trying to stay safe and the challenge is leading to problems

with deliveries.

Footage caught on a CityNews employee’s home security system shows a UPS

delivery person tossing a package on her porch and leaving without making an

attempt to notify her.

The parcel sat in plain sight for two hours and was eventually stolen.

UPS declined an interview with CityNews and also refused to comment on the incident

. They said in an email that “employees are expected to follow company and delivery

protocols” which continue to include a knock on the door when a package is dropped off.

A Canada Post spokesperson tells CityNews that he can’t speak about the actions of

another company’s employee, but does say there are increased challenges associated with

making deliveries in this crisis.

Canada Post, along with other companies Citynews contacted, have adopted a “knock,

drop and go” policy, which is exactly what it sounds like – the delivery person knocks or

rings the doorbell then drops the parcel off and leaves.

Canada Post has asked that customers not answer the door until the worker leaves

the property.

“It’s to protect not just our people, but the people we’re delivering to as well”, says Jon

Hamilton.

Hamilton says they have instituted new measures to incorporate social distancing, like eliminating

the need for signatures whenever possible. Workers are also equipped with gloves and hand

sanitizer that allows them to, for example, safely ring a doorbell.

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