Need advice from people who receive packages.

[Rochester]

Hey guys, I have a problem and I need some advice.

A couple weeks ago, I ordered some stuff on the internet from various places, five packages in all. Two of the packages have arrived safely, one on Friday the 14th and one on Tuesday the 18th, but I noticed that the others should have already arrived by now, so I called/emailed about them, and I received distressing news.

The guy who sent Package #3 sent me a tracking number. He sent it UPS. Their site lists the package as having been delivered Monday the 17th, just left it on the porch. There was nothing waiting for me when I got home from work. That means either UPS screwed up somehow - lost the package or delivered it to the wrong place - or it was stolen from my porch during the afternoon.

The guy who sent Package #4 said it was shipped out on the 13th, although he didn't have the information at hand, he said he would call me back with it tomorrow. There's a very good chance that it would have been delivered on the 17th also, which means it too could have been lost or stolen. I don't know (until tomorrow) what carrier they used.

I was luckier on Package #5. It hasn't been shipped yet, they were backlogged I guess. I asked them to make sure that I would have to sign for the package when it gets here. I don't want it just left out to possibly also be stolen. They said they would oblige, so I'm feeling a little better about that one.

In your judgment, how likely is it that this is a screw-up on UPS's part and how likely is it that the packages were stolen? Has anyone had to deal with UPS about lost packages before? How cooperative and helpful are they? I am waiting for their reply as well as for information about package #4 before I go to the cops and report them stolen... although now that it's been several days, it may be futile. Do I have any realistic hope of recovering my money if the packages are gone for good? One was from Ebay and the other was direct by credit card. I never thought of this neighborhood as being one where I was particularly vulnerable to having things "walk away", but there's a first time for everything. I am acutely aware that the place sits unguarded while I am at work and I don't like the feeling. I'm thinking about investing in extra locks, a security system, and/or security cameras. Any advice about these, too?

[Suich]

1. Stolen, would be my guess.

Happens in my neighborhood...a car follows the UPS truck around. Sometimes they are taking the box with something in it and leaving the now empty box they just stole from a previous house.

One was from Amazon and they replaced it, no charge. I'd say start with UPS.

Good luck!

[BainsBane]

5. Really? I've never had one stolen.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Did you look in the bushes?

My neighbor was missing an expensive coat. UPS investigated and the driver said he left it behind the bushes. There it was.

[FredisDead]

3. It could be

this.

[BainsBane]

4. More likely misdelivered than stolen

I've never had a package stolen, but I have had them misdelivered. Check to see if the place you ordered from has the right address. UPS is helpful at figuring out where the package went (even if misaddressed) but I would contact the vendor about a replacement item. They typically purchase insurance from UPS that covers the item.

[Major Nikon]

6. This time of year they take on a lot of temporary workers

I had a package misdelivered just the other day. Thankfully my neighbor brought it to me.

[Enrique]

8. me too

i was expecting a package, I saw the UPS guy and thought yay my new toy is here! Then i was dismayed to see him drop my new toy at my neighbor's door and run off. I went over to check and sure enough it was my package.

Then I wondered, how many times is this happening all over the country, probably a lot.

[AngryOldDem]

7. I've had one thing misdelivered.

Package of some kind of auto parts showed up at the door. Belonged to an address down the street.

UPS does a remarkable job of getting things where they need to go. That said, though, I don't like the thought of big packages just sitting on the porch all day. With big items I think they should do what FedEx routinely does -- leave a note about a delivery attempt and a time when the next attempt will be made.

I also think that with bigger items it should be more than just a sprint to the doorbell and a sprint back to the truck. Some drivers wait for someone to come to the door, others don't.

[Rochester]

9. Thanks for everyone's input. The investigation is (or soon will be) under way.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Obviously it depends on your neighborhood.

If I had an iffy neighborhood and could not trust that stuff would not be stolen, I would have it delivered at work
or
delivered to a reliable neighbor.

[HipChick]

10. UPS delivered someone's else package to me today..

I walked over to their house and handed it over....they were super grateful

seems to happen a lot this time of year

[LiberalElite]

12. UPS did misdeliver one of my packages

left it at the same apartment number, but in a building up the street. Just left it outside the door. It wasn't even at the Christmas season, but in the middle of the year.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. Do you live in Clermont?

Neighbors: Clermont girl, 8, stole decoy packages from doorsteps

CLERMONT --

If you're expecting packages shipped to your home this time of year, you may be worried about thieves grabbing them from your doorstep before you get home.

A number of missing packages in one Lake County neighborhood prompted neighbors to set up a sting, and now, police said they believe they've cracked the case.

Jessica Araujo runs a business from her Clermont home, where she regularly receives shipments. Over the last few months, she thought several packages worth more than $1,800 never arrived, but she said she didn't suspect they were stolen.

That is, until last week, when her neighbors on Briar Run Drive reported they also had packages of gifts stolen from their front doorstep.

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/12/18/stolen_packages_cler.html

[Rochester]

14. Definitely stolen.

Package #4 turned up today with an anonymous note that said it had been found in someone's back yard. It had been opened, but the contents were intact. The thief apparently decided that it was useless to him and couldn't be fenced for much, so he ditched it. Package #3 is still missing and I assume it's gone for good. I made a police report.

Fingers crossed on package #5, which has still not shipped out.

Thanks everyone for their input.

[MissB]

15. I came home last week to two packages on my porch.

Dropped there by UPS. The packages were for someone up the road. It's a busy time of year; maybe the delivery guy was dyslexic that day or just plain tired.

I grabbed the packages and took them to my neighbor. She didn't even say thanks. Hmph.

[Incitatus]

16. Security cameras a great and not as expsneive as you might think, if you can do the installation

yourself. It just requires running cables through your attic and down your walls to a computer or recording device designed for cameras.

You can also buy dummy cameras pretty cheap and just place one over your doorstep. The cameras alone will discourage most thieves.