Busy people at this time of year:  UPS and Fed Ex couriers, Canada Post workers, thieves looking for the opportunity to steal cards and packages that have been delivered by those groups of workers. 

The holiday season generally leads to an increase in the number of mail thefts and thefts of packages being delivered to your door and the Airdrie RCMP are warning you to not give thieves the opportunity to take the things your friends and loved ones meant for you.

"We haven't seen a spike recently in the Airdrie area,"  says Airdrie RCMP Constable Dan Martin,  "but we do caution the public to be aware of it and we want to be proactive and let them know to keep an eye out for this."

Martin says the RCMP and Canada Post both warn against sending gift cards, cash and cheques through the mail but it's inevitable that it will happen at this time of year.  Bearing that in mind, he has some advice to try and keep mail and courier packages safe.

"If you're ordering gifts or packages to your door, make sure that someone is checking your door if you're not at home.  There are people in the past that have literally followed UPS delivery trucks around and scooped up packages.  We also recommend people check their mailboxes daily or even twice a day if they can, just to keep them empty just in case thieves target mailboxes."

Martin says theft of mail is a crime of opportunity since thieves are aware that people send gift cards, money, and other gifts during the Christmas season.

Other suggestions from the RCMP include making sure someone is retrieving your mail on a daily basis if you plan on being away over the holidays, checking the physical security of your mailbox to ensure there's no gaps or damage and, if there is, to report it to Canada Post. 

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