SALT LAKE CITY — As online shopping begins to ramp up ahead of the holiday season, police officers are reminding Utahns to take steps to prevent packages and deliveries from being stolen from their doorsteps.

According to a new security.org study released Monday, Utah was ranked No. 10 in the nation for larceny thefts across the county, with 2,092 thefts per 100,000 people.

The study also reported nearly 40% of all consumers have been victims of package theft.

“Package thefts have really become an issue and it’s something that we’ve tried to target and address specifically,” said Sergeant Keith Horrocks with the Salt Lake City Police Department. “This is a crime of opportunity. They are looking for the easy target. It’s the ease of getting in and getting out.”

But Salt Lake City Police said they are seeing about 50 fewer cases of larceny theft in the city each month, compared to 2018.

Horrocks hoped it may have to do with more people following the security tips to prevent those types of thefts from happening.

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He also said his department has four main tips they are planning to post on social media this holiday season.

• Have packages delivered to your workplace.
• Ask for a tracking number to know when your package is delivered.
• Install a smart security camera at your front door.
• If possible with the carrier, designate a specific delivery location at your home.

"Our residents and our citizens are more aware hopefully with these campaigns that we’ve done to try and get the information out,” Horrocks said.

The security.org study also said online shopping is projected to increase to $136 billion this year, up 13% from 2018.

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