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Multiple Packages, Christmas Gifts Stolen in Seven Courts

Police are urging residents throughout Perry Hall to track their packages and call 911 if items are stolen.

At least four packages, including some Christmas gifts, have been stolen in recent weeks from in front of homes in the Seven Courts neighborhood, police said.

Officer Mark Dorsey of the Parkville police precinct is urging Perry Hall residents to track packages they have ordered online—a service offered by many shipping companies, including FedEx, UPS and the United States Post Office. Whenever possible, residents should avoid leaving packages outdoors for extended periods of time. 

Dorsey emphasized that stealing a package from outside a home is a serious crime and is considered a fourth-degree burglary. Anyone who discovers that a package has been stolen should call 911 immediately and file a report, he said. 

Residents should also contact the shipping company, which will generally conduct its own investigation.

Dorsey said the thefts are likely connected to an increase in online shopping during the holiday season. Thieves are likely targeting electronics and costly gifts. 

Share your holiday safety tips in the comments.

 

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CabbageToker December 18, 2012 at 08:54 pm
People are really low .... Get a job .. Go obamacare... Not . Neighborhood feels like section 8 sometimes .. Glad I made the move to ph farms.
Tim December 18, 2012 at 08:57 pm
I've long since stopped allowing anything of real value to be dropped off in front of my home. UPS, which tends to deliver most of my things, has an option to hold at the site, and I simply make the 6 minute trip down to that Honeygo Shopping Center and pick up my packages...and some beer from Honeygo Wine and Beer too!
Tim December 18, 2012 at 09:00 pm
LOL right, because Obamacare has everything to do with this.
Typical right-wing stupidity. it's called urban sprawl, and it happens regardless of government. Back in the 50's and 60's, I'm told the Overlea/Fullerton area was much nicer then it is nowadays.
NottinghamFamily December 18, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Tim, I like the sound of this option. I would prefer this myself, but how do you do this for each shipping order? This is a great idea as I am often not home and find my delivered packages left out in the open.
Tim December 19, 2012 at 01:15 am
NottinghamFam: Go to myups.com, create an account. It's moderately self-explanatory from there. It costs 5 bucks per shipment held. A non-factor for me, as almost everything that I order to be shipped to my home that needs 'securing' is in excessive of a couple hundred bucks.
You can also configure notifications through your smart phone, e-mail, etc. I know exactly what comes to my home and when, whether its a thousand dollars in new computer equipment, or 40 bucks worth of drugstore items.
Grace B. December 19, 2012 at 05:34 am
I'm glad you "feel" safer in PH Farms. But, you are living in a delusion if you think moving two miles is going to keep you safer. Remember the shooting behind the Honeygo Weis a few years ago, caused by druggies who chased each other off of I-95? All areas of the state are inundated with the kinds of crime that Perry Hall is now experiencing. Many of the upper middle class Baltimore County communities are actually seeing more crime than little old Perry Hall. Check out the Cockeysville Patch. Or, check out the various sites for Howard County communities. You can't run anymore. There's no where left to go if you stay in the state of Maryland.
Grace B. December 19, 2012 at 05:43 am
We've had packages come up missing a few times over the past year or two, in our Perry Hall community. I always assumed they were just not delivered to the right address. If it is something expensive, I make a point to be home on the day of the delivery, but I think I may use Tim's suggestion and have the packages held at Honeygo. We're also going to install a few security cameras around our property after the holidays as I was home the other day and heard someone trying to open my front door. My alarm was on, and my dog was growling in the foyer. By the time I got to the window to look out, no one was there. And, there were no advertising flyers or packages left. I have to say it has left me feeling a little unsettled.
Alex W December 19, 2012 at 01:36 pm
The worst part is they know who is doing it. At least in our neighborhood but they can't do anything about it unless they are caught red-handed. We know the names and address, but sadly because they are minors, they have to tip toe I guess.
Jeanne December 19, 2012 at 03:38 pm
Same thing has happen to me Grace B. a couple of times, the trying the front door part. Yesturday even though there was a flyer by the door I locked our storm door til my husband was heading home. I let our Lab bark & carry on at the window to scare people away.
Grace B. December 19, 2012 at 05:46 pm
Jeanne, I always leave my storm door locked, as well as the other doors in our house. I'm so in the habit of locking doors, that I have locked my husband out when he is working in the yard. I won't even leave my patio doors open for a breeze, on a nice day. I'm not used to living this way and it is really disturbing me quite a bit. It really is time to "get out of Dodge," but my husband's job is in Maryland, and so is our family. Not a day goes by that I am not trying to calculate how much it would cost to move two families out of Maryland, if my husband could get a job transfer.
Just my opinion December 19, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Sometimes packages are left in plain sight. My neighbor's brand new flat screen was in view of anyone coming down the road. We called them and put it in our house until they came home from work. We are a very tight knit court so we always watch out for each other. Perhaps the post office or UPS or FedEx should be aware of being tailed. They drop off and the criminal picks up behind them. So easy. Be aware. Take pictures if you see something suspicious and do call 911. If you have a dog, reward him/her when they alert that someone is near the door. Let's have a safer Christmas.
K L B December 21, 2012 at 11:38 pm
I agree Grace, if I could find a job somewhere else I would leave this welfare state .
FIFA December 22, 2012 at 12:00 am
K L B, please tell me where is that state that no one is collecting welfare and there are no poor. Gotta be a good place to live?
K L B December 22, 2012 at 12:30 am
There are states alot better than here, it is out of control in MD.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Julie June 19, 2013 at 01:52 pm
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Gregg Roberts April 25, 2013 at 06:55 am
My sister-in-law actually played with my nephew too Tim. Unlike EVERY OTHER single parent that wasRead More there. However, you can't tie your child to you. They came there to play. Bullies move very quick. When my nephew fell and was visibily scared, not a single parent except for one even noticed. Nobody from the library was in site. You are right that if parents were required to pay attention to their children then there would not be an opportunities for bullies because the parents of those bullies would be watching them also. When the group came from a religious school in Pikesville this is exactly what happened. All the parents stayed with their kids. All other parents, with little exception stayed in a waiting room talking amongst themselves paying little attention to their children. My nephew has been to all kinds of playgrounds and never been attacked by older kids before. Next time, if my nephew is attacked by an older child I will urge my brother to call the police and press charges against the parent. However, irreponsible Storyville need not worry -- won't be back there. Just wish our tax dollars weren't supporting this.
Gregg Roberts April 25, 2013 at 07:09 am
Let me put this in more practical terms. 1. My sister-in-law suggests that the bully seemed about 8Read More years old and probably shouldn't have been left at Storyville to begin with. There is no ID system at Storyville for childs age. 2. The bully caused various kinds of mayhem. Knocking down things, shouting, etc. No one from the library is actually in Storyville so there was no disciplinary action taken such as removing the child. 3. Parents should not view Storyville as a babysitter and not be allowed to congregate in the waiting area, leaving their children to play alone. 4. Items that could be used to cause serious injury should be removed from Storyville. 5. Cameras. If an 8 year old hits a 3 year old at Storyville where parents are suppose to be watching their children, I want proof for a court case. Yes, it's a shame it can't just be a pleasant place to take your kids but it isn't. It is filled with unrully children and uninterested parents. A child SHOULD NEVER leave a library with two bruises across his face EVER.
BobBaft June 19, 2013 at 10:12 am
Sounds like your sister in law needs to grow a brain. If an 8 year old is running around like aRead More maniac, grab your child and GO FIND an employee to wage a complaint and get the kid booted. My daughter is 6 and went a couple weeks ago and was not permitted beyond the gate with the other kids in the group. Just because some ghetto monkey jumped the fence one day, don't give this place a black eye for it.