Millions of Australians are planning on taking advantage of the upcoming sales ahead of Christmas, but consumers should be increasingly wary once they’ve splurged.

That’s because there is a growing problem with the theft of parcels and packages from front doorsteps, leading to the issuing of warnings and advice on how to keep your online shopping safe.

These warnings come ahead of Black Friday next week, the most popular sales event of the year, when it’s expected 30 per cent of Australians will be trying to score a bargain ahead of Christmas, according to Finder.

COVID changed the way we shopped, with many choosing to go online and have goods delivered to their doors while working from home.

However, since people have increasingly gone back to the office our shopping habits haven’t changed. People are leaving home for work more and subsequently leaving delivered goods out in the open, B dynamic Logistics CEO Mal Siriwardhane told The New Daily.

“The shopper behaviour has been changing as well. We’ve seen households have been purchasing every two to three weeks, so it’s very consistent,” Siriwardhane said.

“So someone could potentially notice a parcel every week or every other week at the front door being unattended … so that’s the kind of pattern now we’ve seen and that’s obviously driving the high rate of theft.”

Sensible precautions

There are a few options to consider to prevent theft, or at least potentially help track down a stolen parcel.

Siriwardhane said tracking a delivery is key and noted that sometimes it is possible to divert a package if needed.

Most parcels sent through either Australia Post or third parties offer tracking on deliveries, which can help keep an eye on items when they are en route, giving an indication of when they will arrive.

However, sometimes it’s not always possible to get to the door and accept the delivery.

ADT Security recommends taking the time to fill out the delivery instructions before buying, which can include things like where to leave a parcel if no one is home and arrange for signature confirmation or identity verification upon delivery.

Security measures such as cameras could also be considered for extra peace of mind.

Australians are expected to splurge during the upcoming Black Friday sales. Photo: Getty

Australia Post recently unveiled its new secure, convenient and contactless service for people who are unable to accept parcels at home.

If people are unable to collect their parcel from the post office, they will be able to collect their goods from a free 24/7 Australia Post Parcel Locker.

“MyPost customers will be notified via the AusPost app or SMS that their parcel is in a secure Parcel Locker near their home, ready for them to collect whenever it suits them over the next 48 hours,” Australia Post said.

“If the parcel remains uncollected after 48 hours, Australia Post will take it to the nearest post office for collection.”

Black Friday a massive event

“What’s really interesting to see here is that Black Friday has overtaken Boxing Day in terms of popularity, even though it often doesn’t have as juicy deals,” Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder said.

Across the four-day sale period, which kicks off on 24 November, it’s expected Australians will spend $6.36 billion, according to Australian Retailers Association (ARA), in partnership with Roy Morgan.

“The event is renowned for having the biggest pre-Christmas bargains and this year will be no different. We’re expecting significant traffic in-store and online, with sales to reach $6.36 billion this year – an increase of $188 million on 2022,” ARA CEO Paul Zahra said.

“While many will likely take advantage of in-store sales, many will also opt for shopping online, and this is where problems may arise.”

People might take advantage of the upcoming sales by scouting unattended parcels to pinch. Photo: Getty