WASHINGTON — This Christmas, thieves are targeting online shoppers and doing their dirty work right at your front door.

Capt. David Falcinelli, of the Montgomery County police, says, “Online shopping is huge.” But that gives thieves a huge opportunity to make off with your packages.

He says, “One of the things we will see is with all the package deliveries — with UPS, FedEx and all the other shipping companies — there are folks that follow these trucks around.” And when a delivery is made, thieves check to see whether anyone is home before swooping in and making off with your package or packages.

“They’ll take it right off the front porch. And it’s like it was never delivered,” Falcinelli says. But it was delivered, that leaves you with one less Christmas present for someone.

Falcinelli says that if you are having a package delivered, make sure someone is home, or arrange to have the package dropped off with a neighbor.

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