Condo lobby - issues with package thefts

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I live in a 20 unit condo building in Dupont Circle. There are been issues with packages, that have been delivered and left in lobby, being stolen. I have some questions about this - is the COA responsible for this if they know stuff is being stolen, or is it unreasonable for people to have packages delivered if they are not there to receive them?

Also - does anyone know of a package locker or something that could be used for delivery?

[Anonymous]

Do you have a doorman that accepts packages? Our doorman makes us sign for packages.

In my previous SFH, we had a 20 house mailbox near our home that had package lockers under the mailboxes. It was nice to use and USPS would use the package locker and leave the key in my mailbox.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we don't have a doorman. How big where the lockers?

[Anonymous]

I would request that the delivery be signature required (although this will be a big pain for you). Can you get packages delivered to the office?

[Anonymous]

Our USPS lockers could hold pretty big packages. http://www.leedan.com/2BGlobal-D20P2.htm

The problem is that only USPS could use them and drop the key in your mailbox.

[Anonymous]

Have them shipped to Amazon.com lockers. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201117850

[Anonymous]

Look into gopost by the US Postal Service. I don't know if they have locations in DC, but there's one out by us in NOVA. It's a self-serve pickup/dropoff kiosk for packages.

[Anonymous]

I live in Dupont as well and am actually friends with our UPS lady. The deal is, if they can get behind the first security door, then they can leave the packages there because it's considered secure. If they are being stolen, it's definitely someone in your building. My building has no doorman, and we have about 40 units and about 10 of those are doctors/dentists/other offices that have visitors. We rarely have thefts. So if all these people who don't live here are coming in and out and don't steal packages here, I'm thinking it's definitely one of your neighbors. How about a camera to find out who it is?

[Anonymous]

We had this issue in our building, a couple of times. For us it was tough because we lived in a complex of 6 buildings, each with about 8 units, and even though all the doors were secure they all had the same key fob for access. So, it wasn't like we could narrow it down to the neighbors in our own building (all of whom we liked and trusted). And there were just enough random delivery people that it was hard to know if it could have been the pizza guy on his way out.

I would definitely raise the issue at a board meeting and would expect the condo board to at least come up with some kind of policy/plan. In fact, we've moved since, and after reading this I wish we had done this. It only happened twice, on totally separate occasions, but bothered me both times.

[Anonymous]

Our old 25 unit condo building used to have this problem. Board called a meeting it was agreed that a security camera would be set up in the main lobby. It was out in the open and there was a clear sign stating it was there. Never had a problem again.

[Anonymous]

For a short term fix, just get a sign saying that there is a security camera. Just the threat of being watched might fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a short term fix, just get a sign saying that there is a security camera. Just the threat of being watched might fix it.

Can't do this. God forbid someone were attacked or something and they called in for the video and you didn't have it? Big liability. We've been thru this over and over in my condo.

[Anonymous]

Can you have packages delivered to a friend's place? A friend of mine has a similar issue and she sends her packages to a friend/co-worker who lives nearby in a building with a door man. If the packages are small, the friend brings them into work. If they're larger, she swings by on the weekends. At the very least, it's a temporary solution until your bigger issue gets resolved.