Iowans who do a lot of holiday shopping online are being reminded to take steps to help ensure they receive their packages. Mindy Oberreuter of Cedar Rapids told KCRG-TV she fell victim this week to a “Grinch stealing Christmas” as someone took gifts right off her doorstep. “I get a phone call at work from my neighbor that he saw two people in a van steal our packages that were just delivered,” Oberreuter said.

The neighbor reported shortly after a UPS driver placed the packages on Oberreuter’s porch, two people ran up and took them. Oberreuter called police, but the boxes were long gone. They were filled with gifts for her daughter, Evey. “I was really annoyed at first, but shocked definitely in shock that someone would steal someone’s Christmas presents,” Oberreuter said.

UPS media relations manager Dan Cardillo claims package theft is rare, but consumers have options if they’re concerned. “If they’re at work during the day they can have packages delivered to where they work or they can choose to have things sent to a relative or a neighbor who is home during the day,” Cardillo said.

Mindy said she hopes her experience will open eyes that this can happen — something she learned the hard way. “But it’s something that you really shouldn’t have to learn, people should know better than to steal some little girl’s presents,” Oberreuter said.

Amazon did give a refund to Oberreuter and she ordered the gifts again, but changed the shipping address to her workplace. The packages should arrive in time for Christmas.

KCRG/Radio Iowa)