Hillsborough sheriff will accept your holiday packages to help stop porch thefts

TAMPA — The people who investigate home package thefts are getting into the business of helping prevent them by offering to hold your online orders for you.

With the holiday shopping season approaching, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that people can direct shipments to two of the sheriff’s five Patrol Services offices from Nov. 9 through Dec. 21. The locations are the District 3 Office, 7202 Gunn Hwy, and District 5 Office, 10128 Windhorst Road.

Items will be accepted and safeguarded for free until residents can pick them up from a deputy at the front desk.

Package distribution times will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A government-issued photo identification card and an order tracking number will be required and packages must be less than 50 pounds.