Today’s Sound Off is about porch pirates and mailbox burglars:

Dear Heloise: I got very tired of porch pirates who steal my packages, and I decided to do something about it. I bought a metal sign that said, “Smile! You’re on a hidden camera.” I put it up where the porch pirates usually steal items. I also had a doorbell camera installed. I don’t know if the thieves knew they were being recorded or not, but it helped the police identify them.

As if that wasn’t enough, we started having people who roamed our streets and were rummaging through mailboxes to find checks or just about anything that they could steal. They stole checks mailed from banks, credit cards, and even clothing that had been sent from stores.

I now have all important packages or mail sent to my office, where our receptionist keeps it safe for me. — Carla D., Detroit

Carla, I’m glad you were able to figure out a solution. Last year, there were 144 million victims of porch pirates, with an estimated value of $7.4 billion lost to porch pirates.

Readers, if your packages have been stolen:

— Track the package through the store or shipping company.

— Check with neighbors to see if they received the package by mistake or are holding onto it for you.

— Contact the retailer and shipping company to see if it went out or if they made an incorrect delivery.

— File a shipping company claim.

— Notify the police and your insurance company if the package was worth over $500.

To avoid package theft:

— Receive all packages in person.

— Use a lockbox service. Many grocery stores, convenience stores, mailbox stores, or some gas stations have lockboxes for mail and package deliveries.

— Install security cameras. You might frighten some thieves off, and you’ll have proof of theft for the police.

— Have packages delivered to your place of business if they allow it. — Heloise

WHALING

Dear Heloise: I just read that Iceland has OK’ed the return to whaling for some companies. I’m totally disgusted with this practice. It’s bad enough that Japan and Norway have continued to hunt and kill whales, too. Must we destroy all other living creatures on this planet?!

Whales along the Pacific Coast are dwindling due to starvation, pollution, fishing nets, climate change and ship strikes. The gentle giants may never recover. I sincerely believe that greed and profits were the only considerations in granting whaling licenses to kill these beautiful creatures.

I want to donate and protest this needless slaughter of whales, but who should I contact? — Hailey F., Portland, Oregon

Hailey, you might start with the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace International, or the International Fund for Animal Welfare. All of these organizations have websites. If you can encourage other people to write to them as well, all the better.

Whales aren’t always killed on the first strike. There have been reports of whales being shot four or more times. It’s a sad and prolonged end to one of nature’s beautiful creations. Worst of all, it’s unnecessary. — Heloise

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.