'Tis the season for couriers around the country to work overtime, saving us from 40-minute queues that somehow move backwards.

NZ Post says it’s expecting around 800,000 more parcels than a normal seven-day period, with 2.4 million parcels set to be delivered this week alone. 

In total, around 10 million parcels are expected to arrive before Christmas Eve, up from last year

But with more parcels comes more opportunity for theft.

Counties Manukau Police Inspector Mohammed Atiq advised people that January actually sees the highest number of parcel thefts, as many people are back at work or away on holiday.

So how do you keep your parcels safe during the busiest delivery period of the year?

Send parcels somewhere secure If you can, get deliveries sent to your work address or somewhere you know someone will be around to receive them. A signed-for delivery adds an extra layer of security.

Make sure your delivery instructions are clear and avoid parcels being left at the front door or on top of apartment building letterboxes.

Have someone home for delivery If you’re working from home or can time deliveries for when someone’s around, it reduces the chance of parcels being left unattended on the doorstep.

Use click and collect Many shops offer click-and-collect, allowing you to shop online and pick up in-store whenever it suits you. It’s one of the safest options, especially for higher-value items.

Ask a neighbour for help If you trust your neighbours, ask them to keep an eye out or grab your parcel if it arrives while you’re out and they’re home.

Track your deliveries Keep an eye on tracking notifications so you know exactly when a parcel is arriving.

Doing this early on saves you a missing parcel and a last-minute dash back to the shops.

And honestly, anything that keeps us out of the mall carpark in December is a massive win.