The Catawba County Sheriff's Office is warning citizens, after a recent report of a suspicious activity in the county, that now is the time to think about home security.

A citizen reported to the Sheriff's Office that a man wearing a jacket, with a patch showing the insignia of a well known package delivery company, came to their door at mid morning and asked if the family had received a package from the same delivery company. The family had just received a package, so the citizen told the man they had. The man then asked if the driver who delivered the package was courteous and if the family was satisfied with the delivery. The resident told the man they had no complaints about the service and, with the family's dogs barking loudly, the man thanked the resident and left.

The resident became uneasy about the incident because the man did not offer any other type of company I.D. and had only the patch with the insignia of the well known company on his jacket. The resident called that delivery company, and eventually discovered that a different company had delivered their package that morning. The delivery company representative also checked with the corporation's home office and found that the company had no one making customer service visits. The delivery company recommended the resident call the Sheriff's Office, which has the matter under investigation.

"Citizens should be aware of this incident that occurred here in Catawba County, and that it could possibly be a way for someone to canvass your home for a breaking and entering," said Sgt. Alton Price, who works in the Crime Prevention Division of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. "First of all, they can see what you have in your residence from your front door while speaking with you, and second, they can see if you are at home before breaking into your residence.  Please report any instance like this to the Sheriff’s Office immediately (by calling 828-464-3112) and give us a description of the subject and, if possible, a description of the vehicle the suspicious person is driving."

The Sheriff's Office has prepared a Home Security Check List which you may find helpful in making your home more secure. Or, for more information on home security, you may visit the Crime Prevention Division web page or call the Crime Prevention Division at 828-465-8336.