SPRINGFIELD — With online holiday sales already surging 15 percent this year, authorities are warning that an uptick in package thefts is sure to follow.

Already, online spending in the U.S. topped $12.7 billion for the first 25 days of the holiday shopping season compared to the same period last year, according to ComScore, a firm that measures digital data.

All these sales will equate to more packages — about 120 million to be delivered the week before Christmas, according to UPS. And that means more thieves trying to take advantage of “easy targets,” said Clark County sheriff’s Lt. Dusty White.

“With the use of online purchasing now for the holidays, there would be an increase obviously in delivery thefts off porches and in rural areas,” White said.

Working with the package carrier ahead of time, White said, can eliminate some of the risk.

“Contact the delivery service to maybe make arrangements to pick it up at the depot,” he said. “And communicate with a neighbor you may trust so there’s an extra set of eyes and ears out there to assist us.”

UPS just launched a new free program — My Choice — which can help customers keep better track of their packages. By registering online, you can get alerts on where your package is, specific delivery time frames, reroute options and more. A $40 annual subscription offers even more options, according to the company.

“You can set it up to where we’ll have to be there between a certain time of the day where you know you’ll be home,” said UPS driver Chad Koster. “You can set it up to alternate deliver to a neighbor’s house.”

Drivers do their best to tuck away packages, making them inconspicuous for anyone who may be driving by. With up to 400 stops on an average route this holiday, Koster said they do their best to keep deliveries “out of sight and out of mind.

“We don’t want it to get stolen. The customer relies on us,” he said.