Worried about porch pirates in California? 8 tips to stop thieves from stealing your packages
Expecting a package in California? You’re not the only one.
Shoppers are purchasing items online in record numbers this holiday season.
Online customers spent $10.8 billion on Black Friday, Nov. 29, compared to $9.8 billion in 2023, according to Adobe Analytics.
Shoppers also looked to online retailers such as Amazon on Cyber Monday, spending $13.3 billion on Dec. 2, Adobe Analytics data showed. That’s up from $12.4 billion the previous year.
As scores of packages show up outside homes in the weeks ahead of Christmas, so-called “porch pirates” may be making the rounds in your neighborhood.
These thieves steal packages left on doorsteps by delivery couriers, and can strike in broad daylight, typically when no one’s home.
“With more and more folks utilizing Amazon and online purchasing, more stuff gets dropped off at home,” said Christine Wallace, public affairs manager for the San Luis Obispo Police Department. “And if things are left on porches it sometimes becomes an attractive thing for nefarious characters.”
How common are porch pirates?
In 2023, Americans ordered nearly 22 billion packages from online retailers, according to Pitney Bowes, a global shipping and mailing company. That’s an average of 165 parcels per household.
Porch pirates stole 58 million packages over the past 12 months, amounting to $12 billion in stolen merchandise, according to Security.org.
A quarter of Americans have fallen victim to porch pirates at some point in their lives, the home security website said in its annual report on package thefts.
According to a Security.org survey of 11,163 American adults, conducted in November, 6% of Californians had a package stolen in the past three months, with a median value around $83.
How to stop package thieves
As people grow more concerned about package theft, they’re taking additional precautions to deter thieves.
According to Security.org, 86% of Americans have taken at least one step to deter porch piracy.
Here are some tips for how to stop thieves from snatching your packages, courtesy of Security.org, San Luis Obispo police, the U.S. Postal Service and other sources::
Track packages and turn on notifications: Use your item’s tracking number to check online and see when a package may be delivered at your home. Many shippers have features that let you receive notifications when your delivery has reached its final destination.
Install video cameras: Doorbell cameras such as Ring or Nest can be used to track package thieves by gathering evidence if your online purchases are stolen. Videos can help law enforcement capture offenders and could help you recover refunds from retailers or shippers.
Pick up items from lockers: Amazon lockers and other lockers offered by delivery services place packages at secure locations including grocery stores and apartment buildings. Recipients get an email or notification with a special code to open the box.
Buy a lockbox: Homeowners can buy and install lockboxes, also called package delivery boxes. These are similar to apartment mailboxes and post office boxes, and some can notify users when packages have arrived.
Require signatures: Some delivery services, including FedEx and UPS, allow package recipients to request signature requirements with deliveries, especially when shipments are high-value items.
Hold packages: The Postal Service offers “hold for pickup” options for some of its deliveries, allowing people to collect packages at a local post office. FedEx and UPS can also hold packages for pickup at their respective stores.
Set delivery times: Recipients can choose delivery times and places online via UPS or FedEx. A UPS My Choice membership lets customers customize when and how packages are delivered, while FedEx’s Delivery Manager allows packages to be redirected to another address or to a FedEx location, Walgreens or Dollar General store.
Ship items to your workplace: You can ship your packages to your office or place of work, instead of having online purchases pile up on your porch.
What to do if your delivery is stolen
If you think your package was taken, check with the shipping carrier to see if it arrived at your residence.
If you have your item’s tracking number, you can confirm via your carrier’s website or app whether your package was delivered.
Major delivery services, such as Amazon, UPS and FedEx, have in-app notifications to inform you when a package has arrived. Some even upload a picture of where the package was dropped off.
Once you have confirmed your package was stolen, you should alert your local law enforcement agency.
“If there is a theft, we want it to be reported as soon as possible,” Wallace said.
She advised people to call the non-emergency phone line of their local law enforcement office or file a police report online.
How to submit a package theft claim
After completing a police report, you can file a theft claim with the retailer or shipper. Video or photo evidence can help strengthen your claim.
Here’s how to reach customer service at major couriers:
Amazon: amazon.com/gp/help/customer
FedEx: fedex.com/en-us/customer-support.html
UPS: ups.com/us/en/help-center/claims-support.page
U.S. Post Office: usps.com/help/claims.htm
