California tops list of worst states for package thefts. See holiday safety tips

Worried about “porch pirates” making off with your holiday packages?

California is the worst state in the nation for package theft, according to home security website Safewise.

Package thefts in 2025 cost U.S. consumers $15 billion and retailers $22 billion, Safewise said. That’s according to data collected by ZFLO Technologies, a loss prevention innovator and e-commerce research company.

Thieves steal packages left on stoops and doorsteps by delivery couriers, and typically strike when no one’s home, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.

“With more and more folks utilizing Amazon and online purchasing, more stuff gets dropped off at home,” Christine Wallace, public affairs manager for the San Luis Obispo Police Department, told The Bee in 2024. “And if things are left on porches it sometimes becomes an attractive thing for nefarious characters.”

Here’s what to know:

How common are package thefts?

In 2025, there were about 90.8 million incidents of package theft in the United States — about 248,868 per day, Safewise found.

In all, about 104 million packages were stolen over the course of the year.

That’s a decrease of 13% from 2023, when package thieves nabbed 120 million parcels, according to Safewise.

“Fewer Americans experienced or worried about package theft in 2025 — but with millions of stolen packages and billions in losses, the problem is far from solved,” Safewise said.

Top cities for package theft problems in 2025 include Chicago, New York City, Miami, Houston and Baltimore, Safewise said.

Leading states for package thefts include New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.

The study found that 44% of Americans worried about package theft in 2025, and 31% experienced a package theft. Both numbers are down from 2024.

How bad is package theft in California?

According to Safewise, California was the No. 1 worst state for package theft in 2025 based on the “financial toll” of porch piracy.

Thieves in the Golden State stole an estimated 32,396 packages each day, Safewise said, resulting in a total loss of more than $1.5 billion to California consumers.

Los Angeles ranked seventh on Safewise’s list of the top U.S. cities for package thefts in 2025, with an estimated 4.2 million incidents over the course of a year.

Consumers in the Southern California city lost more than $150 million worth of packages, Safewise said.

How to stop package thieves

According to Security.org, 88% 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, alert your local law enforcement agency by calling the non-emergency hotline or filing a police report online.

“If there is a theft, we want it to be reported as soon as possible,” Wallace said.

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