Last updated February 3, 2025
In 2024, Americans spent more than $1 trillion ordering clothes, groceries, and other goods online. While ecommerce sends stuff to consumers’ doors faster than ever, it makes us more likely to be victims of thieves, aka porch pirates.
“It’s one of the most common crimes in the country today,” said Ben Stickle, a professor of criminal justice administration at Middle Tennessee State University and an expert on package theft. He said it’s the ultimate crime of opportunity: “It takes almost no skill to steal a package, and there’s very little chance of being caught.”
So how do you avoid having your stuff stolen, and what can you do if it happens?
“The best way to reduce your risk of being a victim of a porch pirate is to make sure there are no packages there for them to take,” said John Breyault, a vice president at the National Consumers League and fraud expert.
Ways to Combat Package Thieves
Partner with a neighbor: See if you can arrange with a trusted neighbor to watch out for package deliveries at your house, while you do the same for them.
Get delivery alerts: Most retailers send email updates about when your purchases will arrive, so you can be on the lookout. Retailers and the major shipping companies also send alerts after they’ve made deliveries.
Doorbell cameras can alert you: Many delivery drivers don’t ring the doorbell or knock when dropping off packages. A doorbell camera will let you know in real time that you received something, so you can bring it inside or contact someone you trust to fetch it.
Use shipping tools: The major parcel delivery services—including the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx—have online tools allowing you to delay delivery, hold packages at a retail location, or reroute your purchases to a different address, such as your office. Amazon and some other major retailers let you add instructions to your order about where to leave your merch. There’s no guarantee they will follow your instructions, but it’s probably worth the effort to specify a more secure location than the front door.
Use package lockers: Amazon will deliver packages to one of its secure locker locations (you choose where) for you to pick up. Shipping to an Amazon Locker is free for Prime Members. UPS, DHL, and the U.S. Postal Service also offer secure locker services.
Buy a drop box: If you receive frequent package deliveries, consider buying a lockable drop box to place by your door. Basic models cost less than $100.
What if Porch Pirates Strike?
Legally speaking, once a package is delivered to your doorstep, the retailer and the shipping company are no longer responsible for it. If the packages are snatched by a thief, it’s your problem. But here are a few tactics to try:
Report the theft to the retailer. In many cases, it will send a free replacement.
Dispute the transaction with your credit card company. You might get your money back by arguing you never received the shipment. The retailer might fight the dispute by claiming it shipped and dropped off the stolen item as agreed, but we find that in most cases credit card companies side with customers in these situations. You’ll help your case even more if you can show the item arrived outside the retailer’s estimated delivery window, or you were never given an opportunity to protect it from theft.
File a police report. Most departments have online forms citizens can use to report minor crimes. Having a report (or security camera footage of the thieves) might help you obtain a free replacement.
File a claim with your home insurance. If the item stolen was very expensive, and you can’t get satisfaction from the retailer or delivery service, consider filing an insurance claim. But don’t make small claims; this could increase your future premiums dramatically.
