Navigating Package Theft: Understanding the Issue and Your Options

In the era of online shopping, the excitement of finding the perfect holiday gift can quickly turn into disappointment when faced with the growing concern of package theft, commonly referred to as porch piracy. If you’ve experienced this frustration, you’re not alone, as an increasing number of shoppers are falling victim to such incidents.

While precise statistics on package theft remain elusive due to the lack of dedicated tracking by most police departments, some cities are beginning to recognize the severity of the issue. Denver, for instance, reported over 1,260 incidents of package theft this year, a significant increase from approximately 750 cases four years ago.

Surveys conducted by organizations like The Chamber of Commerce and Capitol One shed light on the prevalence and financial impact of porch piracy. The Chamber of Commerce found that 26% of surveyed U.S. consumers had experienced package theft, with losses estimated at $29.2 billion according to Capitol One’s report.

To counteract this trend, companies in the retail and delivery sector are implementing various measures. Delivery giants like UPS and FedEx allow customers to divert deliveries to alternative pickup locations or delay shipments. UPS’s innovative feature, DeliveryDefense, employs AI to assess delivery risks and provides a confidence score, enabling merchants to offer secure pickup options for at-risk addresses.

Retailers such as Amazon and Walmart are also taking steps to empower customers, allowing them to track orders, opt for in-store pickups, and even utilize secure lockers for deliveries. Furthermore, some companies are partnering with warranty providers to offer shipping protections.

If you find yourself grappling with a missing package, retailers advise checking order status and confirming delivery. If unsuccessful, reaching out to the purchasing company is recommended. Retailers often evaluate customers’ histories before responding to claims, occasionally requiring police reports.

While federal law designates stealing U.S. Postal Service deliveries as a federal crime, the theft of packages from private carriers falls under state jurisdiction. Efforts to expand federal penalties to private carriers are in progress, but in the meantime, states like Texas, New Jersey, and Michigan are taking steps to impose stricter penalties on porch piracy. As consumers, being informed and proactive remains crucial in navigating the challenges posed by package theft.