Key takeaways
- 37% of apartment renters have been victims of porch piracy, and 1 in 4 suspect a neighbor stole their package.
- 25% of apartment renters said they had a package stolen on Prime Day.
- 1 in 3 apartment renters had a package delivered to the wrong unit, and in 15% of those cases, the package was never returned.
- 84% of renters who have access to a smart locker system believe it reduces theft, but 3 in 4 apartment buildings still don't offer one.
- Package theft searches rose nearly 8% last year. Chicago, IL; El Paso, TX; Mesa, AZ; Bakersfield, CA; and Detroit, MI, saw the sharpest spikes in concern.
Package theft has become a daily concern for apartment renters across the US, especially in an era of constant online shopping and doorstep deliveries. We surveyed over 1,000 renters to find out how often these thefts happen, who they suspect is responsible, and what solutions are (or aren't) available. From mistrust among neighbors to growing interest in smart lockers, the results reveal a pressing need for stronger security measures and greater peace of mind.
The state of package theft in apartments
More renters are falling victim to stolen deliveries, and high-volume shopping events are making it worse.
More than 1 in 3 apartment renters (37%) said they've experienced package theft in the past year. Millennials and Gen Z were hit the hardest, with 42% and 37% reporting stolen deliveries in the past year, respectively. November saw the highest number of theft incidents (27%), and Friday was the most common day (16%) for packages to go missing.
Seasonal shopping spikes also played a major role. Black Friday topped the list as the biggest target for theft. Nearly 2 in 5 renters (39%) reported losing a package during this popular shopping event last year. Prime Day ranked second, with 25% of renters having a package stolen during this annual sales event.
Who's to blame? Many renters point to a neighbor
Misdelivered packages and suspicion among neighbors are leading to a breakdown in trust and a rising demand for better building security.
Over a third of renters (35%) reported that a package of theirs had been delivered to the wrong unit before. In 15% of those cases, the package was never returned.
These experiences have likely contributed to mistrust, as 1 in 4 renters said they've suspected a neighbor of stealing their delivery. Millennials were the most likely to blame a neighbor (27%), followed closely by Gen Z (24%). One in 10 renters actually witnessed it, catching someone in the act either in person or via security camera footage.
Gen X renters felt the most let down by building management, with 68% saying not enough is being done to prevent package theft. Millennials weren't far behind, at 62%. And while many renters want solutions, their willingness to pay for them varies. Nearly a quarter of millennials said they'd pay over $20 more per month for secure delivery options, compared to just 9% of Gen Z.
Smart locker access is still a luxury in most buildings
Smart lockers are effective in reducing theft, but unfortunately, most renters don't have access to them.
Package lockers are more common among newly built apartment buildings. These secure, self-service storage systems are typically installed in common areas and allow residents to retrieve deliveries at their convenience using a unique code or app.
Designed to streamline package management and deter theft, smart lockers eliminate the need for building staff to handle deliveries and help prevent unattended packages from piling up in lobbies or hallways. Only 22% of renters said their building had a smart locker system, and many more (45%) wished it did.
Although 84% of renters with smart lockers believe they help reduce theft, only 18% reported using them for every delivery. Still, some use is better than none at all. Renters without smart locker access were 34% more likely than those who had access to experience package theft.
Searches for package theft are climbing
Online interest in package theft shows Americans are worried and searching for ways to fight back.
Searches related to package theft rose nearly 8% over the last year. Chicago, El Paso, Mesa, Bakersfield, Detroit, and Raleigh saw the steepest increases in search volume, an indicator of growing concern among residents in these metro areas.
The top searched terms reflect frustration and a desire for solutions. "Amazon package stolen" was searched 149,000 times, while "porch pirates" had 62,000 searches. Other high-volume search terms included "USPS package stolen," "package lock box," and "what to do if package is stolen."
Phrases related to prevention, such as "package theft prevention" and "how to prevent package theft," also appeared frequently. As renters continue to seek answers online, there's a clear opportunity for property managers and technology providers to step up and meet the demand.
Securing apartments today
Package theft and worrying about it have become regular hassles for renters, especially in apartments without basic protections. Many blame neighbors, and trust is wearing thin. Smart lockers work well, but most renters don't have access. With more people shopping online and looking for answers to prevent theft, it's a good time for property managers to consider stronger delivery security.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,003 apartment renters to explore how package theft, security systems, and trust in neighbors are shaping their apartment rental experience. The generational breakdown of respondents was as follows: Gen Z (25%), millennials (51%), Gen X (18%), and baby boomers (6%). We also collected Google Trends search volume data on searches made regarding package theft across the US. The data was collected in May 2025.
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