Key takeaways
- 80% of residents worldwide leave their packages unattended outside their homes after delivery.
- 26% of people around the world have had a package stolen from their porch, front door, or mailbox. Of these, 40% said the theft occurred within the past year.
- The U.S., Canada, and Chile were the top 3 countries most likely to be impacted by porch piracy.
- Packages are most often stolen on Wednesdays (36%) in the afternoon (77%).
- Residents worldwide suffered an average loss of $123 from packages stolen; 1 in 5 reported a loss of over $200.
Is your delivered package safe?
Have you ever eagerly waited for a package delivery, only to discover someone stole it from your doorstep? You’re not alone. Porch piracy, the theft of delivered packages from homes, is a growing concern worldwide.
In this article, we’ll draw insights from our recent survey of 1,004 residents across different countries to identify high-risk regions, the types and values of commonly stolen items, and strategies to prevent these thefts. We’ll also cover how different living situations relate to this issue and how people think porch pirates should be punished. Find out the latest porch theft statistics and how to protect your packages.
Left at the door
With how common online shopping and home deliveries are these days, it’s not uncommon for packages to be left unattended outside homes. But how prevalent is this, and how long are packages typically left unsecured?
On average, residents worldwide reported receiving six packages delivered to their homes each month, and five of those packages have been left unattended outside their homes after delivery. Overall, 80% of survey respondents reported leaving package deliveries unattended outside their homes.
The time packages were left unattended varied, with people living in houses (41%) being more comfortable leaving packages unattended for 1 to 3 hours after delivery than those living in apartments (31%). Americans (44%) were the most likely to leave their packages unattended for this amount of time after delivery.
Falling victim to package theft
With so many packages being left unattended, it’s no surprise that porch piracy has become a significant issue. Let’s take a closer look at the prevalence of package theft and its financial impact on residents worldwide.
Our survey revealed that 26% of residents worldwide have had a package stolen from their porch, front door, or mailbox, with 40% of these thefts occurring within the past year. Some porch pirates even dress as Amazon delivery workers to avoid suspicion. Apartment residents were 30% more likely than house residents to have had a package stolen, and urban areas saw a higher rate of package theft (32%) compared to suburban (24%) and rural areas (17%).
On average, individual residents have lost $123 due to stolen packages, with 1 in 5 losing over $200. When looking at loss by generation, millennials reported the highest losses at an average of $136, while Gen Z reported the lowest at $90. By country, the average monetary value of stolen packages was highest in the U.K. and the U.S. Here’s the rest of the breakdown:
- U.K.: $149
- U.S.: $139
- Japan: $114
- Australia: $104
- Canada: $73
- Chile: $62
In the past year alone, individual residents lost an average of $57, with 1 in 4 losing over $100. Let’s now look at what kind of items porch pirates most often took.
The types of items stolen from deliveries varied by country and living situation. The U.S., Canada, and Chile were the countries most likely to be impacted by porch piracy. Residents in the U.K. were the most likely to have had clothing stolen (60%), while those in Chile were the most likely to have had food deliveries stolen (33%).
Not every porch pirate is wandering your neighborhood aimlessly—some food delivery drivers have stolen packages from their own customers. And if they get access to your apartment building, your neighbors could be at risk, too. We found that apartment residents were twice as likely as house residents to have had grocery deliveries stolen.
Could certain days and hours be prime times for property crime? Among those surveyed, package thefts were most common on Wednesdays (36%) and during the afternoon (77%).
Prevention in practice
While porch piracy is common and can have significant financial impacts, you can take steps to protect your deliveries. In this section, we’ll examine the various strategies people use to prevent package theft and the public sentiment toward appropriate penalties for those caught stealing.
Americans were the most proactive in using doorbell cameras to prevent package theft (25%), and 22% used security cameras. About as many Americans (23%) said they work from home on delivery days to avoid package theft. However, not everyone can enjoy this flexible work arrangement, which makes security technology a better choice for others.
Porch piracy exposed
Our global survey on porch piracy has shed light on the widespread nature of this issue and its financial impact on residents worldwide. With over a quarter experiencing package theft and an average loss of $123 per incident, it’s clear that porch piracy is a significant concern. But on the bright side, we’ve also highlighted residents’ top strategies to protect their deliveries, and doorbell cameras are an accessible option for many.
As online shopping and home deliveries continue to grow in popularity, it’s important to be vigilant and take proactive steps to secure your packages. Part of this involves staying informed about the latest trends in porch piracy and home security so you can shop online with peace of mind.
