Worried about porch pirates this holiday season? Here’s how to protect your packages
With an estimated 7.4 billion pieces of mail and packages already sent this holiday season, officials are offering ways to keep your gifts safe from potential thieves..
A 2024 report by Security.org found that 25% of Americans said they’ve fallen victim to porch pirates in their lifetime, with at least 4% reporting package theft in the last three months.
Apartment residents were twice as likely to have their parcels swiped compared with those who live in houses, according to the survey of 11,163 U.S. adults. Midwest states — including Kentucky, North Dakota and Nebraska — also had the highest rates of porch piracy.
“Package theft really took off around COVID in early 2020,” Ben Stickle, a criminal justice professor at Middle Tennessee State University, told KTVK. “It has continued to increase seemingly every year, likely tied to the rate that we’re having packages delivered to our homes.”
As holiday shopping ramps up, buyers may be more worried about stolen packages. The concern is warranted, but experts say there are steps you can take to safeguard your gifts.
“The best way to deal with package thieves is through preventative and security measures,” according to IT security firm ADT. “If a package is stolen from your property, your best bet is to have already installed a video surveillance system so that the suspect can be identified and tracked down.”
The Better Business Bureau also offered useful tips, including having parcels shipped to a store or post office box.
Turning on tracking and delivery notifications is also suggested, according to the bureau.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said it’s best to avoid letting mail pile up and leaving packages unattended for long periods of time. Other tips include:
- Arrange for prompt pickup
- Request a signature confirmation
- Use the “Hold for Pickup” option
- File a change of address if you’ve moved
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Worried about porch pirates this holiday season? Here’s how to protect your packages."