Editor's Note: Every year, Security.org publishes a package theft report that delves deep into package theft victimization, cost, and prevention measures. The latest data in our 2023 Annual Package Theft Report shows that about 176 million thefts occurred in the 12 months leading to October 2023. Read the full report for current insights about porch piracy.
Americans have long embraced the ease of one-click purchases and packages delivered right to their doorsteps, but since the lockdowns in 2020, e-commerce has only been embedded deeper into our lives.1 Proof to that is the record-shattering sales of online retailers in the past year during special shopping days – Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and year-end sales.2
Unfortunately, the same shopping conveniences that benefit consumers are a boon for criminals who prey on our parcels. Package theft has become an epidemic of its own, with our quarterly research revealing that “porch pirate” activity has grown during the outbreak. We also found that this issue spiked during the 2020 gift-giving season.
As we continue to patronize online shopping, however, we must face the fact that package theft is here to stay. In our previous studies, we found that there was a particularly notable uptick in porch piracy at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when people were instructed to remain at home and online shopping was the only option. An even bigger spike happened in the holiday season of that year.
Porch piracy has become an epidemic of its own, and we’re keeping an eye on it. We conducted a porch piracy study involving more than 18,000 adults in all 50 states and continue to research the subject quarterly. Our goal is to paint a complete picture of porch piracy’s regional impacts based on firsthand experiences rather than generic crime rate projections or Google search trends.
Here are some of our key findings:
- Nationally, 49 million Americans have had at least one package stolen in the past 12 months.
- The prevalence of victims ranged from a high of 29 percent in Alaska to a low of 12 percent in Maine.
- The median value of stolen merchandise was $50, with state-specific averages varying from $30 (Arizona) to $80 (Alaska).
- The incident rates and average loss captured in our research reflect more than $2.4 billion in stolen goods over the past 12 months.
Theft Rates Remain High Heading Into Holidays
In the entire United States, 19 percent of consumers (or about 49 million) had at least one delivery stolen between November 2020 and November 2021. The frequency of package theft declined but remained high since peaking at 22 percent during the 2020 holiday season. It’s important to note, however, that in the first half of 2021, porch piracy rates actually cratered to 17 percent, so the 19 percent rate we saw in November 2021 is an upward trend. Our more recent research suggests that workers returning to office may be to blame.
As companies continue to urge their employees to abandon their work-from-home setup, and as we enter the season of online sale events, it is likely that we’ll continue to see a surge in porch piracy incidents.
| Percentage experiencing package theft | ||
|---|---|---|
| Survey period | Ever | Recent* |
| May 2020 | 41% | 19% |
| August 2020 | 41% | 19% |
| October 2020 | 40% | 19% |
| December 2020 | 45% | 22% |
| July 2021 | 40% | 17% |
| October 2021 | – | 19% |
| March 2022 | 54% | 23% |
*Recent = past three months, except October 2021 when participants were asked about the past 12 months
If we zoom in on a state level, we can see that some places have higher package theft occurrences than the national average (19 percent), peaking at 29 percent in Alaska and 27 percent in Delaware, Nevada, and New York in the mainland.
The interactive map below shows the percentage of adults who lost at least one parcel to package thieves in the last 12 months. It also shows the median value of packages stolen. An expanded data table is available at the end of this article.
| States with highest package theft rates | States with lowest package theft rates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 29% | Maine | 12% |
| Delaware | 27% | Wisconsin | 13% |
| Nevada | 27% | Alabama | 14% |
| New York | 27% | Georgia | 14% |
| Rhode Island | 25% | South Carolina | 14% |
| Hawaii | 25% | New Mexico | 14% |
| West Virginia | 25% | South Dakota | 14% |
Our results show that the concentration of package theft victims is lowest in Maine and nearly two-and-a-half times higher in Alaska. Delaware, Nevada, and New York followed Alaska as the states where package theft was most likely, while Wisconsin, Alabama, and Georgia trailed Maine as the safest spots for delivery.
Average Stolen Package Valued at $50
While it’s tricky to know the value of what’s inside a box until it’s opened, thieves in some states are getting luckier than those snatching packages in regions. Overall, the median value of stolen packages nationwide was $50.
However, there were some differences across the nation. Alaska and Rhode Island topped the list for both package theft rates and median value of stolen shipments, followed closely by Oklahoma. Arizona thieves ended up stealing the lowest-value packages, followed closely by Illinois, Louisiana, and New Jersey.
| States with highest median value of stolen packages | States with lowest median value of stolen packages | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80 | Arizona | $30 |
| Rhode Island | $80 | Illinois | $35 |
| Oklahoma | $77 | Louisiana | $35 |
| Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Wyoming | $75 | New Jersey | $35 |
| Delaware | $69 | Wisconsin | $36 |
Package Thieves Strikes Every Type of Community
Much like real buccaneers sailing the high seas, porch pirates are liable to strike anywhere. We found that package theft rates varied widely between states, independent of other demographic factors.
A deeper statistical analysis confirmed that this scourge may affect any area regardless of economics, environment, or setting:
- Our largest state had the highest victim rate (Alaska, at 29 percent), followed by tiny Delaware (where 27 percent of residents had a package stolen).
- Twenty-four percent lost parcels on the wide-open prairies of North Dakota, and 25 percent were targeted in densely populated Rhode Island.
- Mississippi paired the nation’s lowest cost of living with a high rate of package theft victims (24 percent), while New Yorkers paid dearly to live in their state and also got pinched on the porch (fourth-highest victim rate at 27 percent).
- Thieves struck across every climate, from 25 percent of Hawaiians in paradise to 21 percent of chilly Vermonters.
Expert Advice: Some identity thieves rely on package theft to commit their crimes. Use a trusted identity theft protection service like Aura to prevent this from happening to you.
Crime and Punishment: Public Efforts to Curb Piracy
Increased e-commerce spending has undoubtedly fueled package theft, but so has a lack of serious deterrence.
Porch piracy is a crime of opportunity that rarely ends in arrest – unless a home has a security system, the police often have little evidence to follow. In fact, in one of our studies, we found that those who didn’t have a doorbell camera or security system were less likely to report porch piracy. Out of all the respondents that reported the incident, only 19 percent owned a doorbell camera.
» Learn more: Find the Best Home Security System
On the other hand, 44 percent of those who reported to police owned a doorbell camera and likely had enough evidence. However, even apprehended thieves often evade severe punishment, with the crime falling through cracks in the law.
Mail theft is a federal crime that can bring a stiff sentence but covers only USPS packages or parcels within (or adjacent to) mailboxes.3 However, package deliveries from Amazon and other retailers invoke no federal jurisdiction. Aside from that, the median value of package theft is at $50. In many states, theft of that value is only considered as a misdemeanor. That is one of the reasons we saw that victims don’t report package theft. In our survey, respondents who lost packages worth $50 or less were 21 percent less likely to report the crime than those whose items were worth $100.
Some legislatures are fighting back with statutes specifically addressing package theft. Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas have already passed porch pirate laws that carry tougher penalties or make repeat offenses into felonies, and four others – California, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina – have introduced similar bills.
Most of these laws were only recently enacted, so time will tell how effective they are. Perhaps as these laws take full effect and other states follow suit, thieves will think twice before stealing.
Sinking the Pirates: How You Can Protect Your Deliveries
With thieves striking everywhere and most current laws inadequate for prevention, it's imperative to take personal precautions to avoid joining the recently victimized 23 percent.
Porch piracy is a crime of convenience, so enhance your security measures: Home security systems are now more affordable and simpler to install than ever before, and there are a variety of devices to fit your home. Doorbell cameras let you monitor your porch from anywhere via your phone, or home security systems can enable professionals to handle that for you. Not only can these measures deter pirates, they can also help apprehend them by creating video evidence of any suspicious activities.
Expert Advice: Top home security systems such as SimpliSafe and ADT provide 24/7 monitoring to ensure your deliveries are monitored throughout the day.
Choose secure delivery locations: As workers return to the office, it’s important to select secure delivery locations for parcels that will arrive when you’re not home. The office mailroom is a popular and safe delivery choice for many, but there are other secure options available. Smart security boxes for your porch keep packages from sitting in the open.
Amazon shoppers have several options, including Amazon Key, an in-home delivery option that gives drivers limited access to your garage or home through a compatible smart lock or garage door controller. However, with Amazon shutting down support for the Amazon Cloud Cam — the camera originally made to monitor in-home deliveries — you’ll need a secondary camera to record deliveries for your protection. Of course, if you have a neighbor or nearby family member who is always home, you can always route delivery to them instead.
Schedule shipments carefully: Most services let you choose a delivery window so you can schedule drop-offs when you'll be home. Alternatively, precision package tracking lets you arrange your errands around a driver's arrival. If you're unsure about timing, you can always require a signature for a delivery or add detailed instructions to a safer spot on your property so parcels aren't left unguarded.
Conclusion
Although hapless porch pirates captured on camera have provided hilarious package theft videos, disappearing deliveries are no laughing matter – especially ahead of the holidays. Supply chain issues have made gifts harder to come by and packages potentially more valuable, so be sure to take personal precautions.
Our research revealed that while some states are safer, package theft is a significant issue everywhere. Take extra care against thieving grinches, no matter where you live. And if you don’t have security, consider routing packages to a family member residing in Maine!
Methodology
We used an online survey to ask 18,437 adults from all 50 states about their personal experiences with package theft over the last 12 months. The poll was conducted in October and November 2021. Participants who’d had a package stolen were asked to report the approximate value of their most recently stolen shipment.
Data appendix
| State | Percentage who’ve had at least one package stolen in past 12 months | Package theft incidence rank | Median value of most recently stolen goods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13.8% | 48 | $49 |
| Alaska | 29.0% | 1 | $80 |
| Arizona | 18.6% | 23 | $30 |
| Arkansas | 19.5% | 22 | $50 |
| California | 21.0% | 18 | $40 |
| Colorado | 17.7% | 30 | $50 |
| Connecticut | 21.8% | 13 | $50 |
| Delaware | 27.2% | 2 | $69 |
| Florida | 17.3% | 34 | $44 |
| Georgia | 13.9% | 47 | $45 |
| Hawaii | 25.2% | 6 | $66 |
| Idaho | 14.5% | 43 | $59 |
| Illinois | 19.8% | 21 | $35 |
| Indiana | 15.4% | 41 | $43 |
| Iowa | 21.6% | 14 | $50 |
| Kansas | 23.2% | 11 | $50 |
| Kentucky | 16.0% | 37 | $50 |
| Louisiana | 17.5% | 33 | $35 |
| Maine | 11.6% | 50 | $50 |
| Maryland | 20.5% | 20 | $50 |
| Massachusetts | 15.6% | 39 | $40 |
| Michigan | 18.4% | 26 | $50 |
| Minnesota | 14.8% | 42 | $40 |
| Mississippi | 23.6% | 9 | $75 |
| Missouri | 16.8% | 35 | $50 |
| Montana | 17.7% | 31 | $60 |
| Nebraska | 21.2% | 17 | $75 |
| Nevada | 26.9% | 3 | $62 |
| New Hampshire | 21.2% | 16 | $75 |
| New Jersey | 18.5% | 25 | $35 |
| New Mexico | 14.3% | 45 | $50 |
| New York | 26.9% | 4 | $50 |
| North Carolina | 15.4% | 40 | $50 |
| North Dakota | 24.2% | 8 | $60 |
| Ohio | 18.0% | 27 | $40 |
| Oklahoma | 23.3% | 10 | $77 |
| Oregon | 18.6% | 24 | $45 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.2% | 36 | $43 |
| Rhode Island | 25.4% | 5 | $80 |
| South Carolina | 14.2% | 46 | $50 |
| South Dakota | 14.4% | 44 | $75 |
| Tennessee | 15.7% | 38 | $50 |
| Texas | 17.9% | 28 | $45 |
| Utah | 22.9% | 12 | $50 |
| Vermont | 20.6% | 19 | $62 |
| Virginia | 17.5% | 32 | $45 |
| Washington | 21.3% | 15 | $45 |
| West Virginia | 24.9% | 7 | $55 |
| Wisconsin | 13.2% | 49 | $36 |
| Wyoming | 17.8% | 29 | $75 |
*Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation “Offenses Known to Law Enforcement 2020” report (table four)
References
- Statista. (2021, May). Share of U.S. consumers using online shopping before and after COVID-19 as of September 2020 and February 2021, by selected categories.
statista.com/statistics/1134709/consumers-us-online-purchase-before-after-covid-categories/ - U.S. News. (2022, Jan 5). The Best Days to Shop in 2022.
money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/shopping-holidays-the-best-days-to-shop-this-year - U.S Code. (2002, Jan 22). 18 USC 1708: Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:1708
