Every day, around 250,000 packages are stolen from doorsteps across the United States. If you have ever come home to an empty porch where a package should have been, you already know the frustration.
104 million Packages stolen in the US in 2024 SafeWise 2025 | $37 billion Total annual cost of package theft SafeWise 2025 | 3.5x more Apartment residents victimized vs homeowners Security.org 2025 |
Sources: SafeWise 2025 U.S. Package Theft Report, Security.org 2025 Annual Report
What Is Porch Piracy?
Porch piracy is the theft of a package from a doorstep, building entrance, or mailbox after it has been delivered. The thief, commonly called a porch pirate, takes the package before the recipient has a chance to collect it.
It is not a new crime, but the rise of online shopping has made it far more common. More deliveries mean more packages sitting unattended in plain view, and that creates more opportunity for porch piracy.
Unlike break-ins or vehicle theft, porch piracy requires almost no effort. A thief can walk up to a door, pick up a box, and be gone in seconds. Most incidents are opportunistic rather than planned, which is part of why they are so hard to prevent with traditional security measures.
How Big Is the Problem?
The scale of porch piracy in the United States is significant and growing alongside e-commerce.
Key Fact
According to SafeWise's 2025 U.S. Package Theft Report, the total economic impact of package theft reached an estimated $37 billion ($15 billion to consumers plus $22 billion to retailers), with roughly 104 million packages stolen nationwide. That is approximately 250,000 stolen packages every single day.
The problem does not affect everyone equally. Some groups face a much higher risk than others:
• Apartment residents are 3.5x more likely to have a package stolen than homeowners, according to Security.org's 2025 Annual Report.
• Urban residents are 36% more likely to experience package theft than the national average.
• 62% of online shoppers feel anxious while waiting for packages to arrive, with nearly one in four reporting moderate to severe anxiety. (Security.org, 2025)
• 57% of all package thefts occur during the holiday months of November and December. (Lombardo Homes, Package Theft Statistics 2025 (Porch Pirates Study)
• Clothing, shoes, and jewelry are the most stolen category at 37.2%, followed by electronics at 18.3%. (Omnisend, 2025)
The types of items stolen are telling. Porch pirates are not specifically targeting luxury goods. They are grabbing whatever is sitting there, which means everyday purchases are just as much at risk as expensive ones.
Why Does It Keep Happening?
Understanding why porch piracy is so common helps explain why traditional solutions often fall short.
Packages are visible and accessible
Most deliveries are left in plain view, on an open porch, a front step, or a lobby, within easy reach of the street. Most homes simply weren't designed with secure delivery in mind, so a package sitting in the open is an easy, low-effort target.
The risk for thieves is extremely low
Porch piracy is typically classified as a misdemeanor in most states. Many cases go unreported because retailers often replace or refund stolen items without much fuss. The near-zero prosecution rate means porch pirates face very little consequence.
Delivery timing is unpredictable
Packages can arrive at any time of day, and most people are not home when they do. Working adults, students, and frequent travelers are particularly exposed because they have no way of knowing exactly when a delivery will arrive.
Apartment buildings create additional vulnerabilities
In shared buildings, packages are often left in lobbies, entranceways, or at the base of stairs where multiple people have access. Without a doorman or a secure mailroom, there is no one to take responsibility for incoming deliveries.
How to Stop Your Packages Being Stolen
There is no single solution that works for everyone. The right approach depends on where you live, your budget, and your daily routine. Here is an honest breakdown of the most common options.
Solution | What it does well | Limitations | Best for |
Security camera | Records footage, deters some thieves | Does not stop theft in real time | Homeowners with a porch |
Delivery instructions | Directs couriers to a safer spot | Couriers may ignore them | Single-family homes |
Package locker | Packages locked on arrival | Couriers need to use it; expensive to install | Homeowners |
Require signature | Package only handed to you | You must be home, or delivery is rescheduled | High-value orders |
Package receiving service | Package collected at a secure local business; pick up with your PIN at your convenience | Monthly subscription fee | Apartment residents, busy professionals, frequent shoppers |
1. Schedule deliveries for when you are home
Most carriers now offer delivery windows or the ability to reschedule. If you know you will be out, rebook the delivery to a day when you can be there. This is free and takes two minutes, but relies on you being available to check and act on delivery notifications.
2. Use delivery instructions
Most courier apps allow you to leave delivery notes, such as asking the driver to leave the package behind a bin, in a side passage, or with a neighbor. This works reasonably well but is not guaranteed, as drivers do not always follow instructions.
3. Install a security camera
A visible doorbell camera or security camera can deter opportunistic thieves. It also captures footage that may help in a police report or insurance claim. However, footage alone does not prevent theft, and studies show that most porch pirates are not deterred by cameras they can see.
4. Request a signature on delivery
For high-value orders, requiring a signature means the package will only be handed over to you in person. The downside is that you must be home, or the carrier will attempt redelivery and may leave a card instead.
5. Use a package receiving service
The most reliable solution for apartment residents and busy professionals
A package receiving service allows you to use a verified local business as your package delivery address. Your packages are stored securely at that location and released only when you show up with your unique pickup PIN. There is no risk of theft from a doorstep because your packages never reach your doorstep in the first place.
Delivery Amigo is a package receiving service that operates a network of 500+ verified local businesses across the US that receive packages on your behalf. Subscription plans start at $7.50/month for 5 packages and $15/month for 15 packages, with no contracts and no hidden fees. When your package arrives at your chosen location, you receive a notification and can collect it at any time that suits you.
Unlike unmanned lockers, every Delivery Amigo location is a real, active commercial business. Your package is stored off the street, in the care of a real person, until you are ready to pick it up.
Who Is Most at Risk?
While anyone can fall victim to porch piracy, certain groups face a consistently higher risk:
• Apartment residents and people in multi-unit buildings without a doorman or secure mailroom
• Commuters and full-time workers who are away from home during standard delivery hours
• Frequent online shoppers who receive multiple deliveries each week
• Students in shared housing or dorms where packages are left in communal areas
• Travelers and people with unpredictable or irregular schedules
• Residents of dense urban areas, where theft rates are 36% above the national average
If you recognize yourself in more than one of those groups, your risk is compounded. A busy professional in a New York City apartment who shops online regularly is many times more exposed than a homeowner in a rural area who rarely orders online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is porch piracy a felony?
In most US states, porch piracy is classified as a misdemeanor unless the value of the stolen goods exceeds a certain threshold, which varies by state. A handful of states have introduced specific porch piracy legislation with stricter penalties, but prosecution remains rare regardless of classification.
What do I do if my package is stolen?
First, check your tracking information to confirm the package was marked as delivered. Then contact the retailer or seller, as many will replace or refund stolen items. File a report with your local police department and note the case number. If you paid by credit card, check whether your card offers purchase protection.
Does homeowners or renters insurance cover stolen packages?
Some homeowners and renters insurance policies cover personal property theft, which can include packages. However, many policies have a deductible that may be higher than the value of a single package, so it is worth checking your specific policy before filing a claim.
Will a security camera stop porch pirates?
A visible camera can deter some opportunistic thieves, but many porch pirates aren't deterred by a visible camera and take the package anyway. Cameras are more useful for after-the-fact documentation than active prevention. The most effective solutions are those that prevent the package from being exposed in the first place.
What is the best way to prevent package theft in an apartment?
The most reliable option for apartment residents is to use an alternative delivery address, such as a package receiving service, where your deliveries are accepted and stored securely until you collect them. This eliminates the risk at source because your packages are never left unattended in a communal area.
Related Reads on Delivery Amigo
Looking for more on secure deliveries and package safety? These pages are worth reading next:
For the complete picture, see our definitive guide to porch piracy in the United States, the statistics, the causes, and what actually works to stop it.
New to package receiving? How Delivery Amigo works walks you through setting up secure package receiving, step by step.
Ready to start? You can find a package pickup location near you from a network of verified local businesses across the US.
Live in an apartment? Package receiving for apartment residents explains why standard delivery falls short in multi-unit buildings and what to do instead.
Want the numbers first? How much Delivery Amigo costs breaks down the plans, pricing, and what's included.
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