What to Do Immediately After a Package Is Stolen

You tracked it, it said "delivered," and it's not there. Package theft is frustrating and surprisingly common, an estimated 104 million packages were stolen nationwide in 2024, with a total economic impact of roughly $37 billion [source: SafeWise, 2025 U.S. Package Theft Report]. The good news: if you act quickly and document everything, you can usually get your money or item back. Here's exactly what to do, in order.

The short answer

Move fast. In the first 24 hours: confirm the tracking says "delivered," check any camera footage and with neighbors, then report the package theft to the retailer or seller (they most often issue the refund or replacement), report it to the carrier, and file a police report for anything valuable. Keep every screenshot and case number, you'll need them for a refund, an insurance claim, or a card chargeback.

Step 1. Confirm it's actually stolen (not just delayed or misdelivered)

Before you report a package theft, rule out the common look-alikes:

Check the tracking detail. If it says "delivered" with a time, note it exactly. If it's stuck on "out for delivery" or "delivery attempted," it may simply be delayed, not stolen.
Look everywhere it could have been left. Side doors, back porches, behind planters, the mailroom, a leasing office, or with a neighbor who grabbed it for safekeeping.
Ask household members and neighbors. A surprising share of "stolen" packages were taken in by someone nearby.
Wait a beat on carrier scans. Occasionally a package is marked "delivered" a day early. If it's only been a few hours, give it until end of day before escalating.

If it genuinely isn't there and tracking says delivered, treat it as theft or misdelivery and move to Step 2.

Step 2. Document everything now

This is the step people skip and regret. Before you contact anyone, capture:

A screenshot of the tracking page showing "delivered" plus the date and time.
Your order confirmation and receipt (item, price, order number).
Doorbell or security camera footage, if you have it, save the clip, don't rely on it staying in the cloud.
A photo of the empty delivery spot, and note anything unusual (open gate, other packages missing).

The stronger your documentation, the faster a retailer, carrier, or insurer resolves your claim.

Step 3. Report it to the retailer or seller first

For most people, the retailer is the fastest path to getting made whole, many will refund or replace a stolen order without much friction.

Amazon: use "Problem with order" → "Package didn't arrive." Amazon frequently refunds or reships. (See our guide on Amazon missing packages.)
Other retailers: contact customer service, reference your order number, and state clearly that tracking shows delivered but the item was not received.
Third-party marketplace sellers: open a claim through the platform's buyer-protection process (eBay, Etsy, Walmart Marketplace, etc.).

Be polite but firm, and keep a record of the case number and any chat transcript.

Step 4. Report it to the carrier

Reporting to the carrier creates an official record and, in some cases, triggers an investigation, especially useful if the item was insured or the label value was declared.

USPS: file a Missing Mail Search Request and, for mail theft, report to the Postal Inspection Service. Our step-by-step USPS missing mail guide walks through it.
UPS / FedEx: open a claim with the tracking number; note that a "delivered" scan can limit carrier liability, which is why the retailer is usually the better first stop. (See UPS stolen packages and FedEx lost packages.)

Step 5. File a police report for valuable items

For anything of meaningful value, file a report with your local police (many departments let you do this online).

It creates an official record with a case number that retailers, card issuers, and insurers often require.
It contributes to local package theft data, which helps departments target repeat porch-piracy areas.
Bring your documentation from Step 2, tracking screenshot, receipt, and any camera footage.

A realistic expectation: police rarely recover an individual stolen package, but the report is what unlocks the other remedies below.

Step 6. Use your payment and insurance safety nets

If the retailer won't refund, you still have options:

Credit card protection. Many cards offer purchase protection and let you dispute a charge for goods not received. Contact your issuer with your documentation.
Homeowners or renters insurance. Some policies cover stolen packages as personal property, though a deductible may be higher than the item's value, so check your specific policy first. (See our guide on whether insurance covers stolen packages)
Buyer-protection programs (PayPal, marketplace guarantees) if you paid through one.

How to make sure it doesn't happen again

Every remedy above is a workaround for the same root problem: a package sitting unattended where anyone can take it. The most reliable fix is to keep deliveries off your doorstep entirely.

That's what a package receiving service does. With Delivery Amigo, your packages are delivered to a secure, staffed partner location near you. A vetted local business that accepts deliveries from every carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, DHL), logs them in, and holds them until you collect them with your unique pickup PIN. There's no doorstep, no unattended window, and no porch pirate. Plans start at $7.50/month for 5 packages and $15/month for 15. For the full breakdown of prevention tactics, see our guide to porch piracy and how to stop it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for a stolen package, the retailer or the carrier?

Usually the retailer is your fastest route to a refund or replacement, because most will make it right once tracking shows delivered but you didn't receive the item. The carrier's liability is often limited once a package is scanned "delivered," which is why you report to the retailer first and the carrier second.

Should I file a police report for a stolen package?

Yes, for anything valuable. Police rarely recover a single package, but the case number is frequently required by retailers, card issuers, and insurers before they'll process a claim, so the report is what unlocks your refund options.

Does homeowners or renters insurance cover stolen packages?

Sometimes. Some policies cover stolen packages as personal property, but the deductible may exceed the item's value, so it's worth checking your specific policy before filing a claim.

What if the tracking says delivered but I never got it?

Treat it as package theft or misdelivery: document the tracking screenshot, check cameras and neighbors, then report to the retailer and carrier. Many "delivered but missing" cases are porch theft or a package left at the wrong address.

How can I stop my packages from being stolen in the first place?

Avoid leaving packages unattended, use a secure package receiving service or staffed pickup point, enable delivery alerts so you can collect items quickly, and require a signature on high-value orders.