How many packages are stolen in the US, and what does package theft cost?
Updated October 7, 2026
Short answer
In 2025, an estimated 104.3 million packages were stolen in the United States, roughly 250,000 a day, costing consumers about $14.9 billion and driving a total economic impact of at least $37 billion once retailer losses are included. About 31% of Americans had a package stolen in the past 12 months (SafeWise 2025).
Key statistics at a glance
Metric | Figure | Source (2025 unless noted) |
Packages stolen (year) | ~104.3 million | SafeWise |
Packages stolen per day | ~250,000 | SafeWise |
Consumer losses | ~$14.9 billion | SafeWise |
Retailer losses | ~$22 billion | SafeWise (ZFLO Technologies) |
Total economic impact | ~$37 billion | SafeWise |
Americans affected (past 12 mo) | 31% | SafeWise |
Trend since 2023 | Incidents down ~13%; dollar value up | SafeWise |
Alternative volume estimate | ~37 million pkgs / $8B+ | |
Average value per stolen package | $222 | |
Apartment vs. single-family rate | 3.5x higher for apartments | |
Shopper anxiety | 62% anxious; ~1 in 4 moderate-to-severe | |
Holiday exposure | ~25 pkgs per adult Oct-Dec (2x normal) | |
Stolen pkgs visible from street | 98% | Stickle |
Stolen pkgs within 25 ft of curb | 61% | Stickle |
Most-affected state (share of victims) | California, 16.4% | Capital One Shopping 2026 |
Highest victimization rate | Washington, DC (14% of residents) | Capital One Shopping 2026 |
How many packages are stolen in the US each year?
SafeWise's 2025 report estimates about 104.3 million packages were stolen over the trailing 12 months, or roughly 250,000 per day. A separate Security.org survey puts the figure lower, at about 37 million packages, because it counts self-reported thefts over a shorter recall window rather than modeling total incidents. Both are widely cited; they measure different things (see the methodology note below), so we do not add them together.
How much does package theft cost?
SafeWise estimates about $14.9 billion in direct consumer losses, plus roughly $22 billion in retailer losses (citing ZFLO Technologies data) in refunds and replacements, for a total economic impact of at least $37 billion. Security.org, using average item value, reports about $222 per stolen package.
What share of Americans are affected?
About 31% of Americans reported having a package stolen in the past 12 months (SafeWise 2025). Because most thefts go unreported to police - retailers simply refund or replace the item - official crime statistics capture only a fraction of the true total.
Is package theft getting worse?
It depends on the measure. SafeWise reports that the number of theft incidents actually fell about 13% between 2023 and 2025, while the total dollar value stolen rose, because thieves are targeting higher-value packages. Over the longer run the trend is clearly upward, tracking the growth of online shopping and continued near-zero prosecution rates.
Who is most likely to have a package stolen?
Apartment and condo residents are victimized about 3.5 times as often as single-family homeowners (Security.org), driven by shared building access, higher package volume per address, and lower doorstep visibility. Urban residents, frequent online shoppers, commuters who are away during delivery hours, and travelers with long absences all face elevated, structural exposure.
When does package theft peak?
The October-December holiday window. Security.org finds the average adult expects about 25 packages between October and December, roughly twice a normal three-month stretch, so far more parcels sit exposed at once. Higher-value gift items and shorter daylight hours add to the concentration.
How do porch pirates operate?
Most porch piracy is opportunistic. A crime-script video analysis by Dr. Ben Stickle found that 98% of stolen packages were visible from the street and 61% were within 25 feet of the curb - thieves spot an exposed package, walk up, and leave, usually in under a minute. The common thread across every statistic above is the “unattended window”: the gap between a carrier marking a package “delivered” and someone actually collecting it.
A note on the two national estimates
You will see two different national numbers cited across the web: SafeWise's ~104.3 million packages and Security.org's ~37 million. They are not contradictory - they use different methods (SafeWise models total incidents; Security.org counts self-reported thefts in a survey). We treat SafeWise as our headline volume and cost source and cite Security.org for the average package value ($222) and the apartment-vs-house rate. We never add the two together or blend their figures.
Frequently asked questions
How many packages are stolen in the US each year?
An estimated 104.3 million packages were stolen in 2025, about 250,000 per day (SafeWise 2025). A separate Security.org survey estimates about 37 million using a different, survey-based method.
How much does package theft cost Americans?
About $14.9 billion in direct consumer losses and roughly $22 billion in retailer losses, for a total economic impact of at least $37 billion (SafeWise 2025, retailer figure via ZFLO Technologies). The average stolen package is worth about $222 (Security.org 2025).
What percentage of people have had a package stolen?
About 31% of Americans reported a package stolen in the past 12 months (SafeWise 2025).
Are apartment residents more likely to have packages stolen?
Yes. Apartment and condo residents are victimized about 3.5 times as often as single-family homeowners (Security.org 2025), because of shared access, higher package volume, and lower doorstep visibility.
When are most packages stolen?
During the October-December holiday season, when the average adult expects about 25 packages, roughly twice a normal three-month stretch (Security.org 2025).
Sources
● SafeWise, 2025 US Package Theft Report and Worst Metro Cities - https://www.safewise.com/research/porch-pirate-package-theft/
● Security.org, 2025 Annual Package Theft Report - security.org/package-theft/annual-report/
● Ben Stickle et al., crime-script analysis of unattended package theft (via Pinkerton) - pinkerton.com
● Capital One Shopping, 2026 Package Theft Statistics - capitaloneshopping.com/research/package-theft-statistics/
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