Top 5 Scary Facts About Package Theft and How to Prevent It

Do you know what’s scary? The fact that an estimated 119 million packages were stolen across America in the past year; that’s equivalent to one out of every 180 package deliveries.¹

If you tune into your local news network, at some point you’ll surely see video footage of “porch pirates” (another name for package thieves) stealing packages off doorsteps across the nation – in plain sight, no less. With 55% of respondents to a recent survey citing direct home delivery as their driver for online shopping, the package theft problem isn’t likely to go away any time soon.²

Read on to discover some important package theft statistics, gain package theft prevention strategies, and learn more about the benefits of using smart parcel locker solutions to effectively prevent package theft in your multifamily community.

Package Theft Statistics for 2024

Here are our top 5 facts about package theft that you should know before you implement a strategy to prevent package theft in your apartment community:

1. Package theft is more common than you think

Porch piracy is a massive issue all across the United States. More than 3 in 4 Americans have been a victim of package theft in their lifetime, with 35% of respondents to a recent Safewise survey saying they lost a package to thieves in the past year. Of the packages stolen by a package thief last year, more than half of the stolen items were valued between $50-200. ³

Multifamily community managers should also note that apartment residents are roughly 34% more likely to fall victim to package theft than the average for all home types, according to recent Capital One Shopping research.⁴

2. Consumers will go to great lengths to ensure the safe delivery of their packages

Nearly 8 in 10 respondents to the Safewise survey said they added some deterrent or preventive measure after having a package stolen. Of those, 35% say they reached out to neighbors, 35% started to leave delivery instructions so their delivery person would leave packages in a discreet location, and 23% added a security system or camera.⁵ A recent C+R Research report adds that about half (51%) of consumers will stay home when they are expecting a delivery.⁶

3. Refunds and replacements for stolen online shopping deliveries are hard to come by

Package theft is costly for consumers, who bear the burden of securing a replacement item or refund when a delivery is stolen. Capital One Shopping research reveals that in less than half (47%) of delivery theft cases, the victim received a replacement item from the seller; only 37% received a refund. 25% of package theft victims never receive a refund for stolen items.⁶ Sadly, these figures don’t account for the cost (both monetary and emotional) of items like family heirlooms, handmade items, or other goods that are – in many cases –irreplaceable.

4. Package theft worries peak during the holiday season

The holidays are a busy time for apartment communities, where package deliveries can increase by as much as 81%.⁷ Capital One Shopping research states 92% of consumers plan on placing an online shopping order for home delivery during the holiday season.⁸ But with more package deliveries typically comes more package theft – particularly with residents in and out of their homes more often for various seasonal engagements. 88% of holiday shoppers are concerned about holiday package theft, and 37% know at least one victim of holiday package theft.⁹

5. Video doorbell cameras and home security systems only help so much

Unfortunately for most, package theft is a common crime because it’s a low-risk crime of opportunity. In many cases, a package delivery is left unattended and in plain sight on a resident’s doorstep the delivery company or off-site delivery service – ripe for the pilfering by package thieves.

While it would be nice to think that having a video doorbell home security camera or a home security system would deter suspicious activity like package theft, the sad reality is that this just isn’t the case.  Unless footage of suspicious activity from a video doorbell camera, home security camera, or home security system clearly shows the suspect’s face, vehicle, or other identifying traits, it’s very difficult for law enforcement to follow up.

To make matters worse, stealing mail or packages delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a felony in every state – but theft of a package delivered by another delivery company is only a felony in nine states. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for consumers to press charges when a package is stolen.

Smart Parcel Lockers: the Best Tool for Package Theft Prevention

It’s nearly impossible to have complete security when a package is delivered right to a resident’s doorstep. The sad truth is that porch pirates can snatch it at any moment, leaving the resident without their package and, in some cases, leaving your community with more negative reviews.

If you are wondering how you can help residents avoid package theft, apartment package lockers are the answer. Smart lockers are the most secure solution for apartment communities interested in preventing package theft, as they accept packages from any delivery company, provide delivery alerts for residents, and allow for on-demand, self-service package pick-up.

This makes lockers a secure package management solution that benefits both residents and property managers alike. Since delivery drivers place resident deliveries directly in the package locker system and quickly confirm delivery with their respective delivery company (i.e., The United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, etc.), community managers can get out of the business of package management and back to the business of property management. Residents, meanwhile, are automatically notified via email, text, or push notification when a package arrives and can retrieve their package delivery from the smart lockers whenever they want – no waiting in line at the leasing office or delivery scheduling required.

When you implement a parcel delivery system like smart lockers, you can rest easy knowing that your residents’ deliveries will be safe and out of harm’s way.

Preventing Package Theft with Smart Lockers from Parcel Pending by Quadient

Parcel Pending by Quadient offers a wide range of apartment solutions that ensure the simple and secure delivery and retrieval of residents’ packages and online orders. Our electronic locker solutions help property managers enhance residents’ overall experience, save valuable staff time, drive resident retention, and, most importantly, prevent package theft. Additional benefits include:

• MORE Operational Efficiency: Automate the package delivery and collection processes; with Parcel Pending PLUS’s Consolidated Box feature, residents can receive more than one package from the same delivery company in one locker
• MORE Package Security: Our smart lockers’ robust steel design ensures all packages are kept safe, removing liabilities for stolen packages; residents use a one-time PIN or unique barcode to access their delivery
• MORE Use Cases: Grant one-time delivery access to the lockers for non-residents, such as maintenance personnel, pet walkers, or self-guided tours; utilize dedicated zoning for community management tasks
• MORE Insights: Get real-time insights and alerts on locker system performance with our Business Intelligence tools and online analytics portal; survey residents about their experience directly from the locker kiosk after package pick-up
• MORE Customization: Flexible API allows for seamless integration with most apartment property management software; customize your package lockers’ color or wraps to match your property’s branding or location aesthetic

Additional Package Theft Prevention Tips

Smart parcel lockers are the best way for you to prevent package theft and reduce crime at your property. However, if you can’t implement smart lockers right now, here are a few more package theft prevention tips you can share with residents:

• Sign up for delivery alerts: Encourage residents to sign up to have the delivery company send them delivery alerts via text or email, so they can track their package in real-time and retrieve it as soon as the delivery person drops it off – before porch pirates have a chance to snap it up.
• Provide delivery instructions: Remind residents to leave delivery instructions for each delivery service they use, so the delivery drivers put packages out of sight and keep them hidden from porch pirates.
• Opt for “signature-required” delivery: To prevent package theft, advise residents to select “signature required” delivery where possible, so that they or someone else must be home to sign for and accept their package.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to help: Recommend that residents ask a trusted neighbor to watch for their package and, if possible, pick it up right after delivery. They should provide neighbors with an estimated delivery date and time so that they can monitor accordingly.

Out-of-Home Delivery Options

There are also a couple other delivery options offered by retailers and carriers that can help keep package thieves at bay and prevent package theft at your community:

• Buy Online, Pickup in Store (BOPIS) or curbside pickup are simple and secure ways to avoid the threat of porch pirates altogether. BOPIS allows consumers the convenience of online shopping, the security of monitored collection, and the flexibility of getting their orders on their own time – sometimes even from an in-store package locker, such as an Amazon locker for an Amazon package. Curbside pickup allows consumers to collect their orders without even leaving their car.
• Rerouting a package to a local delivery location, such as the nearby US Postal Service office, or FedEx or UPS store, is another great way for residents to prevent package theft and secure a package delivery.

Are you a resident looking to reroute a package delivery? Get our easy steps for how to reroute a package with the major carriers (e.g., Amazon, FedEx, USPS, and UPS).

What to Do if You Suspect Your Package Was Stolen

If you are a resident and suspect that a package thief has stolen your package, you should:

• Check around your unit to see if the delivery person placed your package out of sight, such as under the doormat or behind decorative plants.
• Ask your neighbors if they saw a delivery person drop off your package or if the delivery driver mistakenly delivered the package to them.
• Stop by the leasing office and ask if the delivery person or another resident brought your package to them for safe keeping.
• Contact the shipping company to determine that the package was delivered. If it was, you can file a complaint with the delivery company – just be sure to have your package tracking number handy.
• File a police report with your local police department.

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We know that package theft can be scary, but community managers can rest assured that Parcel Pending’s secure package delivery box can help to protect your residents from the threat of porch pirates.

Need help getting apartment package lockers in your budget? Parcel Pending can help. Get in touch with one of our package management experts today to learn more about our pricing options.

Sources:

1. Capital One Shopping. Package Theft Statistics. capitaloneshopping.com. February 18, 2024. https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/package-theft-statistics/
2. Kunst, Alexander. Drivers of online purchases in the U.S. 2022. www.statista.com. May 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997240/drivers-of-online-purchases-in-the-us
3. Edwards, Rebecca. Worst Metro Cities for Package Theft for 2023. www.safewise.com. November 15, 2023. https://www.safewise.com/blog/metro-areas-porch-theft/
4. Capital One Shopping. Package Theft Statistics. capitaloneshopping.com. February 18, 2024. https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/package-theft-statistics/
5. Edwards, Rebecca. Worst Metro Cities for Package Theft for 2023. www.safewise.com. November 15, 2023. https://www.safewise.com/blog/metro-areas-porch-theft/
6. C+R Research. 2022 Package Theft Statistics. www.crrresearch.com. October 19, 2022. https://www.crresearch.com/blog/2022-package-theft-statistics-report/
7. National Multifamily Housing Council. Special Delivery: 2018 NHMC/Kingsley Package Delivery Report. www.nmhc.org. November 14, 2018. https://www.nmhc.org/news/press-release/special-delivery-2018-nmhckingsley-package-delivery-report/
8. Capital One Shopping. Package Theft Statistics. capitaloneshopping.com. February 18, 2024. https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/package-theft-statistics/
9. Ibid.