As online shopping becomes entrenched as habitual for the average American consumer, at least one downside of having orders delivered to your door is becoming more apparent: package theft.
According to a recent survey by InsuranceQuotes — partering with SSRS Opinion Research — 31% of those polled reported having a package stolen from their porch, doorstep, or building lobby in the last year. That figure is a significant increase over findings from 2022 and 2023, which came in at 26% and 24%, respectively.
A separate study from ValuePenguin produced even more shocking numbers: The data from that survey indicated that 41% of respondents had been the victim of porch piracy this year, up from 35% the year prior.
Porch Pirates Grow Bolder, Seize Opportunities During the Holiday Season
As deliveries swell in number during the holiday season, so too do the number of thefts conducted by porch pirates.
Per the ValuePenguin data, 11% of Americans had a package stolen during last year’s holiday season — and that number jumps to 18% of Gen Zers.
Alexandra Alvarado, director of marketing and education for the American Apartment Owners Association, said that the practice was now a perennial problem.
“Package theft is an issue every holiday season,” Alvarado said, per InsuranceQuotes.
Package Theft Anxiety More Common Among Younger Americans, Less Common in the Midwest
When it comes to who worries most about the possibility of a package being nabbed by porch pirates, there’s a clear age divide.
Younger Americans are significantly more likely to express anxiety over thoughts of package theft, InsuranceQuotes indicated, with 73% of Gen Z and millennial respondents admitting to as much. That figure can be contrasted against 55% of all respondents, and only 38% of older (aged 65+) individuals polled. InsuranceQuotes indicated that since older people tend to order fewer items online, and are more likely to be home when deliveries arrive, that age cohort may have lessened anxiety over potential theft.
Regional divides in terms of anxiety related to porch piracy were also in evidence, with one clear region, the Midwest, showing the least worry over potential theft (at just 22% of those polled).
“I have friends who live in apartments in downtown LA, and they have some packages delivered to my house or their mom’s house,” Alvarado said. “I don’t get porch pirates in the same way. I went on vacation and had three packages delivered, and I didn’t have any problems. That’s not the case in every neighborhood.”
Americans Opting to Fight Back Against Porch Pirates
As it turns out, many Americans are taking the threat of package theft seriously.
More than 54% of those polled indicated that they have security cameras installed in their residence, and in the past year, 35% have set up tracking notifications in order to keep an eye on their shipments. A significant proportion of those polled (21%) have even gone so far as to alter delivery times to ensure they would be home to receive their packages personally at some point in the last year.
Finally, 15% of respondents added a signature requirement to an order at some point during the past 12 months — making certain it was placed in their hands, and their hands only.
Divya Sangameshwar, home insurance expert for ValuePenguin, offered up a few tips on how to prevent porch piracy.
- Have your order delivered to your workplace.
- Ask a trusted neighbor if a delivery can be made to their residence.
- Request a signature delivery or similar security measure.
- Request a ship-to-store order or avail of a secure drop delivery through a service like Amazon Locker.
“While these measures may not be feasible for every delivery, they’re helpful for products that package thefts tend to target, like electronics, appliances and other high-value items,” she said. “If you plan to get the new iPhone, it may be better to place an order for store pickup than to have it delivered.”
