In recent years, porch piracy has increased as more and more people shop online. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a porch pirate is a thief who steals packages from outside someone’s home.
Because many people order valuable, more expensive gifts online during the holidays, porch pirates tend to gravitate toward packages with the hope of reselling them.
A 2023 SafeWise report estimated that porch pirates stole an estimated 119 million packages in the past year, a 5% increase from the year before. Seventy-one percent of stolen packages were valued at $100 or less and total losses were estimated at around $6 billion.
To ensure the packages you order arrive to your home safely during the holidays, and all year long, there are several things you can do to prevent a would-be thief.
Ways to deter home burglars
When you order something online, be sure you are tracking the shipping status so that you have an idea of when your package will arrive. Many retailers will send you an email update, but you can also opt into text message updates to let you know the package delivery status.
Try and schedule packages to arrive when you know you will be home. When you do hear or see the delivery driver, make sure you go and retrieve your item right away. Limiting the amount of time a package sits outside is the best way to prevent theft.
There are plenty of other ways you can try and deter a porch pirate from taking your package before you arrive home to claim it. Security.org has the following recommendations:
Shop for online items with in-store pickup
If you are shopping online at a major retailer, you can often select to pay for your purchase online and have it delivered to a nearby store. This allows you to go and safely pick up your package on your schedule.
Don’t have packages delivered to your front door or porch
Request that your package be delivered somewhere inconspicuous, like your side door or the back porch.
Have packages delivered to someone else
If you know it will be difficult to retrieve your package, try asking someone you know who is home during the day to have packages delivered to their house.
Ask a neighbor to retrieve packages
If you can’t get home, ask a neighbor to get your package for you.
Have packages shipped to your workplace
If possible, another option is to have a package delivered to your workplace. Make sure to check with your employer about this first.
Install a security system, video doorbell camera
Having a home security system can help trigger an alarm to alert the police as well as you that a thief is on your property or in your home. Having a video doorbell camera is another layer of security as it will capture images of the thief and, hopefully, act as a deterrent.
Install external motion lights
External motion-activated lights are a good addition to a home security system as their brightness could scare thieves away.
What to do if a package is stolen
Sometimes you can take every precaution but, somehow, a thief still makes off with your package. If this happens, there are several things you can do to try and get a replacement or your money back. Bankrate suggests the following:
- Track the package
If you think your package was stolen, use the tracking number provided by the seller to see that it was delivered and at what time. - Check if someone you know picked it up for you
Before you jump to conclusions, check with members of your household or even a neighbor to see if someone picked up the package for you. - Contact the seller
If the package has indeed been stolen, contact the seller you bought the merchandise from right away. While retailers have different policies for handling theft of packages, you may receive a replacement or refund. - Contact the shipper
After you’ve notified the seller, let the shipper know what happened. (Shippers can include FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL.) If the seller won’t replace or refund the stolen item, you may be able to file a claim with the shipper. - Contact your credit card company
Many credit card companies offer purchase protection within a certain amount of time and under a certain purchase price. You could contact your credit card company to see if you would be protected from the stolen purchase under this clause. - Contact police
Police might not be able to get your stolen package back, but it’s a good idea to file a report to let them know of porch piracy in the area so that they can be on the lookout for other instances in your area. You may also need the police report from your credit card company.
Would insurance cover a stole package?
When you have homeowner’s insurance with MAPFRE, property protection covers you for things like theft and vandalism. However, depending on your deductible, filing a claim for a stolen package might not be worth it.
If a thief stole an item and damaged your property in the process, you could be covered for the property damage. For instance, if the thief pried open your garage door to get a package or broke your fence to get into your backyard to gain access to your back porch, filing a claim would be an option.
While we hope you don’t fall victim to a porch pirate, we hope you found these tips helpful. Don’t forget to make sure you have the correct coverage on your home insurance with MAPFRE. And if you’re not yet insured with us, get a fast, free quote today on your Massachusetts property insurance policy to see how much you could save!
