Package theft in the form of porch piracy has become an increasingly frustrating issue for homeowners nationwide. Every day, the United States Postal Service processes 23.5 million packages—excluding shipments from major carriers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx.
However, as millions of deliveries make their way to doorsteps in 2024, not all of them reach their intended recipients. Porch pirates—thieves who steal packages left unattended—are on the rise. In fact, more than a third of Americans have experienced package theft at least once, with many falling victim to this crime repeatedly.
Nearly half (45%) of Americans report having a package stolen, and this number is up from the 34% who had a package stolen in our 2023 report. The majority of victims (46%) had only one package stolen, but 29% had multiple parcels stolen from their property. Of these Americans who report porch pirates targeting them, half installed a security system or doorbell camera after the package theft occurred.
The average value of stolen packages has also risen from 2023, up from $219 to $228. Chances are, if you’ve never had a package stolen, you know someone who has. Nearly 2 in 3 (61%) Americans know someone who had a package stolen. When we compare 2024 to 2023, 1 in 4 had a package stolen in 2023 while only 1 in 10 had a package stolen in 2024. However, this is before the 2024 holiday season, when more packages are expected to be delivered to homes nationwide.
The holiday season is a time for joy, but it can also be a time for crime. Nearly all Americans (92%) will have packages delivered in the 2024 holiday season, and about half (45%) say they’re worried about those packages getting stolen. Of those, 34% add that they’re more worried about package theft in 2024 than they have been in years past. This makes sense, as more than 1 in 4 report having a package stolen during the holidays.
During some of the busiest shopping times of the year, 70% of Americans expect porch pirates to strike more after the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Luckily, this is slightly down from 2023, when 78% anticipated more thefts following these busy shopping days.
The worry of Americans can be exemplified through their Google searches during this time of year. Between November 2023 and December 2023, nationwide Google searches for “porch pirates” increased by 49%, while searches for “what to do if Amazon packages were stolen” increased by 90%. Searches also increased by 50% for “what to do if package was stolen” and searches for “how to prevent porch pirates” increased by 53%.
As porch piracy becomes more common, Americans are taking action to actively prevent packages from getting stolen. Most Americans (60%) are now staying home to receive packages, tracking the delivery process (58%), signing up for delivery alerts (40%), and installing doorbell cameras (35%). Nearly 1 in 4 are even shipping their packages to alternate locations.
Doorbell cameras and security cameras are becoming more commonplace, and 1 in 10 have caught a porch pirate in the act on their security footage. Even with this footage, Americans can only do so much after the fact. More than half (54%) of Americans don’t believe delivery companies do enough to prevent thefts, while 51% say retailers don’t.
Imagine discovering your package has been stolen—what’s your first move? For many, it’s to Google what to do next. You’re in good company. We dove into Google search data on package theft and piracy over recent years, breaking it down per capita to get a clearer picture of just how common this concern has become.
Certain states have emerged as consistent hot spots for package theft. North Dakota, Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont, and Nevada remain the top five states with the highest rates of package theft, holding these ranks for the second consecutive year.
On the other hand, states like Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida have seen far fewer instances of package theft. These states rank among the lowest in terms of package theft hotspots, suggesting that either theft prevention efforts are more effective in these areas, or there are other factors contributing to reduced package theft incidents.
Punishments for package theft vary from state to state, with some imposing harsher consequences than others. In certain states, depending on the value of the stolen package, the crime can be classified as a felony, which could lead to jail time. In other areas, the penalty might be as minor as a fine. If you fall victim to package theft, it’s crucial to file a police report right away and consider bolstering your security with a doorbell camera or home surveillance system to prevent future incidents.
In November 2024, we surveyed 1,002 Americans to get their feedback on decorating for Christmas and the typical holiday decorations. Respondents were 49% female, 49% male, and 2% nonbinary, with an age range of 18 to 77 and an average age of 41 years old.
For the package theft hot spots ranking, we analyzed more than 460 Google searches and phrases directly relating to package theft and porch piracy and compared the total searches over the past 12 months per capita.
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