Beware of Porch Pirates in These US Cities

Have you ever had an Amazon® package stolen from your porch in broad daylight? If so, you may have felt violated, but you’re far from alone.

Here are a few statistics:
* In 2023, one out of every 200 package deliveries ($119 million) went mysteriously missing from porches across the nation.
* In 2022, one in seven Americans reported a package lost to theft - and that doesn’t include the unreported ones.
* On average, stolen packages are worth $112.30, making this a lucrative venture for would-be thieves.

As online shopping and home delivery increases, it’s important to look at the top five metro areas affected most by porch piracy in the United States, according to a 2023 study. Did your city make the list?

5. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metro Area (Colorado)

Denver and its surrounding areas come in at No. 5 for the most packages lost to porch pirates. Even though a whopping 78% of residents use some type of theft deterrent, the Mile-High City still ranks among the worst U.S. cities for porch piracy.

4. Birmingham-Hoover Metro Area (Alabama)

Coming in at No. 4, the Magic City struggles to cast a spell powerful enough to deter local porch pirates. A respectable 70% of Greater Birmingham residents use theft prevention measures - but still the issue remains prevalent.

3. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad Metro Area (California)

San Diego may live up to its nickname “America’s Finest City” when it comes to weather - but not when it comes to porch piracy. The San Diego metro area ranks No. 3 in package theft, despite the fact that 74% of residents use some type of theft deterrent.

2. Memphis Metro Area (Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas)

If you listen closely, you can hear Greater Memphis residents collectively singing the blues, as their packages routinely disappear from porches across the city. It’s true that 70% of residents employ video cameras or some other way of keeping their packages secure - still, the city called the Home of the Blues ranks No. 2 on this list.

1. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (Washington)

Maybe porch pirates in the Emerald City believe that Seattle-bound packages contain real emeralds? At least that would explain why Seattle and its suburbs top this list at No. 1. Residents seem to be doing their part, with 78% using theft prevention measures - much higher than the national average. Still, the issue remains severe and unsolved.

So how can you keep from becoming a target?

Experts recommend taking one or more of these theft-deterrent actions to ensure your deliveries end up in the right hands:
* Use secure lockers and pickup locations
* Install home security cameras and video doorbells
* Require signatures on delivery
* Use lockboxes or secure delivery boxes
* Ask trusted neighbors to retrieve boxes from your porch
* Ship to your work address
* Turn on tracking and delivery notifications

No solution is foolproof, but simply taking the time to implement one or more of these options can significantly increase your chances of receiving that precious delivery intact. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of outsmarting the modern-day equivalent of Jack Sparrow!

References: Porch Pirates Will Lead to $6B Loss This Holiday Season | Package Theft Statistics | Package Theft Is On the Rise: 8 Ways to Better Protect Your Packages from Porch Pirates | Put an End to Porch Pirates. Here’s How to Keep Your Packages Safe