Comment empêcher les colis d'être volés par Porch Pirates - Consumer Reports (2023)

FAQs

What percentage of porch pirates get caught? ›

Porch pirates are hard to catch.

Though more and more homeowners are catching their package theft on camera, this doesn't do a lot to protect your packages from being stolen. One source claims that police make arrests in less than 10% of reported theft cases.

However, Safewise estimates around $19.5 billion is lost to package theft every year. Its survey showed that 79% of Americans were victims of porch pirates in 2022, and that over half of them had more than one package stolen.

What Is a Porch Pirate? The term porch pirate is used to refer to people who steal packages from other people's homes.

Package Theft Victims

So far in 2022, almost 1 in 7 (14%) Americans have fallen victim to porch pirates – some more than once. Most (67%) have had one package stolen, 22% have had two, and 11% have had three or more stolen.

There's no one answer for who bears responsibility for porch thieves. It's a legal gray area and varies by retailer. Large companies like Amazon prioritize refunds and replacements after a report of porch piracy. Other retailers have followed suit as consumers have learned to contact the seller rather than carriers.

The most common technique used is to follow a delivery truck onto a quiet street and then grab the dropped-off package once the truck has left.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans were victims of porch piracy. 18% had a package stolen since the outbreak. 43% had reported a package theft in the past. 54% of respondents had multiple deliveries stolen in the prior 12 months.

Story at a glance. A new SafeWise report has ranked three California cities — San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose — as the worst cities for package theft.

What does Amazon do about porch pirates? ›

If it appears that your package has been stolen, contact the seller or retailer that sold you the item. Retailers have different policies and processes for handling stolen items, but you're usually entitled to a refund or a replacement. Amazon covers most stolen packages through its "A-to-Z" Guarantee Protection.

Porch thieves aren't looking to spruce up their home decor. They're looking to make money. And while there was a moment this year where it looked like toilet paper would be the new currency, most of the time, porch thieves are looking for items that will earn them fast cash.

A porch pirate is someone who steals packages that are delivered to homes–most frequently from one's front porch. There isn't a single reason to explain why these porch thieves do what they do. Most are looking to get expensive goods for free and may even plan on reselling them to make a profit.

Packages are often stolen from porches around Christmastime, but it's very rare for them to be returned. "Honestly, it was shocking.

Understanding Severity of Package Theft

In the U.S. it is a federal crime to tamper with the mail. Stealing a porch package is considered mail theft and believe it or not, you can face either federal or state charges. If you are charged with a federal crime, you could face up to five years in jail.

Porch pirates are split between men (49%) and women (51%) 94% of the thieves were under 45 years of age.

Install Front Door & Doorbell Security Cameras

These are any homeowner's best defenses from front-porch package thefts, break-ins, and intrusions. When installed and strategically placed, front door and doorbell cameras can help law enforcement identify thieves.

Although much has changed since, the latest ValuePenguin survey of more than 1,500 U.S. consumers reveals that porch pirates are still a problem. In fact, 35% of Americans have had a package or delivery stolen. And of this group, the majority say the theft occurred in the past year.

'Porch pirates' stole an estimated 260 million packages in the last year. How to prevent theft on your doorstep. Online sales are nearly 15% of retail sales, a share that's higher than pre-pandemic, which means more opportunities for “porch pirates” to strike.

Who is responsible if a porch pirate steals your package? ›

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursement.

Porch pirates are one thing you don't want showing up at your front door this holiday season. The term refers to thieves who steal packages waiting at the door, typically while the owners are away from home.

Visible and hidden cameras can deter would-be porch pirates. Install visible cameras with light sensors positioned in strategic areas like the front door, the driveway with a street view, and other vulnerable entry points.

Package theft is often considered a minor crime that is not worthy of investigation by police. In most circumstances, once a package is delivered the resident would be considered the victim of a theft, but delivery companies and retailers often provide refunds or replacements; which impacts the entire supply chain.

Pirate Ship sells postage for the United States Postal Service® and UPS®, so once you buy and print the postage and put it on your packages, you simply need to give it to USPS® or UPS.

The predominant race of the suspects noted in the study was White, but there was a variety among all of the pirating incidents with 15% Black, 9% Hispanic, and 3% Asian.

More than 3 in 4 Americans have been a victim of package theft in their lifetime.

Jewelry and watches. Jewelry and watches are two of the most commonly stolen items in a home invasion. Burglars are on the lookout for expensive fine jewelry and watches to steal and resell to make a profit.

What is the most stolen from store in America? ›

Where are stolen items sold? Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.

Enter your tracking number or reference number. Select Manage Delivery, then Report Missing Package. Confirm that your recipient has checked everywhere the package might have been left by our driver and click Yes. Enter your contact information, including your name, phone number, and email address (optional).

Those who have ever shopped online have likely had a package stolen. It happens a lot in NYC. It's estimated that 90,000 packages are stolen in the city every day. If people have a doorman or a package room, they're less likely to experience these issues.

Most often, a retailer will happily agree to send a replacement for your item. If they decline any responsibility or refuse to send you a replacement, there are still some more steps you can follow to receive a reimbursement. The third-party seller has 24 hours to file a claim for your refund.

Front Porch Delivery

The carrier will leave your package in a secure location next to your front door. You do not have to be present for the delivery*.

You will have to file a police report regarding your stolen package. Once you have done this, email a copy of the complaint, along with your contact information and order number, to executiveescalations@walmart.com to help expedite your request.

Amazon employs a variety of measures to prevent theft by employees at its fulfillment centers. These include: Security cameras and other surveillance technology to monitor activity within the centers. Random bag and locker searches.

In fact, 11 percent of Americans had at least one package stolen from their home in the previous year, according to a September 2021 Consumer Reports nationally representative survey (PDF) of 2,341 adults. Among that group, 64 percent had a package stolen at least twice in the previous year.

While they are not legally obligated to refund or replace boxes a thief stole from a customer's porch, they will sometimes go the extra mile to provide their customers with a positive experience. In the end, once a package is delivered to you, it is your responsibility, and the buck stops with you.

Are sellers responsible for stolen packages? ›

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursement.

If you suspect your package was stolen, the first thing you should do is check your purchase confirmation email for tracking information. Typically, you will receive a tracking number that you can use to track the item's shipping status.

What do thieves do with stolen packages? Many thieves steal because they simply have the opportunity. They see a package out for a few days and figure it's an easy thing to swipe. They may keep your package, sell it in a pawnshop or Craigslist, or even re-gift the item.

While the possibility always exists that a delivery driver could steal your package, the chances are slim. While there are untrustworthy people in every line of work, delivery companies such as Amazon, USPS, UPS, and FedEx have a vested interest in preventing stolen packages.

The phrase porch pirate dates back to the early 2010s. It was entered on Urban Dictionary in 2011 and debuted on Twitter in 2011. The term, and problem, spread in the decade as more and more people shopped online.