Protect Your Parcels: One in Ten Brits aren’t Getting their Deliveries

Did you know that one in ten Brits have had parcels lost or stolen in the past year? With so many of us shopping online during lockdown, parcel deliveries have skyrocketed – and opportunistic theft has risen too.

Doorstep parcel theft (or “porch piracy”) has been on the rise in the UK for years. How has this changed over the past year and a half, and what can you do to reduce the risk of parcel theft?

How Common is Package Theft?

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, parcel theft was an issue in the UK. From 2019 to 2020, there were more than 2.6 thousand “theft of mail” offences reported in England and Wales.

These numbers have continued to rise between 2020 and 2021. During lockdown, one in ten Brits — a total of 5.5 million people — claimed at least one of their parcels was stolen or lost. 

Across the pond in the US, American shoppers are facing the same challenges, with those reporting stolen packages rising from 36% to 43% between 2019 and 2020.

Our research shows our biggest parcel theft concerns are:

*Concern Scores were calculated using search trend data on SEMRush, with 100 being the highest concern score and all other scores calculated in relation to this.

Which Locations have the Most Parcel Thefts?

Which Brands are Stolen Most Often?

Tips for Avoiding Parcel Theft

In recent years, Brits have been devising innovative anti-theft measures to keep their packages safe. Some of the more creative ideas, like stink bombs and glitter bombs, have even gone viral! Here are some less drastic (but highly effective) steps you can take to protect your parcels.

Smart package theft deterrents: 

• Keep the front porch (or general package drop-off area) of your house clearly visible. Cut back any overgrown shrubs or other obstructions. This will make your porch less likely to be a target for thieves.
• Put up a sign in your yard or window advertising your security company; this can act as an effective warning to would-be thieves.
• Subscribe to delivery alerts, so you can track your parcel and make sure you’re likely to be home when it arrives.
• Request deliveries that require your signature, so that nobody unauthorised can sign for your parcels.
• Install outdoor security cameras with a view of the package drop-off area on your property. Make sure the cameras are visible (but not accessible) to potential thieves. 
• Get a video doorbell with motion activation. This will let you know if there’s a thief on your porch and might even catch their face on camera.
• Have a package lockbox installed next to your regular mailbox. This will keep your package concealed and secure.
• Ask senders to ship your goods in plain, non-descript packaging. A plain box is less likely to be stolen than one bearing the branding of a high-end store.