2021 Package Theft Annual Report

Porch pirates stole from 49 million Americans over the past year.

Written By: Security.org Team | Published: November 23, 2021

Americans took to online shopping long before the pandemic¹, embracing the ease of one-click purchases and packages left on their porch. COVID-19 embedded e-commerce even deeper as we sheltered away from the virus.

Unfortunately, the same shopping conveniences that benefit consumers are a boon for criminals who prey on our parcels. Package theft has become an epidemic of its own, with our quarterly research revealing that “porch pirate” activity has grown during the outbreak. We also found that this issue spiked during the 2020 gift-giving season.

As annual online purchases approach $1 trillion, and Americans prepare to do most of their holiday shopping online,² we commissioned our largest package theft research endeavor yet. By conducting a study of more than 18,000 adults in all 50 states, Security.org has assembled the first complete picture of regional impacts based on first-hand experience rather than generic crime rate projections or Google search trends.

Key findings:

Nationally, 49 million Americans have had at least one package stolen in the past 12 months.
The prevalence of victims ranged from a high of 29 percent in Alaska to a low of 12 percent in Maine.
The median value of stolen merchandise was $50, with state-specific averages varying from $30 (Arizona) to $80 (Alaska).
The incident rates and average loss captured in our research reflect more than $2.4 billion in stolen goods over the past 12 months.

Theft Rates Remain High Heading Into Holidays

Nationally, 19 percent of American adults – or 49 million consumers – had at least one delivery stolen in the year leading to November 2021. Our prior research suggests that the frequency of package thefts jumped at the outset of the pandemic and peaked at 22 percent during the 2020 holidays before declining to 17 percent in the first half of 2021 as the economy gradually reopened.

Percentage experiencing package theft
Survey period	Ever	Recent*
May 2020	41%	19%
August 2020	41%	19%
October 2020	40%	19%
December 2020	45%	22%
July 2021	40%	17%
October 2021	–	19%

*Recent = past three months, except October 2021 when participants were asked about the past 12 months

It’s unclear whether the porch piracy wave will continue to ebb or if a surge of online holiday shopping will drive another sharp spike this year. Also unknown prior to this report was how package theft varied in each state.

Using the interactive map below, you can find the percentage of adults in each state who lost at least one package in the last 12 months and the median value of stolen packages in that state. At the end of the article, you can find a detailed data table with information on all 50 states, including their relative theft victim rankings.

States with highest package theft rates		States with lowest package theft rates
Alaska	29%	Maine	12%
Delaware	27%	Wisconsin	13%
Nevada	27%	Alabama	14%
New York	27%	Georgia	14%
Rhode Island	25%	South Carolina	14%
Hawaii	25%	New Mexico	14%
West Virginia	25%	South Dakota	14%

Our results show that the concentration of package theft victims is lowest in Maine and nearly two-and-a-half times higher in Alaska. Delaware, Nevada, and New York followed Alaska as the states where package theft was most likely, while Wisconsin, Alabama, and Georgia trailed Maine as the safest spots for delivery.

Average Stolen Package Valued at $50

While it’s tricky to know the value of what’s inside a box until it’s opened, thieves in some states are getting luckier than those snatching packages in regions. Overall, the median value of stolen packages nationwide was $50.

However, there were some differences across the nation. Alaska and Rhode Island topped the list for both package theft rates and median value of stolen shipments, followed closely by Oklahoma. Arizona thieves ended up stealing the lowest value packages, followed closely by Illinois, Louisiana, and New Jersey.

States with highest median value of stolen packages		States with lowest median value of stolen packages
Alaska	$80	Arizona	$30
Rhode Island	$80	Illinois	$35
Oklahoma	$77	Louisiana	$35
Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Wyoming	$75	New Jersey	$35
Delaware	$69	Wisconsin	$36

Package Thieves Strikes Every Type of Community

Much like real buccaneers sailing the high seas, porch pirates are liable to strike anywhere. We found that package theft rates varied widely between states, independent of other demographic factors.

A deeper statistical analysis confirmed that this scourge may affect any area regardless of economics, environment, or setting:

Our largest state had the highest victim rate (Alaska, at 29 percent), followed by tiny Delaware (where 27 percent of residents had a package stolen);
Twenty-four percent lost parcels on the wide-open prairies of North Dakota, and 25 percent were targeted in densely populated Rhode Island;
Mississippi pairs the nation’s lowest cost of living with a high rate of package theft victims (24 percent), while New Yorkers pay dearly to live in their state and also get pinched on the porch (fourth highest victim rate at 27 percent);
Thieves struck across every climate, from 25 percent of Hawaiians in paradise to 21 percent of chilly Vermonters.

Crime and Punishment: Public Efforts to Curb Piracy

Increased e-commerce spending has undoubtedly fueled package theft, but so has a lack of serious deterrence.

Porch piracy is a crime of opportunity that rarely ends in arrest – unless a home has security systems, the police often have little evidence to follow. Even apprehended thieves often evade severe punishment, with the crime falling through cracks in the law.

Mail theft is a federal crime that can bring a stiff sentence but covers only USPS packages or parcels within (or adjacent to) mailboxes.³ An Amazon delivery left on your stairs invokes no federal jurisdiction, and the $50 median value of poached packages leaves individual offenses classified as misdemeanors in many states.

Some legislatures are fighting back with statutes specifically addressing package theft. Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas have already passed porch pirate laws that carry tougher penalties or make repeat offenses into felonies, and four others – California, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina – have introduced similar bills.

Most of these laws were only recently enacted, so time will tell how effective they are. Perhaps as these laws take full effect and other states follow suit, thieves will think twice before stealing

Sinking the Pirates: How You Can Protect Your Deliveries

With thieves striking everywhere and most current laws inadequate for prevention, it's imperative to take personal precautions to avoid joining the victimized 19 percent.

Enhance your security measures: Home security systems are now more affordable and simpler to install than ever before, and there are a variety of devices to fit your home. Doorbell cameras let you monitor your porch from anywhere via your phone, or home security systems enable professionals to handle that for you. Not only can these measures deter pirates, but help apprehend them by creating video evidence of any suspicious activities.

Choose secure delivery locations: Remote working has eliminated the office mailroom as a delivery choice for many, but other options are still available. Smart security boxes for your porch keep packages from sitting in the open, or Amazon will put your items in public lockers in retail spots across the country. Amazon is also trying a new Amazon Key service that gives drivers limited access to your garage or home. If you have a neighbor or nearby family member who is always home, you can always route delivery to them instead.

Schedule shipments carefully: Most services let you choose a delivery window so you can schedule drop-offs when you'll be home. Alternatively, precision package tracking lets you arrange your errands around a driver's arrival. If you're unsure about timing, you can always require a signature for a delivery or add detailed instructions to a safer spot on your property so parcels aren't left unguarded.

Conclusion

Although hapless porch pirates captured on camera have provided hilarious package theft videos, disappearing deliveries are no laughing matter – especially ahead of the holidays. Supply chain issues have made gifts harder to come by and packages potentially more valuable, so be sure to take personal precautions.

Our research revealed that some states are safer, but package theft is a significant issue everywhere. Take extra care against thieving grinches no matter where you live and if you don’t have security, consider routing packages to a family member residing in Maine!

Methodology

We used an online survey to ask 18,437 adults from all 50 states about their personal experiences with package theft over the last 12 months. The poll was conducted in October and November 2021. Participants who’d had a package stolen were asked to report the approximate value of their most recently stolen shipment.

Data appendix

State	Percentage who’ve had at least one package stolen in past 12 months	Package theft incidence rank	Median value of most recently stolen goods
Alabama	13.8%	48	$49
Alaska	29.0%	1	$80
Arizona	18.6%	23	$30
Arkansas	19.5%	22	$50
California	21.0%	18	$40
Colorado	17.7%	30	$50
Connecticut	21.8%	13	$50
Delaware	27.2%	2	$69
Florida	17.3%	34	$44
Georgia	13.9%	47	$45
Hawaii	25.2%	6	$66
Idaho	14.5%	43	$59
Illinois	19.8%	21	$35
Indiana	15.4%	41	$43
Iowa	21.6%	14	$50
Kansas	23.2%	11	$50
Kentucky	16.0%	37	$50
Louisiana	17.5%	33	$35
Maine	11.6%	50	$50
Maryland	20.5%	20	$50
Massachusetts	15.6%	39	$40
Michigan	18.4%	26	$50
Minnesota	14.8%	42	$40
Mississippi	23.6%	9	$75
Missouri	16.8%	35	$50
Montana	17.7%	31	$60
Nebraska	21.2%	17	$75
Nevada	26.9%	3	$62
New Hampshire	21.2%	16	$75
New Jersey	18.5%	25	$35
New Mexico	14.3%	45	$50
New York	26.9%	4	$50
North Carolina	15.4%	40	$50
North Dakota	24.2%	8	$60
Ohio	18.0%	27	$40
Oklahoma	23.3%	10	$77
Oregon	18.6%	24	$45
Pennsylvania	16.2%	36	$43
Rhode Island	25.4%	5	$80
South Carolina	14.2%	46	$50
South Dakota	14.4%	44	$75
Tennessee	15.7%	38	$50
Texas	17.9%	28	$45
Utah	22.9%	12	$50
Vermont	20.6%	19	$62
Virginia	17.5%	32	$45
Washington	21.3%	15	$45
West Virginia	24.9%	7	$55
Wisconsin	13.2%	49	$36
Wyoming	17.8%	29	$75

*Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation “Offenses Known to Law Enforcement 2020” report (table four)