How to Prevent Package Theft: 15 Ways to Stop Porch Pirates

Roughly one American in three had a package stolen in the past year, according to SafeWise's 2025 survey. If you are wondering how to prevent package theft, start with one finding: research by criminologist Ben Stickle, cited by SafeWise, found that 93% of stolen packages were visible from the road. Porch pirates take what they can see. This guide covers 15 practical ways to keep your deliveries away from them, from free carrier tools to apartment policies, plus what the law says and what online sellers can do on their side.

At Secursus, our promise to online sellers is shipping insurance made simple, and we see the aftermath of porch theft every week. The best claim is the one that never happens, so everything below starts with prevention.

Key takeaways

• The most effective fix is simple: don't let a package sit unattended where it can be seen from the street.
• USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon all offer free tools to track, hold or reroute a delivery. Set them up before the truck arrives.
• A signature requirement is the strongest single deterrent for valuable orders, and it costs about $4 to $10 per package.
• Apartment residents are hit harder than homeowners, so building-level solutions matter.
• Booby traps can land you in legal trouble. Lockers, holds, signatures and cameras are the safer path.

Selling online? Porch theft turns into reships, refunds and chargebacks for you. Tips 14 and 15 and the seller section below explain how to cut those claims, and how shipping insurance fits in.

Figures in this guide come from reports published between May 2025 and September 2026, and carrier fees were checked on the carriers' US websites in September 2026. Fees change once or twice a year, so confirm them before you ship.

Package theft by the numbers

There is no official national count. In a May 2025 paper, the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) explained that police record most package thefts as general larceny, and victims report them to retailers, carriers or police, which leaves the data incomplete. Private surveys fill the gap.

Other estimates land far from SafeWise's total: Security.org projected 37 million stolen packages for 2025, Omnisend around 228 million. The exact number matters less than the pattern every report agrees on. Theft peaks during the holidays, happens in daylight and targets boxes left in plain view.

Why and when packages get stolen

Most package theft is opportunistic. The Seattle Police Department notes that some thieves follow delivery trucks and take packages after the delivery is made, while others simply grab what they see from the street. In Ben Stickle's research, 61% of stolen packages were within 25 feet of the road.

The USPS OIG lists the factors that raise the risk: a package close to a public walkway, nothing hiding it, a long wait before someone brings it inside, and heavy foot traffic. Timing adds to that. Deliveries peak in November and December, and among ADT respondents whose package was stolen, 45.6% said it happened between 12 PM and 6 PM, when many people are at work.

Every effective tactic below does one of three things: it removes the package from the doorstep, hides it, or shortens the time it sits outside.

How to prevent package theft: the 15 ways at a glance

1. Ship to a locker or pickup point.
2. Have it held at the carrier's location.
3. Deliver to work or a trusted neighbor.
4. Turn on delivery alerts and act on them.
5. Give specific drop-off instructions.
6. Hold deliveries while you travel.
7. Ask for a signature.
8. Install a lockable package box.
9. Hide what you can't lock.
10. Bring deliveries in fast.
11. Add a video doorbell or security camera.
12. Light the entrance.
13. Push for a building-level solution in apartments.
14. Sellers: set a signature threshold.
15. Sellers: make the parcel boring.

Keep packages off the porch

1. Ship to a locker or pickup point

A locker is the most reliable fix because nothing is ever left at your door. Amazon Locker is free, with more than 25,000 US locations and three days to pick up. USPS Smart Lockers in participating Post Office lobbies are free and hold packages for five days. UPS Access Point locations hold packages for up to seven days at no charge, and FedEx retail partners such as Walgreens and Dollar General do the same. Many retailers, including Target and Best Buy, also let you pick up online orders in store. Our guide on how to ship to an Amazon Locker walks through the setup.

2. Have it held at the carrier's location

FedEx Hold at Location redirects a package in transit to a FedEx Office, a FedEx facility or a partner store, where it waits for up to seven days. With USPS, the sender can choose Hold for Pickup when buying postage, and as a recipient you can use USPS Delivery Instructions to ask for a free hold at your local Post Office.

3. Deliver to work or a trusted neighbor

If your employer allows it, an office mailroom is safer than an empty house. USPS Delivery Instructions and UPS My Choice both let you name a neighbor, and FedEx Delivery Manager lets you leave instructions for the driver. Amazon's Share Tracking lets a neighbor follow the delivery and pick the box up for you.

Use your carrier's free tools

Every major carrier lets you see a package coming and change where it goes. Setting these tools up takes a few minutes, once.

4. Turn on delivery alerts and act on them

An "out for delivery" alert is your cue. If nobody will be home, that is the moment to redirect the package.

5. Give specific drop-off instructions

"Behind the planter by the side gate" works better than "front door." A package that can't be seen from the street is far less likely to be taken.

6. Hold deliveries while you travel

USPS Hold Mail covers 3 to 30 days for free, and FedEx Delivery Manager offers a free vacation hold of up to 14 days. Pausing online orders during a trip is even simpler.

Require a signature for valuable orders

7. Ask for a signature

With a signature requirement, the driver cannot leave the box on your doorstep. If nobody signs, the package goes back to the depot or to a pickup point instead of sitting outside. Fees listed by the carriers in September 2026:

The sender usually adds these services, so as a buyer, ask the retailer before you order. FedEx Indirect Signature is a middle ground: a neighbor or building manager can sign, or you can authorize release electronically.

Secure the drop spot

8. Install a lockable package box

A parcel box with a one-way drop slot lets drivers deposit packages that only you can remove. Choose one anchored to the ground or wall and large enough for your usual orders, then mention it in your delivery instructions with every carrier.

9. Hide what you can't lock

Without a box, a storage bench with a lid, a side gate or a request to leave packages behind a screen still cuts visibility, and visibility is what most thefts rely on.

10. Bring deliveries in fast

Thieves look for boxes that have been sitting for a while. When an alert says "delivered," retrieve the package within minutes, or ask a neighbor to.

Deter thieves with cameras and lighting

11. Add a video doorbell or security camera

A visible camera discourages opportunists and gives police and retailers evidence. Recording video of your own porch, which is visible from public areas, is generally legal. Audio is stricter: about 11 states, including California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington, require the consent of everyone in a conversation before it is recorded, so check your device's audio setting.

12. Light the entrance

Motion-activated lighting helps with late deliveries, especially in winter when it gets dark early.

Cameras deter, but they don't bring a box back. Use them alongside lockers, holds and signatures, not instead of them.

How to prevent package theft in apartments

Security.org found that apartment residents had packages stolen 3.5 times more often than homeowners over the most recent three-month period. Shared lobbies and open mailrooms let anyone walk off with a box.

13. Push for a building-level solution

Package lockers, a locked package room with individual access, or a front desk that logs every delivery all reduce theft. If your building has none, a joint request from several tenants carries more weight with management.

Until then, three habits help renters: ship to a nearby locker or pickup point, turn on every carrier alert, and never leave a box in the lobby for later.

Is your landlord responsible? Generally not. Under the general rule, US landlords are not liable for a tenant's stolen package unless the lease says otherwise, the landlord took on the duty (for example, a front desk that accepts packages), or negligent security made the theft foreseeable, such as an entrance lock left broken for weeks. Rules vary by state.

Template: notice to tenants about stolen packages

Property managers can adapt this notice for the lobby or an email to residents:

Package theft notice

We have received reports of packages stolen from [the lobby / the mailroom / building entrances] in recent weeks. To protect your deliveries:

• Turn on delivery alerts and bring packages inside as soon as they arrive.
• Consider shipping to a pickup point or locker, or asking for a signature on valuable orders.
• Do not hold the entry door open for people you don't know.
• Report any theft to the police and to management, with the date, time and tracking number.

Thank you for helping keep our building safe. Questions: [contact details].

Holiday season checklist

November and December account for close to half of all thefts in Omnisend's 2025 data. Before the rush:

• Set up Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager and your Amazon delivery preferences.
• Choose a default locker or pickup point near home or work.
• Ask for a signature on gifts you can't afford to lose.
• Plan a hold for any trip longer than a weekend.
• Break down the boxes of big purchases before putting them out for recycling, so your trash doesn't advertise what's inside.

For online sellers: reduce porch theft claims

Porch theft starts as a customer problem and quickly becomes a seller problem: reships, refunds and chargebacks come out of your margin. A few settings on your side prevent most of it.

14. Set a signature threshold

Require a signature on orders above a value you choose. A package that is never left outside can't be stolen from a porch, and a signed delivery settles most "never received" disputes.

15. Make the parcel boring

Use sturdy, plain packaging with no logo that hints at the contents, and remove sensitive information from the shipping label, such as product names. Where your platform allows it, offer lockers and pickup points at checkout.

Where shipping insurance fits

Insurance is the last layer, and its limits matter here. How shipping insurance works is different from a carrier's declared value. With Secursus:

• Coverage starts when the carrier picks up the package and ends on delivery to the recipient against receipt, or at the latest 14 days after pickup.
• A package stolen from a porch after it has been delivered is not covered.
• A package shipped without the signature-on-delivery option is covered up to $200 only. That includes deliveries left at the door, with a neighbor or in a drop spot chosen through tips 3 and 5.
• Claims must be reported within 3 days of delivery or 14 days of pickup, whichever comes first.
• Coverage goes up to $120,000, starting at $2.00, and claims are paid within 30 days of a complete claim file.

In short: on valuable orders, pair insurance with a signature requirement. Keep a proof of value for every shipment, and if you ship at volume, see our ecommerce insurance offer. To compare with carrier options, read USPS insurance compared with Secursus and our UPS declared value comparison.

Is porch piracy a crime?

Yes. Taking someone else's package is theft in every state, and penalties have been rising.

Federal law. Stealing mail delivered by USPS, packages included, is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1708, punishable by up to five years in prison. Packages delivered by UPS, FedEx or Amazon fall outside that statute. The Porch Pirates Act of 2025 (H.R. 6924), introduced on December 23, 2025, would extend federal protection to private carriers, but as of September 2026 it is a bill pending in the House Judiciary Committee, not a law. Earlier versions from 2022 and 2024 died in committee.

State laws. In its 2025 paper, the USPS OIG counted 10 states that had made some porch thefts a felony: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. Alabama followed with a law that took effect on October 1, 2025, which makes theft from 10 or more addresses a felony. Some examples:

What you shouldn't do. Traps that can injure someone expose the homeowner to criminal charges and civil liability. In the landmark case Katko v. Briney (Iowa, 1971), a property owner who rigged a spring gun had to pay damages to the intruder it injured. A trap can also hit a delivery driver, a neighbor or a child. Stories of a porch pirate suing a homeowner go viral every December, but we found no verified court case. Evidence and a police report remain the safer response.

If your package is stolen anyway

Act fast. Check with neighbors and around the property, save the tracking page and any delivery photo or video, file a police report and contact the retailer, which often reships or refunds. Theft of USPS mail can also be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online or at 1-877-876-2455. Only 12% of SafeWise's respondents called the police, yet a report is often what retailers and insurers ask for. Our step-by-step guide explains what to do if your package is stolen, carrier by carrier.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to prevent package theft?

Make sure the package never sits unattended outside. Shipping to a locker, a pickup point or your workplace removes the risk entirely, and a signature requirement does the same for valuable orders.

Does homeowners or renters insurance cover stolen packages?

Often, yes, under personal property coverage, which generally includes belongings outside your home. In practice, the deductible decides. The Northwest Insurance Council notes that homeowners deductibles may be in the $1,500 to $2,500 range or more, and the Insurance Information Institute suggests a renters deductible of at least $500, so a claim rarely makes sense for a typical package.

Does Amazon replace stolen packages?

Amazon asks customers to contact its Customer Service and to report thefts, with any evidence, to local police. The A-to-z Guarantee covers delivery problems with items sold by third-party sellers; items sold by Amazon fall under Amazon's own refund policy.

Is porch piracy a felony?

It depends on the state and the circumstances. Stealing USPS mail is a federal crime punishable by up to five years. At least 11 states now treat some porch thefts as felonies, usually repeat offenses, thefts from several addresses or higher values.

Do package lockboxes really work?

They remove the visible target, which is what most thieves look for. A box works best when it is anchored, big enough for your usual orders, and mentioned in your delivery instructions so drivers actually use it.

Can I set a trap for porch pirates?

Not safely. Devices designed to injure can lead to criminal charges and civil liability, as the Katko v. Briney case showed. Cameras, lighting and signs are legal deterrents.

When are packages most likely to be stolen?

In the afternoon and during the holidays. Among ADT respondents whose package was stolen, 45.6% said it happened between 12 PM and 6 PM, and Omnisend attributes about 48% of yearly thefts to November and December.

Does requiring a signature prevent package theft?

It prevents doorstep theft of that package, because the driver cannot leave it unattended. It costs $4.15 to $10.00 per package with USPS, UPS or FedEx, depending on the option.

Why do people steal packages?

Because it is quick and rarely punished. Only 12% of victims in SafeWise's survey reported the theft to police, and just 4% got their package back.

Package theft prevention checklist

• Sign up for Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager and Amazon delivery alerts.
• Pick a default locker or pickup point.
• Write precise drop-off instructions that keep boxes out of sight.
• Require or request a signature on valuable orders.
• Install an anchored parcel box if you receive packages often.
• Add a camera and motion lighting at the entrance.
• Hold deliveries when you travel.
• In an apartment, ask management for lockers or a secured package room.
• If you sell online, set a signature threshold and ship in plain, discreet packaging.

Sources

• SafeWise, 2025 U.S. Package Theft Report, published November 2025, updated April 2026, including Ben Stickle's research on porch theft footage.
• USPS Office of Inspector General, Package Theft in the United States, RISC-WP-25-002, May 2025.
• Security.org, 2025 Package Theft Report (survey of October 2025). Omnisend, U.S. Porch Piracy Report, April 2026 (2025 data). ADT, 2025 Safety Report. Seattle Police Department, package theft prevention.
• USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon service and fee pages, checked in September 2026.
• 18 U.S.C. § 1708; H.R. 6924, 119th Congress; the state statutes cited above; Katko v. Briney, 183 N.W.2d 657 (Iowa 1971).
• Insurance Information Institute; Northwest Insurance Council; Nolo, landlord liability for tenant crime; Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, recording consent guide.
• Secursus US terms and conditions (articles 5.1, 6.2, 7.2 and 10.3).

This article was written by Valentin Scemama, expert in insurance and logistics.