Wondering what to do if a package is stolen? Let’s talk about it.
Imagine this:
Say you ordered something special and can’t wait for it to come. Shortly after brunch with your friends, you receive a notification on your phone – your package has arrived! Maybe you even sneak out a few minutes early so you can get home and hold it in your hands to try it out.
You pull into the driveway and step in front of your entryway door, but where is your package? You check behind the black front porch planter pot that everything seems to hide behind, but no, you’re just going through the motions; the package isn’t there. Now what should you do?
After all, you desperately want this package, and you spent hard-earned money on it.
Let’s explore what to do if a package is stolen, who is responsible for stolen packages, the next steps you can take, and how to prevent this porch pirate issue from ever happening again.
Who’s Responsible for Stolen Packages?
Many people on Reddit and Quora are wondering, “Who’s responsible for stolen packages?”
Which is a solid question when it comes to porch pirates.
Short answer: Once your mail carrier marks the package as “delivered,” most shippers and carriers will consider the loss to be on you, the recipient – not the seller or the mail carrier. However, many retailers have been known to assist in the porch piracy process as a courtesy.
UPS, for example, has said: “If a package has been successfully delivered, UPS would not be responsible for the reimbursement,” advising any consumers dealing with a stolen package to file a police report and/or work with the retailer. That said, you still have a few avenues to take:
→ Ask the Seller: Many will replace items to keep you happy, even if they don’t legally have to do so. The FTC also recommends contacting the seller first when an order doesn’t reach you.
→ Credit-Card Protections: If a package doesn’t reach you, you can dispute the charge under the Fair Credit Billing Act (usually within 60 days of the first statement showing the charge). Card networks often categorize “not received” disputes under codes such as Visa 13.1. Results vary if tracking shows “delivered,” but these options are still worth discussing with your issuer.
→ Carrier and Postal Steps: You can file theft reports (USPS has an online flow) and ask the shipper if they can initiate a stolen package claim, especially if a signature was required of you.
→ Marketplace Guarantees: Awesome programs like Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee may cover certain third-party orders and packages; you can check eligibility in your Amazon account here.
→ Insurance: Some homeowners/renters policies or add-on products may help, and stand-alone services have even emerged to ensure stolen packages are a thing of the past.
4 Steps You Can Take When Your Package Is Stolen
Since the retailer isn’t obligated to compensate you or send you a package replacement, it's unfortunately up to you to try to rectify the situation with the porch pirates.
Here are the steps to take if your package is stolen:
1. Check for a Photo of the Delivery
In the age of stolen packages (up to 260k are stolen daily), many delivery companies require their drivers to take a photo as proof of delivery. After all, the retailer is responsible for delivering the package to your home, so they want to document that they have done their job properly.
Check your text messages or the retailer’s app to see if they’ve provided a photo of the package delivery. The photo may reveal that they delivered the package to the wrong address. If a house number is visible, you can track it down yourself, especially if it accidentally went to a neighbor.
Otherwise, you’ll have the evidence needed to ask the seller to replace or refund your package.
2. Contact the Retailer
Regardless of the photo evidence, you’ll want to contact the retailer of your package. Let them know that the package wasn’t waiting for you after delivery, and give them the chance to respond to you. Maybe they’ll offer to replace or refund the item as a gesture of goodwill.
You’ll never know if you don’t ask.
Check out these stats on retailers and stolen packages:
→ In recent surveys, 55% of package-theft victims filed a claim with the seller, and 58% ultimately got all their money back or a free replacement.
→ Another breakdown found 45% received a package replacement from the seller, and 32% received a refund after reporting the theft.
→ Only 9% of victims report porch piracy to police, so retailers are often the first – and most effective – path to a stolen package resolution.
3. Contact the Shipping Company
If you don’t get anywhere with the seller, reach out to the company that handled the delivery to see what they say.
Ensure you have the tracking number when you call to help this process go more smoothly. There may have been insurance on the delivery that can kick in, or if they delivered it to the wrong spot, the shipping company may have more insight to provide.
Prominent shipping companies often have a claims process that may apply to stolen packages.
See their websites for more information:
4. File a Police Report
Are you curious, “Do police do anything for stolen packages?” Then we have an answer: yes! Your next step should be to contact your local police department’s non-emergency number or locate a reporting form on their website to report the package theft.
Ensure you obtain a copy of the police report, which may be necessary as you follow up with the seller or the shipping company. Different precincts may not have the same procedures, so you’ll need to reach out to determine the specific steps to take in your case.
Although only about 1 in 5 victims report porch piracy to the police, doing so can strengthen carrier or retailer claims – after all, UPS can require a police report – and feed investigations that have led to thousands of mail-crime arrests recently.
How to Prevent Future Package Theft
Nobody likes to feel like a victim – and it can be deeply unsettling to have something stolen from your home, even something as small as a package (hopefully it was small!). Whether you can track down the package or get it replaced, there are some steps you can take to deter porch pirates in the future:
1. Receive Deliveries at Work
Okay, okay: Workplace delivery isn’t an option for everyone. It only works for package deliveries that can be arranged during the workday. However, if you can make workplace delivery work (ironic), there’s no way to swipe a package from your front porch if it comes directly to you.
2. Deliver to a Retail Location
You can also choose store pickup or a carrier pickup point so your package waits behind a counter or in a secure locker – not out in the open on your porch. Amazon Lockers, for example, give you 3 days to pick up; Amazon Counter (staffed) locations usually allow about 5 to 7 days.
Some carriers offer very similar options: UPS Access Point locations can hold packages for up to 7 days for UPS My Choice members, while FedEx Hold at Location typically holds for 5 business days before returning to the sender. Make sure to bring a photo ID and your tracking.
Why It Helps: Deliveries arrive in staffed areas or locked mailbox compartments, allowing for ID checks and eliminating the doorstep window that porch pirates sometimes rely on. It can be less convenient than home delivery, but it is overall more secure. (It’s worth noting that USPS also offers Hold for Pickup at your Post Office; 5 days for most services, 3 days for Mail Express.)
Pro Tip: When checking out, look for options such as Store Pickup, Locker/Hub/Counter, UPS Access Point, FedEx Hold at Location, or USPS Hold for Pickup.
3. Invest in a Locked Mailbox
Did you know that you can have mail and small packages delivered securely with a locked post-mount mailbox? Your mail carrier or delivery driver simply slips the package through the locking slot, which slides into a secure receptacle that’s completely accessible with a key.
You can also purchase a package delivery box that sits on your front porch and serves the same purpose. Some operate similarly to a mailbox drop box, which can accommodate small to medium-sized packages; others are accessible with a code that you can give the delivery driver.
Here are some cool stats on locking mailboxes and secure package delivery boxes:
→ 58 million packages were stolen in 2024 in the United States, with about $12 billion in losses; the average stolen package value was around $204.
→ A GAO national survey found 21% of households reported using locked mailboxes; 66% used unlocked mailboxes.
→ USPS standards for locking mailboxes: carriers won’t accept keys and don’t open locked post boxes; locking mailbox designs must include a slot large enough for normal daily volume.
Protect Your Packages with Post & Porch
Mail and package theft is frustrating – we totally get it.
Post & Porch offers solutions that enable you to preserve your home’s curb appeal while deterring thieves. Our mailbox lock is compatible with our popular post-mounted mailboxes. Additionally, a locking wall-mounted mailbox is an option within our selection of front porch planter pots.
You can have security without sacrificing aesthetics. Post & Porch can help.
Make a great first impression by shopping our home exterior design products today.