Updated 29.8.2025:How frustrating can it get when you realize that the delivery package you have been eagerly waiting to get your hands on is missing or lost? Your pace was at a lightening speed. You head home in an elated anticipation to split open the package carton that was supposedly placed right outside your doorstep. But to your utter disappointment and dismay, an empty porch greets you.
Your trembling fingers reach out for the phone and you do a double take with regards to the tracking status.Details in turn reveals a spot-on delivered status.You let out that disheartened sigh, wondering if there is a possibility of solving that UPS lost package mystery!
You are not the only victim of package thefts. Key findings of the 2024 Package Theft Annual Report and Statistics on Security.com indicate that porch pirates stole $12 billion in packages in the past year, and as many as 58 million Americans have become victims in the last 12 months.
More recent studies suggest the problem has grown even worse. CapitalOne Shopping’s June 2025 analysis found that an estimated 120.5 million packages were stolen in 2023, costing U.S. consumers about $16 billion.
More than one‑third of Americans reported losing a package to theft in the previous year, and 79 % of victims suffered multiple thefts. This equates to roughly 1.7 million packages disappearing every day nationwide, causing losses of roughly $25 million daily.
Apartment residents face double the risk of porch piracy compared with people in single‑family homes, and urban dwellers experience theft more often than those in suburban or rural areas.
According to UPS’s official statistics, over 98% of their packages are delivered promptly and without incident. On the rare occasion a package is lost, UPS offers a reliable tracking system and dedicated customer support to address the issue. For high-value items, it is advisable to use insurance or signature confirmation, as no carrier is entirely immune to package loss and hence the need to address issues related to UPS lost packages and missing mail UPS.
UPS has also introduced a range of new tools to improve delivery visibility and reduce porch piracy. Its DeliveryDefense AI tool analyzes factors like address risk and past loss data to generate a “successful‑delivery score,” enabling shippers or recipients to reroute parcels to a secure UPS Access Point or require a signature when the risk is high.
With more than 5,400 UPS Store® locations and around 16,000 UPS Access Point® locations across the U.S., most people live within 10 miles of a secure pickup site. Customers can even add a PIN requirement when collecting packages at an Access Point, providing another layer of security.
UPS’s Ground Saver service now includes a “Delivery Photo” feature that gives recipients photographic proof of where a parcel was left (ups.com), which can help verify deliveries and resolve disputes.
The striking expansion in the online shopping and delivery process, more specifically so, post the COVID era has also brought forth the hard-hitting reality of an equivalent rise in the cases of UPS stolen packages being reported.
To begin with, avoid sitting around feeling dejected and thinking, "UPS lost my package." Instead, take proactive steps to address the situation. A few steps you can instantly initiate from your end, after you've noticed that your porch has been subject to invasion and looting by a sneak thief in your absence, have been listed below:
You can also reach out to the UPS customer service team to file a UPS missing package claim. They will conduct an investigation into the issue and may provide compensation for the package's value, up to a specified limit.
It’s important to act quickly. UPS allows shippers or recipients to file a claim for lost or damaged packages up to 60 days after the ship date; waiting longer can jeopardize your claim. When filing, you’ll need the tracking number, shipment date, package weight and accurate contact details, along with documentation such as receipts, invoices or photos of the package. Hold on to the packaging and its contents until UPS completes its investigation.
For starters, go ahead and initiate a UPS lost package claim by logging into their site. This is what you will need to do:
You can start a UPS claim within 60 days of the scheduled delivery for packages that have been lost or damaged, or if a collect on delivery (C.O.D.) payment was not received. Here is how to do it:
The process to investigate a damaged or lost package generally takes 8 to 15 business days. Extenuating circumstances such as insufficient merchandise description or waiting times to receive additional supporting documentation (photos or sales receipts) can extend these time frames.
UPS notes that most claims are resolved within 8–10 business days; delays typically occur when supporting documents are missing. Beginning in August 2025, UPS will no longer mail paper checks, approved claim payments will be sent electronically via bank transfer, so shippers should ensure their payment information and email address are current. Keeping these details up to date helps you receive compensation quickly.
Login details and more information regarding the same can be found here.
Make use of the flexibility of the Claims Dashboard by:
Although there are processes in place to make a claim for UPS lost packages and UPS stolen packages, you may still end up getting no refund. Moreover, the entire claim process is exhaustingly time-consuming and you may not have the time to follow up, keeping in mind your busy schedule. With a few simple safety measures in place you can still prevent these unfortunate occurrences.
1. Get in touch with your Neighborhood Watch
The aim of the neighborhood watch includes educating residents of a community on security and safety and achieving safe and secure neighborhoods. People look out for one another. This stimulates neighborhood awareness and in turn helps in building bonds with neighbors and reduces your risk of becoming a victim to sneak thieves.
2. Install a CCTV camera
A CCTV camera can be extremely helpful in a situation like UPS lost package and UPS stolen package. The footage from the camera can help you in gaining evidence and that can prove useful in getting hold of the package thieves easily.
3. Consider UPS‑provided security options
UPS’s own guidance for small‑ and medium‑sized businesses recommends allowing customers to reroute shipments to a UPS Store or UPS Access Point when they can’t be home; UPS reports that 86 % of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of one of these secure locations. Requiring a signature or even a PIN for pickup at an Access Point ensures the package goes to the right person.
4. Use smart technology and AI‑driven risk scoring
UPS’s DeliveryDefense® technology uses machine learning to analyze delivery addresses and historical loss data, producing a risk score; packages headed to high‑risk addresses can automatically be rerouted to a secure pickup location. Such tools, along with real‑time tracking alerts, help customers monitor deliveries and reduce the chances of theft.
5. Avoid descriptive packaging and request delivery photos.
Thieves are more likely to target boxes that reveal what’s inside; using plain packaging keeps contents discreet. New services such as UPS Ground Saver provide a “Delivery Photo,” giving evidence of where a parcel was placed.
6. Invest in shipping insurance for high‑value items. UPS automatically covers parcels up to $100, but insurance for higher values costs just $3.45 for declared values up to $300 and about $1.15 per $100 beyond that. Insurance allows you to recoup the full value of a lost item and is especially worthwhile when shipping expensive goods.
7.Make use of Stowfly package receiving and package acceptance service
The question at hand is, why get into the hassle of investigating a UPS lost package in the first place.Prevention is always better than cure! Book a Stowfly instead and make sure your packages are delivered at a reliable location from where you can pick it whenever you want to.
What is Stowfly package receiving and package acceptance service ?
A package receiving and package acceptance service is a safe location to receive your packages. It can be a shop or a store where your packages are safely received and taken care of till you pick them up at your convenience.
Stowfly is an easy, convenient way to get packages delivered to a location near you. They can be anywhere from your neighborhood coffee shop, convenience store or a restaurant. If you are constantly facing the challenges of Missed package UPS , UPS package theft or UPS stolen packages in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Jersey City & Philadelphia, then book a Stowfly location and ship your online deliveries there and pick up at your own convenient time.
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This is a more feasible & practical solution which can totally eliminate the very issue of UPS lost packages from the root.
How does Stowfly work?
Booking a Stowfly package receiving and package acceptance service is simple and easy. All you have to do is:
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Learn more about functional ways to deal with UPS stolen packages in this blog.