As e-commerce booms in 2025, so does an inconvenient side effect: package theft, also known as porch piracy, is skyrocketing across the United States. Despite the best efforts of major carriers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx, package theft has become a daily frustration as dealing with Amazon missing packages, UPS lost packages, USPS missing packages, and FedEx stolen packages is now a daily norm for millions of Americans.
Consumers are increasingly asking two urgent questions: Is my city a package theft hotspot? And why can’t carriers stop it?
Beat the package theft problem with Stowfly’s package receiving services!
Enjoy one month of secure package receiving services absolutely free: limited-time offer!
Packages are being stolen nearly 1.7 million times per day in the U.S., amounting to roughly $25 million in losses daily. With every family receiving 27 packages/year on average,and one in five losing at least one, porch piracy has become a mass-scale criminal activity.
Metric | U.S. Rate/Value |
|---|---|
Packages stolen annually | 120 million (2023) |
Value of stolen goods |
$12B–$16B/year |
Daily package thefts |
1.7 million |
Arrest rate |
~10% |
Victims in the last year |
19–25% of U.S. adults |
Reported to the police |
15–46% (higher if camera, high value) |
Suburban vs. urban |
43% vs. 42% (roughly equal) |
Per‑household theft hotspot |
Chicago: 728 per 1,000 homes |
Recent surveys and package theft reports reveal certain U.S. cities remain disproportionately affected by porch piracy.
Multiple reports rank major metro areas by losses and frequency:
Estimated ranking (2024 data) – top 5 metros by dollar loss:
Suburban areas record 43% of thefts, urban areas 42%, and rural 14% (grabon.com). This disproves the misconception that package theft is solely an urban problem.
Smaller states like Alaska, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and New Hampshire rank highest in stolen item value per incident (~$75–80 median ) ( grabon.com)
According to SafeWise's 2024 data and updated 2025 projections, the following metro areas top the list:
Top 10 Cities for Package Theft in 2025
Why These Cities?
Localized Data Fuels Search Curiosity
Search terms, for instance like "package theft in NYC 2025" and "porch piracy rates near me" are spiking, showing that consumers want to know their local risk level.
Despite investments in technology, customer service, and real-time tracking, Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and USPS continue to struggle to prevent theft. Here’s why:
1. The "Final Mile" Weakness
The delivery system is highly efficient until the final step: your doorstep. Once a package is left unattended, the risk shifts entirely to the consumer.
Major carriers can’t guarantee post-delivery security. Their responsibility often ends once the package is marked as "delivered."
2. Volume Overwhelms Precision
Amazon alone ships over 1.6 million packages per day in the U.S. This high volume pressures drivers to prioritize speed over security.
Missed deliveries, dropped packages in unsecured locations, and misdelivered parcels have become everyday occurrences, especially during peak seasons.
3. Limited Legal Liability
Most carriers place the burden of package theft prevention on customers. Unless a signature is required, the carrier’s accountability ends at delivery.
Customers often find that claims for stolen packages are denied or require complex, time-consuming processes to resolve.
4. Carrier-Specific Gaps
5. Technology Can’t Fully Close the Gap
Even with photo confirmations and real-time GPS, thieves can still act quickly. Doorstep photos aren’t a theft deterrent. Carriers are not required to ensure safe retrieval, only proof of delivery.
Search Trends Reflect Growing Anger
Searches like:
….have surged, showing that consumer trust in carrier-only delivery systems is eroding.
Social Media Is Fueling Awareness
On Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter, viral stories of packages disappearing within minutes of delivery are driving consumer outrage.
Example: A Reddit user in San Francisco recently posted, *"My FedEx package was stolen 3 minutes after it was dropped off. The doorbell camera caught it, but FedEx says their job is done."
Graeme R. Newman, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University at Albany and a global leader in situational crime prevention, explains:
"Package theft is a classic opportunity crime. The risk to the offender is remarkably low. Packages left unattended on porches offer an easy, low-skill reward with minimal chance of immediate apprehension."
He emphasizes that this crime flourishes because it’s fast, largely unmonitored, and often unprosecuted unless the theft is part of a broader pattern.
Many law enforcement agencies deprioritize package theft due to limited resources and the relatively low value of most stolen items. In a 2023 police survey, over 60% of departments admitted package theft is rarely followed up with an in-depth investigation unless video evidence or repeat offenses are involved.
Officer Jenna Lee, a community policing coordinator in Portland, shares:
"The truth is, package theft is often a low-priority call, unless it's tied to a larger pattern of thefts. We rely heavily on community-provided footage from doorbell cameras and neighborhood watch reports."
Michael S. Scott highlights that package theft is frequently an impulsive crime:
"Many porch pirates are not hardened criminals. They’re opportunists—people walking or driving by who seize an easy target. The lack of social stigma, combined with the assumption they won't be caught, drives this behavior."
Additionally, some organized theft rings now systematically follow delivery trucks, stealing packages minutes after they’re dropped off, a tactic known as "tailgating" carriers.
A Reddit user in San Francisco shared:
"In the past three months, I’ve had five packages stolen right from my building lobby, despite having security cameras installed. It’s frustrating because even when we provide footage, the response is minimal."
Another Chicago resident posted:
"I literally saw the FedEx truck leave, and my package was gone within five minutes. I now use a package receiving service because it’s not worth the stress."
With Stowfly’s package receiving service, you can securely receive your deliveries at trusted local spots like cafes and convenience stores across neighborhoods and package theft in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas & Philadelphia.
In many U.S. states, package theft is treated as a misdemeanor unless the value exceeds a certain threshold. This makes the crime low-risk, especially for thieves who target smaller items.
Some jurisdictions, like Texas, have enacted stricter package theft laws in recent years, turning the crime into a felony if certain conditions are met, such as repeated offenses or theft from multiple homes.
However, experts like Michael S. Scott caution:
"Stronger penalties may sound effective, but without consistent enforcement and greater public awareness, legal changes alone won’t solve the problem."
Experts recommend layered intervention strategies:
1. Track & Time Delivery
2. Redirect Delivery Location
3. Install Secure Drop Boxes and Package Lockers
4. Use Cameras + Neighborhood Watch
5. Disguise and Diversify Packaging
6. Snapshot & Report Every Package Theft
7. Community-Level Solutions
Centers could adapt these tools in residential areas—for example, alerting police when suspicious activity is detected at common delivery locations.
The industry is now exploring innovative solutions:
Michael S. Scott predicts:
"The long-term solution will likely involve a combination of smarter delivery systems, secure pickup points, and community engagement."
Stowfly offers an easy and affordable package storage solution: nearby secure locations to receive your packages.
This completely removes the package from the vulnerable last step.
Search Trends Are Leaning Toward Solutions Like Stowfly
Terms like "safe Amazon package pickup near me" and "secure parcel collection locations 2025" are increasing in search volume, signaling that consumers are actively seeking alternatives beyond home delivery.
Package theft isn’t merely a nuisance; it’s a growing ecosystem of opportunistic and organized crime built on easy rewards and low risk. High-profile metros take the biggest hits, but theft spans geographic, economic, and social boundaries.
To combat the epidemic requires:
If your city is on the 2025 hotspot list, this is your wake-up call: package protection is no longer optional. It’s essential. The most effective strategy is removing your package from the risk zone entirely.
With flexible, trusted solutions like Stowfly package receiving services, you can finally reclaim peace of mind and confidently order online without worrying that your package will vanish before you get home.
Learn more about the psychology of porch pirates and what drives package theft in this blog.