Have you had your UPS package stolen right from your doorstep? Have you ever walked to your front door, seen nothing there, and thought “Great, my package is stolen”, you’re definitely not alone.Stolen packages have become a massive, expensive headache, and UPS stolen packages are a big part of that story.
Safewise survey estimated over 100 million stolen packages and about $15 billion in losses in a single year. If your UPS stolen packages situation feels personal, the numbers say it’s also very, very common.
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Most cases of stolen packages are simple:
Sometimes it’s even worse from the customer’s perspective:
Upset posts about UPS stolen packages often mention drivers marking things as delivered late in their shift, or falsely logging “attempted delivery” to protect performance metrics.
While not every missing package is due to theft (misdelivery and scanning errors are real), stolen packages + bad communication = a lot of customer rage.
Before jumping into claims and customer support calls, it helps to make sure the package is truly missing. Many UPS stolen packages reports turn out to be misdeliveries, premature scans, or simple mix-ups. A quick initial check can save time, and make your claim stronger if the package is actually gone.
Before you assume a package stolen:
1. Check around the property
Look behind planters, side doors, garages, apartment offices, or neighbor porches. Drivers sometimes hide packages to keep them out of sight
2. Ask neighbors and household members
Someone else may have brought the package inside without telling you.
3. Double-check tracking details
Confirm:
4. Give it a small buffer
Sometimes UPS marks “Delivered” when the driver is still finishing the route, or a neighbor drops it off a bit later.
If the package still hasn’t appeared within a few hours and the tracking is clear, you can treat it as a likely package stolen (or misdelivered).
A common point of confusion: your contract is with the seller, not UPS.
Usually carry the responsibility to get your order to you. Many will reship or refund if a package is stolen after showing as delivered, especially if you’re a good customer.
Is the carrier. They typically investigate when the shipper (the store or seller) asks them to file a claim. UPS has an online claims process for missing or damaged packages.(UPS)
Are usually expected to:
Best practice:
Start with the seller’s customer support and say clearly:
“Tracking shows delivered by UPS, but I never received it. I’ve checked with neighbors and around the property. This looks like a stolen package.”
Most major retailers have internal channels to work with UPS on UPS stolen packages claims. If the seller refuses to help and you paid by card, your bank’s dispute process is the final backstop.
When a UPS stolen packages case becomes official (usually via a shipper claim), a few things often happen:
1. UPS opens a claim
The claim is filed online or via a form. Tracking number, value, and description are required.(UPS)
2.Internal investigation
UPS may:
Check GPS data to confirm where the driver scanned “Delivered”.
Ask the driver for details (where they left it, whether they remember the stop).
Review any available depot or vehicle camera footage.
Verification with receiver
In some cases, UPS may directly ask you:
To confirm you checked around the property.
For photos or video showing no package was delivered.
For a police report if the value is high.
Outcome
If UPS accepts responsibility, they pay the shipper, not you directly.
The retailer or seller then issues you a refund or replacement.
Third-party guides estimate that carrier claim investigations often take around 7–10 business days, though it can be quicker or slower depending on the case.(Expert Beacon)
To improve your odds in any UPS stolen packages claim:
Document everything early
Be precise with timelines
Use the right phrases
Follow through with a police report for high-value losses
You can’t completely control porch pirates, but you can reduce your risk a lot:
1. Change the delivery location
2. Give clear delivery instructions
In the “delivery notes” or retailer preferences, ask drivers to:
3. Use technology wisely
Video doorbells & cameras
They don’t stop all porch pirates, but they:
Real-time alerts
4. Avoid “package pileups”
Package theft has grown enough that multiple U.S. states now treat porch piracy as a specific crime, sometimes even a felony. One review found at least eight states with tougher porch piracy laws, and national estimates suggest Americans lost somewhere between $9–16 billion worth of packages in recent years.(Forbes)
Despite this, reporting is fragmented and a huge number of package stolen cases never make it to police reports at all, especially for lower-value items under $100, which make up the majority of thefts.(PR Newswire)
Even with better laws, cameras, and claims processes, the reality is simple:
If a package never hits your porch, a porch pirate can’t steal it.
That’s exactly where package receiving and package acceptance services by Stowfly help. Instead of shipping high-value or important items to an unattended doorstep, you can:
For people who order a lot, live in shared buildings, or have had a package stolen before, using a secure pickup point isn’t just convenient, it can be the difference between “Your order has arrived” and “Your order vanished.”
If you’ve already had a UPS stolen packages incident, hopefully this guide gives you a clear path: verify, document, contact the seller, push the claim, and upgrade your delivery strategy so it’s much harder for the next thief to get lucky.
Learn how package receiving services on the Upper West Side solves NYC’s delivery dilemma in this blog.