Package theft in Brooklyn remains an issue, with reports of thieves stealing from both delivery workers and unattended packages at residences.
NYC is considered a hotspot by porch pirates. This is clearly evident with over 90,000 packages either being stolen or lost in the city every day.
A Brooklyn Reddit user who has been living in their apartment for 1.5 years has experienced an alarming rate of package theft throughout their stay. Deliveries from Amazon, work-related packages, and even essential medication—which they got shipped due to insurance constraints—have all been stolen.
Despite implementing multiple security measures, such as requiring signatures, staying home for deliveries, and closely tracking shipments, Brooklyn package thefts continue. Packages disappear within minutes of being marked as delivered, sometimes even while the resident is actively retrieving them. In one instance, after carrying a smaller package upstairs, they returned to find a 30 lb bag of cat food missing.
Another instance of a Brooklyn Heights resident looking for guidance on how to address the situation and recover their USPS missing mail on Reddit after having experienced multiple instances of mail theft raises concerns about a potential larger issue in the area. Recently, a relative sent them a card containing a check, which was marked as delivered by USPS but never reached their mailbox or the building’s doorman. Earlier in the year, their federal tax return was also stolen.
Find out more details on how to thwart porch piracy in Brooklyn in this blog
Data reveals that 80% of households in New York City receive at least one delivery per week, while 20% receive four or more. However, the city faces a significant package theft issue partly due to the lack of secure delivery areas in many buildings as per an article published on nyc.gov
Stolen packages in a Prospect Park building have left tenants frustrated. Security footage reveals multiple individuals actively stealing deliveries according to brooklyn.news12.com. Tenants say this issue has persisted for years, and despite recent attempts to combat the problem, package thefts remain rampant.
A reddit user is astonished by how porch pirates in Bed-Stuy openly steal the contents of deliveries in broad daylight, often leaving empty boxes behind on the stoop, adding to the resident’s frustration. The blatant nature of package theft in Bed-Stuy, mainly of their dietary fiber leaves them baffled.
Two masked teens held up a USPS mail carrier at gunpoint, stealing multiple packages in Bed-Stuy police reported according to an article on nydailynews.com.
The NYPD Crime Prevention Division suggests using a combination of the following strategies can help minimize the risk of package theft:
Where applicable, consider installing:
Source: nyc.gov
Additionally, launched as a pilot program, LockerNYC, New York City 's free, secure public delivery locker program, offers free public delivery lockers on sidewalks, allowing users to securely send and receive packages. Since its launch in April 2024, the LockerNYC pilot program has facilitated over 5,200 reservations for secure package pickup and drop-off.
The LockerNYC pilot program aims to reduce package theft by providing secure delivery points while also streamlining deliveries through centralized pickup locations and serves multiple delivery carriers, including UPS, DHL, and Pitney-Bowes and has expanded to feature lockers in all five boroughs.
While LockerNYC public delivery lockers provide convenience and security, they also come with potential downsides such as cost, limited storage space, logistical challenges, and the risk of recipient dissatisfaction.
Potential drawbacks of LockerNYC are:
Imagine a situation wherein you are eagerly anticipating an important package, tracking its status to ensure a quick pickup. But when you arrive home, it’s nowhere to be found—despite the tracking status confirming it was “delivered.”
This could be the result of package theft in NYC. Porch pirates in NYC operate unpredictably, striking when least expected. Alternatively, a missed delivery in NYC can be just as frustrating.
Package receiving services in NYC provide a secure and dependable solution to address delivery challenges across neighborhoods in the Big Apple. Stowfly, a trusted package receiving and package storage service provider, offers convenient package pick up locations with a network of trusted shops and stores near you where you can get your online deliveries shipped to be retrieved at your own convenience.
You can now try Stowfly free for a month by having your online packages delivered to a local store near you! Take advantage of this limited-time opportunity for secure and stress-free package management.
How Stowfly works:
Benefits of Package receiving services by Stowfly are:
Package theft continues to be a widespread issue in Brooklyn, especially in areas like Prospect Park and Bed-Stuy. As porch pirates grow bolder, recipients must consider alternative solutions to keep their deliveries secure.