December isn’t just a month, it’s a delivery event.
Between holiday gifting, end-of-year sales, travel plans, last-minute essentials, return deadlines, and “I’ll just grab it online” convenience, December is when your front door becomes a loading dock. And that’s exactly why it’s also the month when people most often complain about package theft, stolen packages, porch pirates, missed deliveries, and lost packages.
Because the more boxes you expect, the more chances you have for a delivery headache:
And once you’ve had one package vanish in December, every other tracking notification feels like a stress test.
Let’s talk about what package recipients are saying, what the data shows, what people try (PO Boxes, mailboxes for rent, package lockers, neighbors), what works, what doesn’t, and why Stowfly package receiving service is built for the hyperlocal, real-life way we receive packages today.
Give Stowfly a try, your first month is on us. Get the peace of mind that comes with safe, secure holiday package deliveries you can pick up anytime you’re ready.
The package theft problem is not small. A 2025 report from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) estimates at least 58 million packages were stolen in 2024, with losses reaching as much as $16 billion. (uspsoig.gov)
And during holiday season, the conditions get even better for porch pirates:
A holiday-focused news piece citing SafeWise notes package theft surges during this season, with some estimates putting nationwide stolen packages in the hundreds of millions across a year (methodology varies, but the trend is consistent: it’s big and it’s rising). (lakeshorepublicmedia.org)
1) “Delivered”… Then Gone: Porch Pirates and Package Theft Stories
On Reddit, one post sums up the rage people feel when a package is shown as delivered, then disappears off a porch:
“Why should I have to refund if the package is delivered… and is subsequently ‘stolen’ from your front porch?” (uspsoig.gov)
That’s the December reality: package theft doesn’t just steal stuff, it steals time (claims, reorders, customer support), and it can blow up holiday plans.
2) UPS Lost Packages: When Tracking Stops Updating
Not all missing deliveries are porch pirates. Sometimes it’s an in-network disappearance, where tracking stops being helpful. One UPS-related thread describes a package that was scanned and then… nothing:
“Tracking status instantly updated… and have had no status updates since.” Reddit
This is why UPS lost packages is such a common search term in December: when the item is a gift, “wait and see” isn’t a strategy.
3) USPS Missing Packages: ‘Delivered’ Status, No Package
In USPS complaint communities, the “delivered but not received” situation is a repeated theme:
“They mark it delivered all the time… I have had several things marked delivered… never come.” Reddit
That’s the emotional worst-case: you don’t know if it’s delayed, misdelivered, or stolen, so you can’t plan your next move.
4) FedEx Stolen Packages: High-Value Orders, Higher Stress
In FedEx complaint threads, the pain point often spikes around high-value shipments and signature expectations. One user described the stress of waiting when a signature was involved:
“Waited for the delivery driver as the package was signature to deliver.”
When you’re expecting electronics, luxury items, or time-sensitive gifts, FedEx stolen packages aren't just inconvenient, it’s a December disaster.
In December, speed is everything, and that sometimes means packages are left in high-risk spots. Customers commonly report “delivered” scans and unclear placement, which fuels the “Amazon missing packages” frustration loop. (Courier Press)
When parcels stall, reroute strangely, or have missing scans, people end up searching UPS lost packages and trying to reconcile contradictory tracking systems (shipper view, UPS automated phone tracking, access point status, etc.).
The combination of misdelivery risk + visible drop-off locations turns “delivered” into “gone” quickly, especially in apartments and high-foot-traffic neighborhoods.
USPS provides a formal Missing Mail process and related help steps when something can’t be located, but residents still report a gap between tracking status and physical reality.
After one bad delivery, people start searching defensively:
These can help, but they solve different problems.
USPS puts it simply: a PO Box is a secure, numbered box located at a Post Office where your mail is kept until you collect it. (USPS)
USPS explains the process clearly:
Note: If your desired box isn’t available, USPS notes you can choose another size/location or request to be added to a wait list. (USPS)
There isn’t one national price. USPS indicates costs depend on location and box size, and availability varies by Post Office. (USPS)
So “cheap PO box” typically means:
Thinking about a cheap PO box? Read the 2025 FAQ on real customer problems with cheap PO Box, and what to know before you rent.
USPS also promotes Informed Delivery, a free service that provides preview images of incoming letter-sized mail and status updates for packages. (Informed Delivery)
Where PO Boxes Fall Short for Holiday Packages: if your deliveries are mostly packages (and especially larger parcels), a PO Box can still mean extra trips, lobby-hour constraints, and limitations depending on box size and local setup.
If you’re typing “Mailbox for rent,” you’re usually looking for:
The UPS Store, for example, advertises mailbox services that include a real street address, package acceptance from all carriers (at participating locations), signing for packages, and delivery alerts (often with added fees depending on the plan). (The UPS Store)
Trade-off: mailbox rentals can be convenient, but they’re not always the most flexible for hyperlocal pickup convenience, and pricing/features vary by provider and location.
When you’re receiving a high volume of packages, “DIY logistics” becomes exhausting:
At scale, the problem isn’t just theft, it’s that your home isn’t a secure package receiving center.
This is where Stowfly is designed for the way December actually works.
Stowfly offers convenient, secure package storage and package receiving services so deliveries don’t sit exposed on porches or in vulnerable lobbies, prime territory for porch pirates.
How Stowfly helps in December (specifically)
Want a safer way to receive packages? Read this blog for everything you need, how to book, safety tips, and pricing for your nearest package receiving services
And because it’s hyperlocal, it’s built around the community reality: people have jobs, travel plans, apartment access problems, and busy holiday schedules.
Searching for “package delivery near me”? Read this guide to understand your local package receiving service options, and how to keep every parcel safe from missed deliveries and package theft
So, how many packages are you expecting this month (December)?
Use delivery alerts and pick up fast. For gifts or high-value items, avoid doorstep drop-offs, send to a PO Box near me, mailbox for rent, or secure package receiving services like Stowfly.
This is the danger zone where missed deliveries and stolen packages start stacking up. Combine package lockers or a PO Box/mailbox for rent with a secure option like Stowfly package storage and package receiving services to keep deliveries off your porch.
You need a secure system. Use Stowfly package storage and package receiving services to reduce package theft, missed deliveries, and lost packages, and pick up on your schedule.
Get your packages reliably and securely during the busiest shopping month of the year, it’s time to use a solution designed for packages: Stowfly!
Try Stowfly with our try one month free offer this December!