The 2024 holiday shopping season is in full swing and much of that shopping will be conducted through

online retailers. These purchases will then be shipped out and in some cases can be intercepted while

enroute or even upon arrival at your home. Porch pirates stole $12 billion worth of packages over the

past year, with as many as 58 million Americans becoming the victims of thefts in the last 12 months

alone. This amounts to an average loss of $206.90 per package which is taken.

Approximately 85% of people have concerns about their packages being stolen, but here in New Jersey

only about 2 in every 100 people will experience a package theft. These statistics can vary based on the

type of residence packages are being shipped to, with 8% of packages shipped to apartment buildings,

5% sent to condos and 3% send to a home being pilfered. Some other factors which can increase your

odds of being a victim of package theft include: frequent package deliveries to your home and packages

being left out for extended periods of time after delivery.

No matter how many precautions one takes with packages, thieves can still strike. Quickly confirming

and reporting the crime is essential, especially if you hope to replace a gift before the holidays. Here are

some steps to follow if you believe a parcel has been stolen:

1. Verify delivery: Double-check to ensure a package was delivered before jumping to conclusions.

Track the package online, look for confirmation messages, or check your door for notices to

ensure the parcel isn’t delayed or awaiting a signature. Ask family, friends, or neighbors to see if

they collected the package on your behalf. If you have security cameras, review the video to

determine if you caught a thief in the act. If you’re confident a package was stolen, preserve any

evidence and start reaching out to retailers and authorities.

2. Notify sellers and shippers: Contacting the seller is the most prudent first step, as they may

quickly send a new package. Many retailers will replace purchases with little hassle. Still, some

may require the filing of claims, submission of police reports, or refer you to the shipper instead.

Many e-commerce sites provide simple links to expedite the process, but to save time and

frustration, assemble all relevant information (like order number, tracking details, or delivery

time) before initiating your report.

3. Contact the authorities: Catching porch pirates without visual evidence is challenging, but it’s

always important to report their activity. Filing police reports provides documentation that can

expedite claims and provide valuable data points to help cops stop crimes and possibly protect

your neighbors or next delivery. Increased reporting of package thefts also encourages police

and politicians to consider the issue more seriously. This year, Pennsylvania, Florida and

Washington DC, enacted stricter legislation to prosecute pirates. They join nine other states

(Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and

Texas) that label porch pirates as felons and three others (California, Minnesota, and New York)

considering similar measures.

4. Confirm your coverage: If the retailer or shipper resists prompt replacement or reimbursement,

check with your home insurance company to see if you’re protected against theft (and whether

the package value exceeds your deductible). Also, contact your credit card company to halt

payment or activate purchase protections.

Unfortunately, only 25% of porch pirate victims contact the police. 91 % report the crime somewhere

however, most commonly reaching out to the retailer and/or delivery companies. Some easy steps you

can take to help thwart porch pirates include: scheduling shipments for when you are home, installing

doorbell cameras (with recording capabilities active), take advantage of the option for in-store pickup,

and have neighbors pickup your packages or bring them inside for you.

The Boonton Township Police Department is here if you are the victim of porch pirates or observe

suspicious activity (such as occupied cars or people loitering in the area). Do not hesitate to contact us

to report an incident or request a police response.