Worst Metro Cities for Package Theft for 2024

With porch pirates costing Americans nearly $16 billion in 2023, it's clear that package theft is more than just a holiday nuisance. Our latest report reveals which cities have paid the highest price to these “grinches,” as well as insights into what drives these crimes and how you can protect your packages.

New York City tops our list this year with around $1 billion in losses and nearly six in 10 households targeted last year. Philadelphia and Chicago round out the top three worst places for package theft with Chicago leading for the most per capita incidents—728 in 1,000 households hit by porch pirates in 2023.

At SafeWise, we're committed to helping you stay informed and safeguard your deliveries year-round. We’re proud to release the seventh annual SafeWise Package Theft Report, where we partner with experts like Dr. Ben Stickle, a criminology specialist focused on emerging crimes and criminal behaviors, to shed light on porch piracy risks and prevention.

Over the past seven years, we've gathered data from thousands of Americans to understand the impact of package theft—from how often it happens to what actions people take to prevent it.1,2 With online shopping showing no signs of slowing down, package theft remains a significant concern, especially as the holidays approach.

In addition to our proprietary surveys, this year's report includes firsthand accounts and crime data from major metros where package theft is rampant. Find out if your city ranks among the hardest-hit areas and learn what you can do to avoid falling victim to porch pirates.

In this report

Graphic representing 120 million packages stolen in 2023.

For the first time, it looks like package theft is leveling out. This year, we estimate that 120.5 million packages were snatched from porches across the US—an increase of just 1 million yearly. While that's not insignificant, it keeps pace with population numbers and doesn't indicate a real uptick in package theft activity.

Map of the US highlighting the top 10 metro areas with the biggest financial loss due to package theft. New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago are the top 3 cities that lost the most money to package thieves in 2023.

We've ranked the top 10 worst metro areas based on the financial toll. We also looked at the number of incidents per 1,000 households. This table provides a clear view of where package theft is hitting Americans' pocketbooks the hardest across the country. 

2024 ranking
Metro area
$ value lost Icon Tooltip  Dark
Total incidents Icon Tooltip  Dark
Incidents per capita Icon Tooltip  Dark
USANationwide$15,932,035,521.1191,934,138.68918
1New York City, NY$945,109,213.799,220,543593
2Philadelphia, PA$449,999,643.994,188,469561
3Chicago, IL$261,868,914.702,685,835728
4Washington, D.C.$231,606,394.432,458,211326
5Houston$207,429,721.031,547,983517
6Atlanta, GA$154,524,168.831,115,698444
7Charlotte, NC$152,451,133.851,219,787546
8Dallas-Fort Worth, TX$151,202,446.811,128,376350
9Boston, MA$143,707,334.731,114,010568
10Cleveland, OH$132,599,179.061,178,6591,370

Interesting findings

We were surprised to find that the cities with the highest financial losses aren’t necessarily those with the most package theft incidents, highlighting differences in online shopping habits and the value of packages at risk.

Our analysis of package theft incidents also pinpointed areas where victims are most frequently targeted multiple times. Cleveland led our top 10 with the most incidents per capita, as porch pirates struck nearly 1,400 times per 1,000 households.

Beyond the top 10, repeat theft hotspots included Beckley, West Virginia (2,391 incidents per 1,000 households); Hot Springs, Arkansas (2,107 per 1,000); and Goldsboro, North Carolina (1,880 per 1,000).

Interestingly, every city in our top 10 is in the eastern US, with Texas being the farthest western state represented—and the only state with more than one metro area on the list.

Past package theft leaders like Seattle, San Diego, and Portland saw lower rankings this year, coming in at numbers 15, 82, and 11, respectively.

Which packages get swiped the most?

Bar chart of the packages porch pirates steal most often, ranked by carrier. Amazon and USPS packages are stolen the most, but other deliveries like HelloFresh and groceries also get stolen, although less often.
"[I’ve been most worried about] porch pirates who frequently steal my Amazon packages."
—32, male, suburbs, Arizona

Porch pirates have clear favorites when it comes to packages, with Amazon deliveries topping the list at 33% of reported thefts. We speculate that this could be due to people ordering more deliveries from Amazon, making those packages more ubiquitous overall. Amazon packages may also seem more likely to hold something a package thief could use themselves or resell for profit.

Following Amazon, USPS packages account for 18% of stolen items, with FedEx (17%) and UPS (16%) close behind. Grocery deliveries also fall victim, making up 7% of thefts, while meal kits like HelloFresh represent nearly 4%. Other types of deliveries round out the list at 5%. It's apparent that porch pirates target a wide range of deliveries—from everyday essentials to specialized subscriptions.

Package theft concerns and prevention

Beyond tracking theft data, we also surveyed 150 people in each state (7,500 total) to understand how concerned they are about package theft, what security measures (if any) they’re using, and how effective these strategies have been in deterring porch pirates.

See how the states home to our top 10 cities measure up and learn more about the steps people take to keep their deliveries safe.

State
Metro area
% worried Icon Tooltip  Dark
% don't use a deterrent Icon Tooltip  Dark
% added a deterrent Icon Tooltip  Dark
USANationwide52%25%84%
New YorkNew York City56%12%93%
PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia47%7%92%
IllinoisChicago44%9%90%
TexasHouston58%9%95%
GeorgiaAtlanta56%16%97%
North CarolinaCharlotte53%21%92%
TexasDallas-Ft. Worth58%9%95%
MassachusettsBoston55%10%92%
OhioCleveland53%13%96%

*Washington, D.C. was excluded from SafeWise and third-party surveys.

Nationwide, one in four people don't do anything to deter porch pirates—despite more than half of all Americans worrying that they'll have a package stolen. However, more than eight in 10 added a deterrent after having a package snatched.

Among our top 10 metro areas, where package theft is the most costly, more than nine in 10 took action after losing a package to porch pirates. Security cameras or video doorbells are the top deterrent used, followed by working with neighbors and using package tracking.

A closer look at how people are fighting package theft

  • 1 in 4 Americans don't do anything to protect their packages.
  • Over 8 in 10 added some type of protection after being hit by porch pirates.
  • Of those who use a deterrent, 21% had a security camera or video doorbell in place when their packages were stolen.
  • 32% said they installed a security camera after a package theft.
  • Ring was the most-purchased brand of security camera (46%).
  • Package tracking and working with neighbors are the most used deterrents after cameras.
  • People prefer to pick up prescription drugs, food and groceries, and computers and other electronics in person, rather than risk a package theft.
Infographic of the top 3 things people did after a package theft: installed a security camera, talked to neightbors, and tracked packages.
"[I increased security measures this year because] ​​the stolen packages were the straw that broke the camel's back."
—50, nonbinary, rural, Maine

Porch pirate trends for 2024

With package theft rates holding steady, we can cautiously conclude that porch piracy may have reached its peak. While the number of packages swiped rose only slightly, from 119 million to 120 million, that small increase reflects population growth rather than a jump in crime.

For the first time, we analyzed incidents of package theft reported to law enforcement and those that went unreported, giving a clearer picture of the real impact. In 2023, porch pirates struck nearly 92 million times—or about 260,000 incidents per day.

Bell
How many packages are stolen every day?

We estimate there are 260,000 incidents of package theft every day. When you consider that around 25% of survey respondents had multiple packages stolen at once, the number of packages that get swiped could easily be more than 325,000 per day.

Perhaps the most striking finding is the financial toll of these thefts: $16 billion in losses. Although this number is alarming, it accounts for just over 1% of the $1 trillion Americans spent on online shopping last year. Additionally, our data shows that many victims are repeatedly targeted by porch pirates. Cleveland, Ohio, for instance, ranked tenth on our list with 1,370 package theft incidents per 1,000 households, reinforcing the pattern that porch piracy often strikes the same locations more than once.

Infographic showing how many people have been victims of package theft. Pie charts show how many people have had a package stolen and how many have had packages stolen more than once.

Our survey reveals the widespread impact of package theft, showing that 73% of respondents had a package stolen within the past year, and a significant 79% experienced multiple thefts. This trend reflects the ongoing vulnerability of deliveries, as more than one in three people have encountered package theft at some point. Interestingly, most stolen packages (67%) were valued under $100, suggesting that porch pirates often target everyday items, making vigilance even more important for protecting deliveries of all types.

Package theft by the numbers

  • 120.5 million packages were stolen in 2023.
  • Nearly 92 million incidents of package theft occurred in 2023.
  • The US sees 261,000 incidents of package theft every day.
  • An estimated $16 billion was lost to porch pirates in 2023.
  • 43 of the 327 metro areas we looked at had more than 1,000 incidents per 1,000 households.
  • 8 in 10 victims had more than one package stolen in the past 12 months.
  • Amazon delivered the majority of packages stolen.
Graphic showing that $16 billion was lost to porch pirates in 2023.

Value of packages stolen

Package theft cost Americans a staggering $16 billion last year, with most stolen items valued under $100. According to our data, nearly 20% of stolen packages were worth between $101 and $200, and just 5% exceeded $500.

This distribution of package values has remained steady over the past three years, but we saw notable increases in high-value thefts during the pandemic, particularly in 2021 when delivery volumes surged. That year, 25% of stolen packages were valued between $101 and $200, 17% fell between $201 and $500, and 13% were valued above $500—the highest rates for pricier packages in recent years.

Year
Under $50
$50–$100
$101–$200
$201–$500
Over $500
202433%37%19%7%5%
202333%38%19%8%2%
202232%40%18%9%1%
202120%25%25%17%13%
202026%39%21%9%5%

What people are doing after porch pirates strike

  • More than 8 in 10 people said they added some deterrent or preventive measure after having a package stolen.
  • After a package was stolen, 32% added a security camera or video doorbell, 25% contacted neighbors, and 23% started using package tracking.
  • 23% reported the theft to law enforcement.
  • 11% made an insurance claim.
Bar chart of what people did to recover after a package theft. The majority got either a replacement or refund from the seller.

After a package theft incident, victims often take action to recover their losses or prevent future incidents. Our data shows that 45% of victims received a replacement from the seller, while 32% were given a refund. Only 23% reported the theft to law enforcement, and 19% captured the incident on video. Of those who recorded footage, 17% shared it with neighbors or on a community app, and 11% filed an insurance claim. 

Who’s responsible for stolen packages?

Until the package hits your porch, the seller bears responsibility for it. After delivery, it becomes your property and your responsibility.

Even though they're no longer responsible, many sellers and carriers may offer full or partial compensation for a loss, so it's a good idea to contact them to learn your options.

What to do if your package gets stolen

If you’re unfortunate enough to fall victim to package theft, there are steps you can take:

  • Contact the seller: In our survey, 45% of victims received replacements, and 32% were given refunds after reporting the theft to the retailer.
  • Report to the carrier: About 14% of respondents said they got a refund from the carrier. But remember, the carrier is only responsible until they drop off the package. Many carriers use photo verification upon delivery to help mitigate their responsibility for package theft. 
  • Report to law enforcement: Although package theft is typically categorized as general larceny-theft, more states are passing specific laws to address it.
  • Share footage with neighbors: If you have surveillance footage, sharing it can help raise community awareness. Nineteen percent of victims caught the porch pirate on camera, and 17% shared that footage to alert neighbors.
  • Consider insurance claims: Some insurance policies cover package theft, and 11% of respondents found success in filing a claim.

Package theft remains a costly and frustrating issue, but with greater awareness and proactive measures, both individuals and communities can work together to curb porch piracy.

Ask the expert: Who's most at risk of package theft?

Our partnership with Dr. Ben Stickle, a research specialist in theft and criminal behavior, helped us identify common risk factors for porch piracy. After reviewing hours of porch pirate footage, Dr. Stickle's team found that certain conditions make a home more likely to be targeted:

  • Homes with porches less than 25 feet from the street provide easy access for thieves.
  • Packages visible from the road act as “open invitations” to would-be thieves.
  • Surprisingly, cul-de-sacs are just as vulnerable to package theft as other types of streets.
"Package theft is a crime of opportunity. The more packages left for longer periods of time on a porch, the more likely they are to be stolen. As the Christmas gift season gets into full swing, there will be a significant increase in packages on a porch.

"Add to that, people are busier this time of year and have their routine shifted as they may work later and spend more time away from home shopping or visiting with family and friends, so packages are left sitting exposed on the porch for longer. All of this adds up to easy targets for thieves. Porch piracy is a low-entry crime. There are no special skills needed to walk up a driveway and steal a package."
—Dr. Ben Stickle

Additionally, our survey revealed some socioeconomic trends among those most frequently targeted:

  • More than 60% of package theft victims live in single-family homes.
  • 75% of those targeted have annual incomes below $100,000.

Indicators of empty homes—like parked cars that rarely move, lights that stay on or off all day, and open blinds or curtains—can also attract porch pirates.

Bell
Is stealing a package a crime?

Package theft is a crime, but the specific charges depend on state and federal laws. If the carrier is the USPS, you're looking at a federal mail theft felony. But stealing a delivery left by a private company like UPS or FedEx falls under state laws like petty theft, grand theft, trespassing, and mail theft.3 In recent years, states like Texas have increased theft penalties to discourage package theft.4

Current state package theft laws

Eleven states have laws on the books that aim to deter porch pirates with the threat of fines and incarceration. Pennsylvania and Florida are the latest to crack down, with bills going into effect this year. The District of Columbia also passed a bill that changes the threshold for felony theft in hopes of deterring would-be porch pirates and other thieves. Five other states have also proposed legislation to combat the scourge of package theft.

Most proposed or enacted legislation treats package theft as a felony, with penalties ranging from six months to 30 years in jail. The table below shows which states are targeting porch pirates.

State
Type of crime
Penalty
Status
ArkansasFelonyUp to 6 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2021
CaliforniaMultiple proposals from misdemeanor to felonyVariesProposed or dead
FloridaMisdemeanor to felonyUp to 30 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2024
GeorgiaFelonyUp to 5 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2021
KansasNon-person felonyUp to 12 mos. incarcerationProposed
KentuckyFelony1 to 5 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2022
MichiganMisdemeanor to felony Up to 5 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2019
MissouriMisdemeanor to felony Up to 4 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2023
OklahomaMisdemeanor to felonyUp to 5 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2020
New JerseyThird-degree crime3 to 5 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2022
New York*Non-violent felony3 to 15 yrs. incarcerationProposed
Pennsylvania*Misdemeanor to felonyUp to 7 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2024
South CarolinaFelonyMin. 5 yrs. incarceration (under review)Proposed
TennesseeFelonyUp to 6 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2021
Texas*Felony6 mos. to 10 yrs. incarcerationEnacted 2019

*These states have cities that made our list of the worst metro areas for package theft.

"There have been repeated package thefts in my secured building by a neighbor. The neighbor has since been charged for grand larceny and proceeded to skip the arraignment. My concern is not having any consequences or corrective action for his crime."
—53, female, suburbs, Massachusetts

How to prevent package theft

There are many things you can do to help deter porch pirates, but these five tips are my essential guide to keeping your packages out of the hands of thieves.

1. Opt into delivery alerts. You can get alerts from both retailers and shippers to track the movements of your packages and know the moment they’re delivered. Apps like Shop (my favorite) help you track deliveries and online purchases from any retailer all in one place.

2. Require signatures. This ensures that your package—especially valuable items — won’t be left on the front porch unattended. Requiring a signature means your goods will end up in a human’s hands, not dropped on a porch or in front of a door.

3. Make alternative arrangements. If you can’t be home to bring in those packages, have them delivered somewhere else. You can use a package locker service (like Amazon), ask a friend or neighbor, use a personal delivery locker on your porch, or ask that the package be held at the carrier’s depot for you to pick up in person.

Thumbs Up
SafeWise expert tip

Over the past couple of years, I've seen many local businesses (like microbreweries) and police departments across the country setting up shops as safe holiday package delivery spots. This means a real person will receive and secure your goodies until you can pick them up. Search to see what may be available where you live.

4. Use technology. Doorbell cams, outdoor security cameras, and full-on security systems can keep you in the know about what’s happening in front of your home and with your packages. I recommend tech that does more than capture a clip of a bad actor stealing your stuff. Look for two-way talk, customized recorded messages, flashing lights, alarming sounds, sirens, and professional monitoring.

5. Work with your neighbors. More porch pirates are working together to grab as much as possible from entire neighborhoods. Check in to see if anyone has had a package stolen and make a plan to work together to keep an eye out for unusual cars, unfamiliar people, and sketchy security cam footage.

Video: Package Theft is Getting Worse, Here's What You Can Do About It

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How we rank the worst metro cities for package theft

This year’s package theft report is based on a combination of FBI crime statistics, an independent safety survey, and our own proprietary survey data. We collected responses from at least 150 people per state—totaling 7,500 participants nationwide—to get a clear, representative view of package theft across the US.

Two-thirds of survey respondents provided insights on various types of crime they had experienced, while the remaining third were all victims of package theft. This dual approach allowed us to analyze broader crime trends as well as zero in on the specifics of package theft.

To generate our numbers, we combined FBI data, a third-party safety survey, and our own proprietary survey data to come up with the metrics we used to estimate actual package theft numbers by state and metro areas. We queried the FBI crime data explorer to pull all reported larceny thefts from agencies in the state, the percentages by state of those larceny offenses that were classified as "Other Larceny" (which package theft is usually classified as), and the percentages of those classified offenses that occurred at a home/residence and from a building (which is what package theft would count as).5

We then estimated what the total reported incidents would be if all agencies reported their numbers based on the percentage of the population that had reported metrics. We then estimated the number of non-reported incidents and the dollar value of all incidents based on our proprietary survey data. With those two metrics, we ranked each metro and state by their per capita (1,000) package theft incidents and total value lost to porch piracy.

SafeWise Package Theft Survey
The 2024 SafeWise Package Theft Survey used a 16-question online survey fielded in August 2024 using Pollfish. We collected responses from 2,500 respondents across the US who’ve had a package stolen at some point in their lifetime. The survey asked participants about their first-hand experiences with package theft.

Respondents were then asked explicitly about their experiences with package theft in the 12 months prior to the survey, including if they experienced it multiple times, the average cost of stolen packages, and any methods employed to prevent package theft before and after experiencing a theft. 

Pollfish survey methodology
Pollfish employs a survey methodology called Random Device Engagement (RDE) to reach a vast audience without using monetary incentives. RDE is an evolution of Random Digit Dialing (RDD) and operates within popular mobile apps. This approach leverages a neutral environment similar to RDD and targets users not intentionally participating in surveys.

SafeWise State of Safety survey methodology
The State of Safety is a nationwide survey that dives into America’s top safety concerns. Over the past six years, we’ve surveyed more than 30,000 Americans—at least 600 from every state—to discover their perceptions and attitudes about safety and crime.

Lux Insights fielded the most recent State of Safety survey in August 2024. Lux surveyed 5,000 residents across the U.S. (at least 100 in each state), and based on the number of completes, there is a margin of error (MOE) of ±1.4%. Each state has an MOE of approximately ±9.8%.

One section of the survey is devoted to package theft, focusing on experience with and concern about it over the 12 months prior to the survey. Read the full methodology.


Sources

  1. SafeWise, 2024 Package Theft Survey. August 2024. Accessed November 04, 2024.
  2. Lux Insights and SafeWise, State of Safety Survey. August 2024. Accessed November 04, 2024.
  3. Law Office of Nabiel C. Ahmed, "Do You Go to Jail for Stealing a Package?," June 2021. Accessed November 04, 2024.
  4. Alex Leroux, KLTV, Gray Television, Inc., "New Law Raises Punishment for Package Theft," August 2019. Accessed November 04, 2024.
  5. FBI Crime Data Explorer. Accessed November 04, 2024.

Endnotes

Although package theft, if represented at all, is included in the FBI data among larceny-theft incidents, SafeWise recognizes it as a subcategory that is growing across the country. We have adopted the definition of package theft as identified in an American Journal of Criminal Justice study.

Package theft definition: “Taking possession of a package or its contents, outside of a residence or business, where it has been commercially delivered or has been left for commercial pick-up, with intent to deprive the rightful owner of the contents.”

Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.

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