The Blaine Police Department recently highlighted the issue on social media, noting that between 20-25% of Americans report having fallen victim to package theft. In 2023 alone, an estimated 260 million packages didn't make it into rightful hands, leading to a whopping $19.5 billion economic blow.
But all is not lost, and there are measures you can take to guard against these opportunistic thieves. The police department suggests options for securing your deliveries that range from USPS's delivery notifications and "Hold for Pickup" feature to Amazon's array of services like UPS Access Point, Amazon Lockers, Amazon Key, and Walmart offers a service where items are directly placed inside your home, named InHome delivery.
Blaine Police Department's post also includes the recommendation to install preventative tech at your doorstep like video doorbells and motion lights, or possibly changing the delivery location altogether, having packages sent to your workplace where there's less chance they'll end up in the wrong hands.
PorchPals insurance promises to cover the costs of stolen deliveries. Though, sometimes theft happens, if you find yourself package-less, the authorities urge filing a police report and informing your carrier can help track down the pirates and hopefully prevent future thefts.
