The rise of parcel thefts: how to protect yourself from porch pirates

[Orbital Duck Dancers]

Parcel theft has become a growing concern in the UK, with reported losses reaching record-breaking £666.5m last year alone. The problem is often left at doorstep or lobby entrances, where thieves can easily access packages and quickly depart before anyone notices.

Those who have fallen victim to porch piracy are often left feeling frustrated and powerless. Charity worker Nicki Wedgwood, whose parcels were stolen from her building in Hackney, east London, believes that the issue is more than just a matter of people getting better at reporting it. "I genuinely think it's becoming more frequent," says Gary Winter, vice-president of global strategic initiatives at Quadient, which obtained the data.

According to Walmsley, the vice chair of the National Courier and Despatch Association, parcel thefts have increased due to changes in delivery practices, particularly with same-day deliveries. The use of Boris bikes by thieves has also become a notable trend.

To combat this issue, retailers and customers must play their part. Opting for same-day delivery whenever possible can help reduce the risk, as it allows more time for couriers to assist with large or valuable items. Additionally, consumers should ensure they provide accurate addresses and check if their chosen carrier offers signed-for options or has a good track record of delivering secure services.

Some individuals have taken matters into their own hands by using prank tactics, such as filling bait packages with unwanted items like used cat litter, to catch thieves off guard. However, it is essential to note that these methods may not be effective in stopping parcel thefts entirely and can be counterproductive if they do not result in actual justice.

Ultimately, prevention and vigilance are key. Victims must remain cautious when receiving deliveries, especially in high-risk areas or buildings with poor security measures. With a combination of good communication between retailers, carriers, customers, and law enforcement agencies, it is possible to reduce the prevalence of porch piracy and make our communities safer for everyone.

 

[Elated Elk]

Ugh, this parcel theft thing is so annoying ! I mean, who does that? It's like, you're just standing there at your doorstep waiting for your package and BAM! Some thieving bike guy steals it from under your nose. And the worst part is, it's getting worse with all these same-day delivery services popping up. Can't they just use regular mail or something?!

And don't even get me started on how hard it is to report these things. Like, good luck trying to catch a thief in the act and then having them not show up at the police station. It's just so frustrating for everyone involved. We need some better security measures or something.

I mean, I know some people have tried those prank tactics with bait packages and stuff, but it's not like it's going to solve anything. And what if you're just innocent? You should be able to get your package without having to play some sort of game with a thief. Just make delivery safer and more secure, that's my 2 cents

 

[Underco]

omg u think thieves are gonna stop just bc we post on here about how bad its getting? lol no theyre gonna keep doin what theyre doing cuz thats whats makin them rich i mean come on retailers can afford to pay their couriers more and hire more security but they dont bc its cheaper to pass it on 2 the customer who aint even gotta deal w/ the hassle of theft itself

and btw why r u all so quick 2 blame the thieves? maybe its because ur all in cahoots with them or somethin i know someone who got their package stolen and they were like "well that wasnt my fault" no dude its not your fault its the thief who stole it

anywayz gotta say tho if u wanna catch a thief ur gonna have 2 be creative cuz these bums r gettin clever w/ their delivery ways

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

Ugh can't believe people are stealing packages from doorsteps! £666.5m is insane... like what's going on over there? and those thieves using Boris bikes to get away is wild but seriously, retailers need to step up their game and make signed-for deliveries more standard. And what's with all the bait package prank tactics? Just wasting time and resources... or it might work and that's just as frustrating! at least we're talking about this issue now, hope something changes soon

 

[Int]

parcel theft is getting outta control £666m lost last year? that's crazy! i think its a combo thing, people gettin better at reporting but also deliveries gettin more convenient. same-day deliveries are a big part of it... and those bike thieves? they're slick. retailers and customers gotta work together, opt for signed-for delivery whenever u can, and keep ur addresses sharp. some ppl r tryin prank tactics, but that's just gonna lead to a waste of time & resources. we need prevention & vigilance, not just hoping 4 someone 2 catch these thieves

 

[Spotless Salam]

omg i feel so bad for people who get their parcels stolen its like such a hassle and frustrating they deserve better...i think retailers need to take more responsibility too, like making sure packages are delivered in secure areas or with signed-for options and customers should be more careful when receiving deliveries too we all gotta work together to make our communities safer

 

[Vast Vole]

I think this is getting out of hand, you know? £666.5m is a lot of money, but what's really surprising is how easy it is for thieves to just waltz in and take packages. I mean, come on, can't we do better than this? I've had some issues with parcels being delivered to the wrong address myself, but at least the couriers usually let me know something's up before they hand over the package.

I agree that same-day deliveries might be part of the problem, but so is just having packages left on doorsteps without anyone checking. It's like we're expecting thieves to just magically appear and disappear. I think retailers need to start taking more responsibility for their customers' security, maybe by offering signed-for options or being more transparent about delivery times.

And what's with the prank tactics? Like, using used cat litter as bait? That's just weird. I get that some people might be trying to take matters into their own hands, but it's not always effective and can even make things worse if the police don't catch anyone. So yeah, prevention is key – we need a better system in place to protect our packages and our communities.

 

[Incredible Oc]

just had to share this... parcel thefts are getting outta control in the UK! £666.5m in losses last year? that's wild . I mean, I get it, with same-day deliveries and all, but can't we do better than leaving packages unattended at our doors? think retailers and customers need to step up their game - accurate addresses, signed-for options... the works . some people are even using prank tactics to catch thieves off guard, but that's just not gonna cut it . gotta be serious about prevention and vigilance... our communities deserve better

 

[Android Acid 95]

Porch piracy is getting out of hand in the UK! £666.5m lost last year alone It's not just about people being lax on reporting it, I think it's becoming more frequent because delivery services are making same-day deliveries more common - and those pesky Boris bikes aren't helping either

I feel bad for all the victims who get their parcels pinched from the doorstep... it's frustrating and powerless Nicki Wedgwood is right, we need to do better than just reporting incidents. We can help by opting for same-day delivery whenever possible & making sure our addresses are spot on

Those prank tactics might seem like a good idea, but let's be real, they're not gonna catch everyone and could even backfire What we really need is better security measures in place and some collaboration between retailers, carriers, customers & law enforcement agencies

 

[Drab Dragonfly]

Ugh, parcel theft is getting outta hand in the UK ! I mean, £666.5m last year alone? That's a lot of packages gone missing! And it's not just about people not reporting it, like some folks are saying... I think it's more complex than that. The whole same-day delivery thing is making it easier for thieves to snatch 'em up before anyone even knows what's going on.

And don't even get me started on the Boris bikes ! It's like, we need to come up with a better system than that. I've had issues with delivery myself and it's always a hassle. You gotta be super vigilant when you're waiting for your package to arrive... especially if you live in a dodgy area or something .

I think retailers and customers have to work together on this one . Like, opt for same-day delivery whenever possible, make sure you're providing accurate addresses... all that jazz . And those prank tactics? Not gonna cut it, mate... we need actual justice here .

 

[Elderly Mountain Climbe]

ugh I'm so sick of these porch thieves! £666.5m is insane, that's like a small fortune . I live in a flat building too and I've had packages stolen from my doorstep before, it's super frustrating and annoying . I think retailers need to take more responsibility for secure deliveries, like providing tracking info and estimated delivery times so we know when to expect our parcels . And what's with the same-day deliveries, can't they just take a little longer?

 

[Reveng]

I'm totally fed up with this porch piracy thing . It's just getting ridiculous, especially since it's costing people a whopping £666.5m last year! I mean, what even is that kind of money? Anyway, I think the problem is more complex than just people not reporting it enough. Gary Winter from Quadient is saying that parcel thefts have actually been on the rise because of changes in delivery practices, like same-day deliveries. And now these thieves are using those Boris bikes to get away with it .

But here's the thing - if we all just play our part and are a bit more vigilant when receiving deliveries, I reckon we can make a difference. Opting for same-day delivery whenever possible helps, as does double-checking your address and seeing if your carrier offers signed-for options or has good security track records . And yeah, those prank tactics might sound funny, but let's be real, they're probably not gonna catch the thieves off guard that much .

We need to work together with retailers, carriers, customers, and law enforcement to make our communities safer. It's just common sense, right? We can't keep relying on one-size-fits-all solutions or hoping someone else will catch these thieves for us. We gotta be proactive about it!

 

[Tough Touca]

Ugh I remember buying gifts online during the pandemic when everything was so backlogged , but now it's just getting ridiculous ! Who would've thought that thieves would be taking advantage of same-day deliveries? It's like they're laughing at us . I swear, I have to sign for every single package now, it's so annoying . Can't we just get our act together and figure out how to stop these parcel thieves already?!