Warning issued to anyone expecting a parcel over Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, UK police forces are warning consumers about a surge in “porch piracy”.

Doorstep parcel thefts are costing households and businesses millions of pounds.

The crime, which has escalated dramatically in recent years, is expected to peak during the busy Christmas delivery period.

According to recent data from the mailing equipment company Quadient, more than 3.5 million UK households fell victim to parcel theft between July 2023 and August 2024, with November and December being the riskiest months due to Black Friday sales and pre-Christmas shopping.

Quadient estimates that the total value of parcels stolen across the UK rose to £376 million over the past year, compared to £204 million in 2023. However, the true scale of the problem is likely much higher, as many thefts go unreported.

Police forces across the country are taking action to address the issue. In Barking and Dagenham in east London, officers have posted warnings in apartment lobbies, while in Kingston upon Thames, Cheshire, and Wiltshire, safer neighborhood teams are using social media to educate residents about the risks.

“Parcel thefts are happening in your area,” warn posters put up by the Gascoigne safer neighborhoods team in London. Despite these efforts, Quadient argues that a lack of detailed data on parcel thefts leaves customers unaware of the scale of the problem.

Gary Winter, Quadient’s vice-president of global strategic initiatives, said: “If you live in a flat in London, for instance, there’s a one in three chance you will have a parcel stolen.”

Quadient’s analysis highlights that people living in blocks of flats are 24% more likely to experience parcel theft compared to those in houses. Shoppers aged under 34 are the most likely victims.

Sportswear is a top target due to its branded packaging and high resale value, making it three times more likely to be stolen than other items.

While many thefts occur when opportunist thieves spot parcels left on doorsteps, unscrupulous delivery drivers have also been implicated. Consumer campaigner Martyn James noted cases where couriers photograph parcels for “proof of delivery” and then steal them moments later.

Others have reportedly fabricated deliveries entirely, with route trackers revealing vans never approached the customer’s address.

Under UK consumer rights laws, retailers are typically responsible for orders that are lost or stolen. However, if customers nominate a “safe place” for deliveries, they assume responsibility for the parcel’s security.

Despite the scale of the problem, major retailers have been reluctant to comment, while the British Retail Consortium estimates that theft, including porch piracy, costs the retail industry over £1.8 billion annually.

Graham Wynn, assistant director of business and regulation at the British Retail Consortium, said: “We urge customers to either accept deliveries in person or ensure a secure location for deliveries if they expect to be out.”