Millions of Americans have opted for the convenience of shopping online during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with that convenience comes the risk of package theft, which continues to be a growing problem in cities and neighborhoods throughout the country. C+R Research surveyed 2,000 consumers who have shopped online to learn more about their experiences with package theft and what preventative measures they’ve taken to prevent porch pirates.
They found that 59% of Americans receive package deliveries once per week. 43% of Americans have had a package stolen. 61% say they’ve known someone who has had a package stolen and 43% say they have a neighbor who has had a package stolen. Almost two-thirds (64%) say they’ve been a victim of package theft more than once. The average value of the stolen package was $136, but thankfully 81% say they’ve received a refund on the stolen items. There are several ways that consumers are opting to prevent their packages from stolen. 64% say they stay home for deliveries to prevent package theft. 24% say they opt for in-store pick up instead of having a package delivered. 23% have gone as far as to install a doorbell or surveillance camera. 21% say they prefer to shop at stores instead of opting for delivery and 19% have paid the extra fee to have a signature required for delivery.