Porch pirates have stolen an estimated 260 million packages in 2022: Report
Misty Severi
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Porch pirates have stolen an estimated 260 million packages from United States residents this year, up from 210 million last year, according to the online safety guide SafeWise.
Online shopping this holiday season remains elevated after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the opportunities for thieves to steal packages before residents can bring them inside, experts warned. In fact, porch thieves have stolen approximately $19.5 billion worth of goods this year alone, the guide said.
“Package thefts unfortunately are on the rise, perhaps in part because of the increase in online shopping that started with the pandemic in 2020,” Teresa Murray, a consumer watchdog for the Public Interest Research Group, told CNBC on Sunday. “This could be in part because many folks have returned to offices at least part time this year, compared with the last two years. And, since everyone knows there’s an avalanche of deliveries this time of year, there’s every reason to believe the bad guys use this as an opportunity.”
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During the pandemic, online sales rose to 16.4% of all retail sales, up from 11.9% in the previous quarter, the outlet reported. Although online sales only constitute 14.8% of all retail sales as of the third quarter of this year, it is higher than the pre-pandemic levels.
Despite the threat of porch theft, experts have provided guidance on how to minimize the risk. One tip was signing up for alerts from a local post office and other package carriers, which will notify recipients when the package is dropped off. Once someone receives the alert, it is prudent to call someone to bring the package inside and off the porch.
Another tip included setting the delivery period to a time when someone will be home or having it delivered to a trusted neighbor or a friend. Alternatively, consumers could set the location for the delivery to a post office box or an Amazon locker, where someone would need a key or code to access the package.
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If a package does get stolen, customers are encouraged to contact the retailer that the item comes from. Although retailers are not required to provide a refund or ship a new one, they often do, CNBC noted. Victims could also request a refund from the delivery service, but it often requires the seller to make the request instead of the customer, according to Consumer Reports.
Those who purchased a large and valuable item that was stolen are encouraged to reach out to local police.