Porch pirates in the United States stole $12 billion worth of packages from around 58 million people over the last year, according to Security.org’s 2024 package theft assessment. The average value of these stolen packages was $204, which is far from a small financial hit for many — especially around the holiday season.

The states they found had the highest rates of package theft were Kentucky, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Alaska. The lowest rates of theft were reported in Connecticut, Michigan, Utah, Georgia and New Jersey.

Security.org notes that the five states with the highest theft rates are largely rural, while four of the five states with the lowest rates are among the country’s most densely populated states. Overall, they found the area safest from package theft is the Midwest.

Other key findings from Security.org’s assessment include:

  • Those who live in apartments experience twice the amount of package theft as those who live in houses.
  • 14% of those in the U.S. take no precautions to prevent package theft.
  • 13% of people have had a package stolen that contained a gift for someone else.
  • Indiana has the highest median value of stolen packages at $250, while Oregon has the lowest with a median of $25.
  • People who make multiple online purchases each week are twice as likely to have packages stolen than those who only order a few times a year.
In the slideshow above, we share advice from Consumer Reports for protecting your packages this holiday season and beyond.

Your package was stolen. Now what?

If you find yourself the victim of package theft, Security.org recommends the following steps:

  1. Verify delivery of the package first to confirm whether it is actually missing. Utilize online tracking and check around your home to see if it may have been left somewhere unexpected.
  2. When you know your package has been taken, notify both the seller and shipper.
  3. Contact your local authorities to file a report. This documentation can help expedite any claims, even if the police aren’t able to catch the thief and recover your package.
  4. If you aren’t able to get reimbursement or a replacement item from the retailer or shipping company, call your insurance agent to see if your home insurance policy covers theft.

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