How Parcel Theft Is Affecting Communities

Parcel theft is becoming a growing concern among communities. These days, it is not uncommon to see doorbell footage and CCTV of people stealing parcels plastered over local neighbourhood groups. With the rise of e-commerce and online reselling platforms, more and more people are relying on secure parcel delivery, only to be let down by the theft of their packages. In this blog, we pull some of the most relevant statistics from our recent ‘2024 Parcel Theft Report‘ to explore how parcel theft is affecting communities.

Crime Rates

Although only 1 in 333 parcel thefts are reported to the police, in neighbourhoods where parcels are frequently left on doorsteps or in easily accessible apartment lobbies, criminals are drawn to these areas, seeing them as easy targets. This can have a ripple effect, as increased criminal activity in a community can lead to other types of crime, including burglary and vandalism. Residents are sick and tired of feeling unsafe, and local authorities want to deter crime from their communities. It’s important for individuals and businesses to take steps to prevent parcel theft, not only to protect their packages but also to help deter criminal activity.

The Environment

Every time a parcel is stolen and replaced by a retailer, that replacement needs to be delivered again, potentially doubling the delivery carbon footprint with each attempt. Deliveries contribute to traffic emissions by increasing the number of courier vehicles on the road, cruising for parking, increased dwell time (the time a vehicle stays parked while the driver distributes packages), and redeliveries. Redeliveries also contribute to more traffic congestion since the more reattempts need to be made, the more delivery vans need to be on the road.

Why Is It a Good Idea to Report Parcel Theft?

Most people resolve their missing parcel by going directly to the retailer, which is correct, as under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the seller is responsible for the delivery and quality of items purchased online. But filing a police report for parcel theft gives local authorities and service providers a more accurate understanding of the scale of the problem and therefore can encourage them to take more action.

What’s the solution?

By opting for out-of-home delivery options, such as Open Network parcel lockers, packages are kept secure from porch pirates who target unattended doorsteps or tailgate into apartment buildings. Residents no longer need to worry about being home when their parcel is delivered or being able to make it to an over-the-counter collection point during business opening hours as lockers can be used 24/7 if located in a publicly accessible place.

Local authorities and businesses can look into introducing a system of open network lockers that are located outside public service buildings, transport hubs, and supermarkets – providing secure delivery options for community members. And the benefits go beyond security, there are many other ways open network lockers benefit communities, including reducing congestion and community convenience.

You can download the full 2024 Parcel Theft Report for free here.