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Every year around the holidays, CNET conducts a large-scale package theft survey to determine how many Americans say they’ve been affected by porch pirates and how much they stand to lose from the activity. Our recent survey showed that about 30% of respondents said they had experienced a package theft, had been nearly robbed, or knew someone who had. This is a huge risk, especially during the holidays, but we have the technology and knowledge to stop it.
Balcony hacking It has become a popular tactic for thieves in recent years. Put yourself in the mind of a criminal and you’ll see that porch packages are easy targets. It is much faster and less dangerous for the thief. We even see Thieves’ allegations Use Wi-Fi jammers Which may interfere with Video doorbells Send screenshots.
If we learn anything from Last year’s poll, that’s the case 71% of US adults chose to take action to prevent package theft, including 28% of Americans who did not plan to leave their homes unattended for more than a few hours to avoid it. But that’s a tough ask for the average busy adult during this season.
In over 12 years of working with Homeland security servicesI was interested in progressing Homeland security technology And how it can help you defend against package theft and other security damage.
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Key takeaways
- The estimated average value of packages delivered to an individual’s home or someone else’s address this holiday season is $300.06 per U.S. adult, an increase of $8.68 from the 2024 results.
- Generation X and Boomers represent the highest expected value for packages delivered.
- More than one in five (21%) U.S. adults know someone who has had a package stolen.
- One in seven (14%) U.S. adults has had a package stolen in the past year.
- One in 10 US adults have had a package intended for them or their family stolen, while 7% have had a package containing a gift stolen.
Vacation packages are worth more than ever this year.
Package theft in numbers
Just over one in five (21%) of American adults who responded to the CNET poll said they knew someone who had a package stolen, while 5% reported that they had detected and disrupted an attempted package theft themselves. In 2025, 7% of those surveyed said they had a stolen package that was a gift to someone.
One notable change is that 14% of adults said they had a package of their own stolen in the past year, down three points from our 2024 study. We saw a slight decrease in both high-value (more than $200) and low-value (under $200) items stolen. I have seen Government studies Similar declines are seen in other property thefts, largely resulting from the adoption of more home security technology, which acts as a deterrent, especially when adopted en masse.
My best advice on how to stop package theft
Prevention is always the best course of action. Stopping porch pirates before they strike is ideal. Today there are several types of High-tech tools To help busy homeowners who may not have time to wait at their door for an expected delivery. In addition, some of them can also help protect your deliveries from weather or Keep your home safe In other ways.
Favorites include:
Track your parcel carefully online
CNET surveys found that many American adults plan to use package tracking in an effort to reduce theft. It’s a smart idea because even basic online tracking can give you an idea of when your packages will arrive.
Sign up for email alerts and you can get a message about when your package is scheduled to be delivered. This makes it much easier to plan a quick trip home during your lunch break, or text your neighbor (which 18% of survey respondents said they would try) to ensure the package is taken care of.
Try to act quickly if you rely on tracking. In the past, there have been data breaches Where thieves stole carrier information So they can also receive alerts about package deliveries and pounce on them right after they’re stolen. I haven’t seen data on this yet this year, but it may now have been proven to work.
Use a video doorbell
Video doorbells Sit by your front door and keep an eye on visitors and packages. My favorite standby device, the Nest Doorbell, gives me automatic alerts when it recognizes someone carrying a package, as well as when a package suddenly disappears (and it’s free, since these features don’t require a subscription).
Not only do these doorbell cameras monitor packages and alert you about deliveries, they also have two-way audio features, so if you see a stranger approaching after you get a package, you can go into the app and yell at them if you want. Fortunately, video doorbells themselves (Anywhere from $50 to $200) can act as a deterrent if package thieves see them and know they are being recorded.
Oh, and if you’re worried about the Wi-Fi jammers I mentioned above, that’s not really a concern with modern security systems. today Cameras The systems can detect interference, send you alerts, and/or immediately switch to cellular signals. Additionally, jammers rarely work in time to block all the video, so you’ll usually only get some footage of the suspect. No Wi-Fi jammer can force a smart lock to unlock either.
It’s no surprise that we’re shipping more valuable packages these days but we also have more ways to protect them.
Use the drop box
What if porch pirates don’t see or care about security cameras like video doorbells? If you’re particularly concerned about package theft or know it’s happened in your area before, I recommend investing in something Like a delivery box instead. These packing boxes are permanent, permanent porch upgrades that typically cost around $200, depending on features.
I’ve tested These modern delivery boxesincluding smart versions that connect to apps for remote monitoring and control. Delivery workers are getting better at using them, and they’re designed so that porch pirates can’t access packages or carry the box away.
The biggest problem is that they’re too small for large packages, so they work best with smaller electronics — which, says CNET Smart home manI get a lot, and I use the delivery box to help protect them not only from theft but also from bad weather.
Arrange drop-offs in the garage
If you don’t like the ambiance of a drop box, there’s another option that could work for your home: Some delivery services offer garage delivery so your package stays protected and easy to pick up. The best example is Amazon Key Servicewho works with Smart garage doors Like those found in MyQ and Genie. This way, delivery personnel get quick, one-time access to your garage without any duplicate codes or keys.
Amazon Garage Delivery requires a Prime subscription, but there are other options such as Walmart Home Delivery It may not cost extra.
Don’t leave expensive packages at home
You don’t have to have packages delivered to your home at all if you’re worried about theft. Most delivery options will have the option to deliver to a nearby shipping store if you prefer, so you can pick it up after work or when convenient.
If you’re not sure this will work, contact local shipping stores like UPS and ask about their policy on delivering packages there. When needed, the post office will also be able to help, although there are dozens of shipping stores closer to me than the post office, so I personally prefer the store option.
For more information on keeping your home safe during these holidays, check out my site Top tips to stop hackersHe learns When thieves are more likely to strike And we see How to monitor outdoor cameras It can keep a watch on your property.
What to do if your package is stolen
Many doorbells and cameras, such as Nest, allow you to review and download video footage instantly.
Stopping package theft before it happens is a best practice, but what happens if you can’t stop a porch pirate in time? I suggest taking action with alternative steps like these:
- First, what you shouldn’t take: Don’t try to chase down a package thief, even if it just happened.
- If you have a video doorbell or security camera that captured the theft, review and download the footage, clearly labeling the video file with the action and date.
- Contact your local police department and see if there is an easy way to file a police report online, where you will be able to upload saved videos of the theft. Police often won’t deal with a single balcony theft, but if there is accumulating evidence of multiple thefts in an area, police may launch an investigation.
- Go to the merchant’s online store and look for an option to report the package as undelivered or stolen. Amazon, for example, has a status report option, or lets you report a theft in their support chat with the option to get further help.
- You can also contact the carrier (i.e. the company that made the delivery) and tell them that the package was stolen. Most shipping companies You have a claims center Where you can start a stolen delivery claim.
Will you receive a replacement order? Time will tell: Generally, the merchant and your carrier will want to wait some time — even a few weeks — before they officially count the package as lost and put alternative procedures (such as refunding your card) in place. Be patient and prepare accordingly if it is a gift.
methodology
CNET commissioned the poll from YouGov Plc. All results reported, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,569 adults. Fieldwork was conducted from October 14 to 16, 2025. The survey was conducted online. Figures have been weighted and represent all US adults (age 18+).