Washington, D.C
DC ranks as fourth worst city for package theft with $231M in losses, reports find
WASHINGTON (7News) — Security company SafeWise has just released its annual theft report, just in time for the busy holiday shopping season.
While porch piracy may be leveling out, numbers are still very high and in the District, there’s reason to be concerned. D.C. ranks fourth worst city in the country for package theft, with over $231 million in losses this year. The released report reveals insights into crime rates, local security trends, and how communities combat porch pirates.
Around 120 million packages were stolen throughout the U.S. in 2023; 92 million incidents were of package theft and 261,000 package theft incidents per day.
Porch pirates snatched $16 Billion in goods.
Security.org also released its report this week, which shows similar numbers.
Based on a survey of 11,000 adults in 50 states, the report also noted that one-quarter of American adults have had a package stolen, and 4%, 14 million people, suffered a theft within the last three months.
Now, as you start making online holiday orders, here are the 10 worst cities for package theft in 2024.
1. New York City, N.Y.
2. Philadelphia, Pa.
3. Chicago, Ill.
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Houston, Texas
6. Atlanta, Ga.
7. Charlotte, N.C.
8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
9. Boston, Mass.
10. Cleveland, Ohio
The average value of each stolen parcel was $204, meaning nearly $3 billion in e-commerce merchandise was swiped over this past summer. The survey found that nine out of ten consumers shop online at least once per month, and half do so weekly. 42% of the population sometimes leaves their doors unlocked, while around 15% do so even when they are not home. Such negligence makes their homes easy targets for burglars and increases the chances of package theft.
“We estimate that there are about 213 package theft incidents per 100 households in the D.C. area. That could represent nearly 500 out of a thousand people actually being impacted by this. So we know that it’s happening, we are definitely shopping online. I don’t want to tell people to stop shopping online, I myself am an avid online shopper, just take some proactive measures,” said Rebecca Edwards, safety expert at SafeWise.
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One of the biggest changes these reports have found is that more people are taking action to prevent package theft. Consumers are getting smarter. Nationwide, just one in four people don’t do anything to deter porch pirates. Those numbers change drastically after someone loses a package — more than eight in 10 added a deterrent after falling victim. Security.org’s survey shows that 52% of all households — renters and homeowners — have a security camera, compared to 42% in 2023.
Proactive Steps To Avoid Porch Piracy:
- Don’t leave packages unattended.
- Ship to store, storefront, or post office box.
- Require a signature.
- Opt-in to shipping-related emails. Set up your own notifications with your smartphone or app
- Make alternative arrangements. If you can’t be home to bring in those packages, have them delivered somewhere else. You can use a package locker service, ask a friend or neighbor, use a personal delivery locker on your porch.
SafeWise took a closer look at how people are fighting package theft. One in four Americans don’t do anything to protect their packages. Over eight in ten added some type of protection after being hit by porch pirates.
Of those who use a deterrent, 21% had a security camera or video doorbell in place when their packages were stolen. 32% said they installed a security camera after a package theft.
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“I have a package locker that sits on my porch that I have personally but I’ve also lived in apartments or in cities where Amazon lockers and things like that are available. So, take the extra time. This one little step is going to save you so much headache, money, and stress especially if a special Christmas present gets taken, it messes up your whole holiday plan,” added Edwards.
Ring was the most-purchased brand of security camera (46%). Package tracking and working with neighbors are the most used deterrents after cameras. People prefer to pick up prescription drugs, food and groceries, and computers and other electronics in person, rather than risk a package theft.
Package theft by the numbers:
Around 120.5 million packages were stolen in 2023.
Nearly 92 million incidents of package theft occurred in 2023. The US sees 261,000 incidents of package theft every day. 43 of the 327 metro areas had more than 1,000 incidents per 1,000 households. 8 in 10 victims had more than one package stolen in the past 12 months.
Amazon delivered the majority of packages stolen.
LANDOVER, Md. – Bruno Mars is bringing The Romantic Tour to the Washington, D.C. region this spring!
The Grammy-winning star will stop at Northwest Stadium on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The stadium’s website lets fans sign up for presale access now. Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 15 at 12 p.m.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Bruno Mars – The Romantic Tour 2026 DatesApril – October 2026
Apr 10, 2026 – Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Apr 14, 2026 – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Apr 18, 2026 – Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Apr 22, 2026 – NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Apr 25, 2026 – Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, Atlanta, GA
Apr 29, 2026 – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
May 02, 2026 – Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
May 06, 2026 – Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
May 09, 2026 – Ford Field, Detroit, MI
May 13, 2026 – U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
May 16, 2026 – Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago, IL
May 20, 2026 – Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
May 23, 2026 – Rogers Stadium, Toronto, ON
May 24, 2026 – Rogers Stadium, Toronto, ON
Jun 20, 2026 – Stade de France, Paris, FR
Jun 21, 2026 – Stade de France, Paris, FR
Jun 26, 2026 – Olympiastadion, Berlin, DE
Jul 04, 2026 – Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, NL
Jul 05, 2026 – Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, NL
Jul 10, 2026 – Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, ES
Jul 14, 2026 – Stadio San Siro, Milan, IT
Jul 18, 2026 – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE, London, UK
Jul 19, 2026 – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE, London, UK
Aug 21, 2026 – Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Aug 22, 2026 – Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Aug 29, 2026 – Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 01, 2026 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Sep 05, 2026 – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Sep 09, 2026 – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Sep 12, 2026 – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Sep 16, 2026 – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Sep 19, 2026 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
Sep 23, 2026 – Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Sep 26, 2026 – Falcon Stadium, United States Air Force Academy, CO
Oct 02, 2026 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Oct 03, 2026 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Oct 10, 2026 – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Oct 14, 2026 – BC Place, Vancouver, BC
More information on the tour can be found online.
D.C.’s mayor and interim police chief took questions on immigration enforcement after an ICE agent shot and killed an unarmed woman in Minneapolis.
“If we don’t want ICE in our communities, we have to stop funding ICE – and that decision isn’t made here; it’s made at the Congress,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
The mayor was asked about her reaction to the killing.
“To me, it just is reflected, when you have people who are unaccustomed to urban policing trying to police in an urban environment. What it looked to me like – very bad, and I’m not a police officer, I’m not in law enforcement – but what I saw was completely avoidable, and a woman died,” she said.
“ICE is patrolling American cities. If we don’t want that, the Congress has to stop funding ICE, because thousands of agents who are untrained to police in urban environments are on our streets,” Bowser added.
In two recent incidents in D.C., federal agents opened fire on drivers who the agents claimed were trying to hit them with their vehicles. In those cases, no one was injured.
Interim Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll was asked about public concerns that might happen here again.
“A lot of these individuals, they don’t work in urban policing. So, us working with federal authorities in the policing operations, being out there, actually helps us make sure that we can work in those areas to help control what’s going on,” he said.
“Obviously, I can’t assure you of anything. Obviously, I can assure you every situation is different, right, that officers encounter out there,” he added. “But I think having the relationship and having the federal authorities working with the officers does help to mitigate some of the challenges that we have with that.”
Nadeau’s report on DC cooperation with immigration enforcement
Departing D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau released a scathing report Thursday that’s critical of how MPD and the Bowser administration have cooperated with federal immigration enforcement.
“The primary finding is the loss of trust between the public and MPD,” she told News4. “The challenge that we’re finding is that the mayor and the chief’s interpretation of the Sanctuary Values Act has opened up a vulnerability whereby they are essentially cooperating with ICE in a manner that does not match with the intent of the law.”
Bowser declined to comment on the report.
Carroll said he has not decided whether to make any changes to MPD policies on cooperating with immigration enforcement.
Last month, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who oversees public safety, sent a letter to the then-chief requesting detailed answers to several questions related to MPD’s cooperation with federal law enforcement. Carroll said Thursday that he will provide a response, which is due to the council by Friday.
In this 4 More Context, News4’s Ted Oberg explains how many people in the D.C. area have been arrested by ICE and why.
Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.
WASHINGTON – A dry and mild Thursday is ahead for the Washington, D.C., region, with highs in the mid‑50s before a rainy start to the weekend.
What we know:
The morning begins on the chilly side with some patchy fog. FOX 5’s Taylor Grenda says conditions stay dry as temperatures climb into the afternoon, with clouds building by evening.
Rain showers may develop late Friday afternoon into the evening, with highs in the upper 50s.
What’s next:
Steadier rain moves in Saturday morning. Temperatures rise into the 60s, but on‑and‑off rain is expected through the afternoon and evening.
Sunday turns much drier, though highs fall back into the 50s. By Monday, colder air returns with highs in the 40s.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
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