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.