Chicago is the worst city for porch pirate thefts — package swiping from front porches — this year, according to a new report from home security research firm SafeWise.
The report ranked metro areas based on the estimated total value of packages lost. Chicago topped the list with roughly $254 million lost and 6.5 million incidents, followed by New York City, Miami, Houston and Baltimore.
The report said urban centers like Chicago and New York City remained targets of package theft because of their dense population, high delivery traffic and higher average package values, despite increased adoption of concierge services and delivery lockers.
The report is based on survey data from 7,500 people nationwide, in addition to crime statistics from the FBI and research from ZFLO Technologies, a loss-prevention and e-commerce research company.
Across those surveyed, about one-third said they have had a package stolen in the past year, and 75% of them have lost more than one package.
“It’s not just about losing the thing — it’s the feeling that someone walked up to your house and took something that was yours,” said Larry Fox, chief executive of ZFLO Technologies. “People say over and over, ‘I feel violated,’ or ‘I can’t believe someone would do that in broad daylight.’ It sticks with them. It’s not like a delayed delivery; it feels personal.”
This is the eighth year of the SafeWise report, and the company said it’s the first time it has observed a decline in package theft. An estimated 104 million packages were stolen this year, costing consumers $15 billion, a drop from 120 million packages stolen last year.
Porch pirates have also cost retailers an additional $22 billion in replacement, refund, customer service and shipping costs.
According to the report, porches less than 25 feet from the street are the most vulnerable to porch pirates. Packages visible from the road and those with identifiable brand names are also highly targeted.
Experts recommended scheduling deliveries for times when someone will be at home, directing packages to a side or back door, keeping porches well-lighted, and using a home security system with cameras to help protect packages.
“Package theft is a crime of opportunity. The longer packages sit on a porch — especially during the busy holiday season — the easier they are for thieves to grab,” criminologist Ben Stickle said in the report.
Several states, including Florida and Pennsylvania, have cracked down on package theft by elevating the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony.