Do Police Investigate Stolen Packages

The surge in online shopping and having items delivered to the doorstep by your local delivery service has brought with it the introduction of many package thieves. Porch pirates are stealing an ever-increasing number of parcels supposed to be delivered from doorsteps before residents can retrieve them.

If you’ve been the victim of package theft, you may wonder what actions you can take. Is it worthwhile to contact the local police department, and file a police report for a stolen package? Will the police investigate common package thefts in your neighborhood? 

There are steps to take if a package delivered to your house gets stolen, including contacting the delivery companies to allow you to file a missing package claim. But does law enforcement care your Amazon or FedEx delivery has gone missing? Police are more likely to be concerned with crimes where people are harmed or in danger, even though they are swamped with calls of stolen packages. Many contact the police, yet they have limited resources, and stolen parcels are considered a low priority.

In our guide, you can learn more about the role they play if you call the police and what they are likely to do regarding typical package thefts. By the end, you’ll better understand who is responsible for stolen packages, and what you can do in cases of package theft. Either way, unless you have a doorbell or outdoor security camera, the police or you might not be able to do much for anything missing that was left out on your porch. (Read Can You Plug An Extension Cord Into A Power Strip)

What To Do If Your Package Gets Stolen

If you’ve ever waited for a package to be delivered, and found it stolen from your porch or mailbox, you know how frustrating it can be. Here’s a look at whether police investigate stolen packages and steps you can take. The first thing to do if you believe your package has been stolen is to confirm the theft. Check with any household members to make sure they didn’t retrieve the package.

Review your shipping notifications to confirm the delivery day and time. Check around the delivery location as the package may be hidden, or picked up by a neighbor. You may also have video from a security camera or video doorbell if you have those devices installed.

Once you’ve confirmed the package theft, contact the shipping carrier, such as Amazon, FedEx, or UPS. Report that your package shows delivered but you never received it. This trace through the shipping company often needs to be done before the police will get involved. Depending on the carrier, you may also be instructed to file a formal stolen package or missing package claim. This provides an official record with the company and may allow you to receive a refund or replacement depending on the circumstances.

Filing a Police Report For Package As Stolen

After reporting the issue to the shipping company, you can file a police report for the stolen package theft. The police likely won’t be able to recover your stolen package. However, having an official police report can help with insurance claims, getting refunds or replacements, and can aid police in catching serial package thieves.

Contact your local police department’s non-emergency number, and you may be able to file a report and provide information such as:

• The day and time when the package was sent and showed as delivered
• Carrier tracking number 
• Sender and recipient contact details
• Package contents and estimated value
• Any video footage or images of the theft 

Will Police Investigate Stolen Packages?

For low-level package thefts, police will often just take a report without doing an extensive ongoing investigation. With an increase in stolen packages, and the number of packages reaching over 1.7 million packages reported stolen in 2020. Police departments may not be likely to investigate each individual case.

However, police may be more likely to look into Package theft if:

• It’s a repeated problem in an area from a possible porch pirate
• The value of the package makes it worth investigating 
• You have good video evidence they can follow up on
• There’s a suspect they can identify and possibly charge

Police would try and determine if the package was delivered to the wrong address before claiming you are a victim to package theft. (Read Is Calling The Police On Someone Harassment)

Ways to Prevent Package Theft

Since thorough police investigation of stolen packages isn’t guaranteed, it’s best to take preventative action to avoid becoming a victim of package theft. Here are some tips:

• Install a video doorbell or security camera – Having footage of the thief in action greatly improves the chances the case will be investigated and solved.
• Use package lockers – Carriers like Amazon put your package inside a secure package locker, or inside a safe place instead of your porch. 
• Request signature confirmations – This requires someone to be home on the day the items delivered to their homes are expected for delivery.
• Customize delivery instructions – Give specific drop-off instructions like around the back or side door to obscure packages.
• Track deliveries – Monitoring tracking closely allows you to try and grab a package right after delivery. 
• Pick up in person – Having packages shipped to a carrier location for in-person pickup removes porch theft risks.
• Get a PO Box – A post office box means mail and small packages are secure at the post office.

Filing Claims for Lost or Stolen Amazon Packages

If you’ve had a package stolen and reported it to the police, you may also need to file a claim with the shipping carrier or retailer. 

The first step is contacting the company you directly ordered from, such as Amazon or another retailer. Report that your order never arrived and ask about filing a claim. Many major retailers have simple online forms to start a lost package claim.

If the retailer tells you to contact the shipping carrier, reach out to UPS, FedEx, USPS, or whoever handles fulfillment and delivery. Look at the tracking details to verify the carrier. Each company has a claims process for lost or stolen packages:

• UPS: File a claim online or call. Claims must be made within 9 months of delivery. However, you can’t report the package as stolen and file a claim until 24 hours have passed since the delivery time has passed.
• FedEx: If FedEx delivered your package, file a claim within 15 days of getting a package delivered.
• USPS: File an online claim. Claims must be made within 60 days of mailing. 

You’ll also need the tracking number, date of delivery, recipient and sender details, and package contents and value if the package is stolen.

The process can vary for different carriers, retailers, and circumstances. Some may provide an immediate refund while others require further review. If the package was insured there may be more claim options as well.

Note: If you have a stolen Amazon parcel, Amazon take a different approach. Once the package is delivered, the responsibility falls on the buyer.

To ensure you don’t have a missing parcel, ensure that the package is delivered to a person who can receive the package. Alternatively, you have the things you need for security, and not just to your front porch for delivery. (Read Suspicious Car Parked In Front Of My House)

What If a Replacement Package Gets Stolen Too?

It’s always frustrating having one package stolen by porch pirates. But if you report the theft and receive a replacement package, only to have that one stolen as well, it can be doubly maddening.

Consider safer alternatives like:

• Having packages delivered to a trusted neighbor when you’re not home
• Using secure package locker pickup options
• Picking up packages directly from the carrier location 

Conclusion: How To Stop A Porch Pirate

Package theft from home porches is a growing nuisance causing headaches for many. Paw enforcement typically won’t devote extensive resources to investigating one-off low-value stolen package cases.

However filing a police report creates an official record, helps show the validity for claims, and provides data to track problem areas and suspects. Video evidence of the theft also greatly bolsters the chances of police following up. While major criminal charges are unlikely, reporting package thefts and implementing preventative measures can help cut down on porch piracy.

FAQs About When Package Is Stolen

Can you be charged for reporting a stolen package?

You cannot be charged for filing a police report about package theft in good faith. Retailers may be wary of fraud, but legitimate victims will not face charges if evidence such as video confirms the theft.

Do police investigate if an Amazon package is stolen?

Police may investigate if an Amazon package shows as delivered but you never received it. File a report providing delivery details, tracking number, and value. Video footage also helps. But police may not dedicate resources unless the contents are valuable.

Will USPS investigate stolen packages?

USPS postal inspection service may investigate mail theft depending on the amount and type stolen. File a report with details about what was taken. Camera footage will aid investigators. (Read Restraining Order On Neighbor)

What happens if the police catch someone who stole your package?

If police identify and arrest someone, and find the package, they can be charged with larceny or theft. Video evidence aids police in prosecuting package thieves.