Black Friday warning after 'porch pirate' theft reports rocket 87%

Black Friday warning after 'porch pirate' theft reports rocket 87% Reports of thieves stealing parcels left on people's doorsteps have surged, with the run-up to Christmas proving rich pickings for crooks Police have seen an 87% surge in reports of parcel thefts in the past year, research has revealed. Nearly one in five households are estimated to have had deliveries pinched by what have been dubbed “porch pirates”. Among those who had a parcel stolen, just 28% said they reported it to police and only 1.6% of reported thefts resulted in a charge, equivalent to approximately one in 62 cases. The data obtained under freedom of information laws also reveals that fewer than one in 20 led to an arrest. The findings come ahead of Black Friday at the end of November, and then the run-up to Christmas, when online orders and home deliveries surge. December remains the peak month for parcel theft, with the data showing 1,830 cases recorded by police forces in that month last year. The research, commissioned by mail technology firm Quadient, whose products include parcel lockers, also revealed what items people are losing to porch pirates for the first time. Among those who had experienced parcel theft, clothing, shoes and accessories topped the list (27%), followed by beauty products or cosmetics (20%) and electronics or gadgets (18%). With Christmas approaching, more than one in five (21%) said they had had a gift stolen. Regional data shows that West Yorkshire had the highest number of reported parcel thefts, at 1,746, followed by Northamptonshire (1,523) and Essex (1,355). Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, from Quadient, said: “People should be able to shop online without worrying whether their purchases will still be there when they get home. “Reports of porch piracy have reached the highest level in our annual study, but with so few recorded thefts resulting in a charge, prevention matters more than ever. “With Black Friday and Christmas approaching, parcels left outside for hours create an easy opportunity for thieves and an avoidable risk for customers. Retailers and delivery companies can give people more control by making secure collection options easy to choose at checkout. “A successful delivery should mean the parcel reaches the customer safely, not simply that it reaches their doorstep.”