Porch Piracy No More: Best Practices for Online Retailers

Ah, Porch Pirates. You may have probably heard of them, or this may be your first encounter with the term. Regardless, they represent an increasingly significant problem that can harm your online business if you are not aware of their tactics.

If you still do not know, try searching for this term on YouTube. There are countless videos that capture these thrives in the act, and during peak shopping seasons, porch pirates are known to strike more frequently than ever.

If you are an online retailer, this article serves as a must-read for you about porch piracy: What are porch pirates? How do they operate? What are the statistics highlighting the severity of the issue? And if so, we can’t just sit back and wait for things to happen, right?

What Are Porch Pirates?

Porch pirates are thieves who steal packages delivered to front doorsteps or porches.

Interestingly, the research report by Shippy Pro in 2024 suggests that porch pirates (or package theft) problem is growing globally.

The Shippy Pro report started with an alarming tone: “If no actions are taken, porch pirates can become an increasingly problematic issue for global deliveries.” They have also listed a few statistics related to the porch piracy issue.

Overall, 33% of people have faced package theft or loss at some point in their lives, amounting to an astonishing 23.5 billion undelivered packages. By country, the UK recorded the highest increase, with a 5% rise in package theft in the past 12 months, followed closely by Australia at 3% and Canada at 2%.

The report also pinpoints an increasing concern about package theft and a loss of potential sales if online retailers are not actively dealing with this issue.

Understanding Porch Piracy

Before learning how to prevent them, it is important to learn about a few basic discussions that should be brought up.

Why Would Anyone Do This?

To explain their motivations, there can be a few. Porch piracy is simply theft in nature and hence can be coined as crimes of opportunity. They take advantage of easy targets (especially those that leave deliveries unattended), and there may be a chance that the package contains valuable merchandise as well.

Eventually, these items can be resold for profit, some of the examples can be electronics, clothing, and household goods.

As online retail becomes a big thing, the sheer volume of packages being delivered means that porch piracy is on the rise. It also explains why reports like ShippyPro are voicing out this issue, as consumers are increasingly frustrated about this issue as well.

Porch piracy is also an increasingly severe issue during holiday seasons, such as during BFCM or Christmas holidays - So that’s another important thing to take note of.

How Do They Operate?

Porch piracy can happen at any point in an order delivery process. Some cases can be unplanned, but most of them are not.

In the case of planned porch piracy, thieves will monitor delivery schedules and then take advantage of them. They may scout neighborhoods and identify prime targets and packages for theft. This includes observing fences, surveillance cameras, and potential witnesses, all of which can influence their likelihood of success.

The timing of the theft also matters. Some thieves opt for an abrupt approach, such as quickly grabbing the package and fleeing the scene. while others may look for stealthier measures, such as using disguises, finding blind spots, or waiting for the right moment when they believe that the area is clear.

What Are Its Impacts?

The consequence of package theft, from an owner’s standpoint, extends beyond the immediate loss of goods.

The most direct impact is customer frustration. As many people are shopping online for goods and products, the theft of their package may lead to feelings of frustration and anxiety. It is also difficult to know who is responsible for the loss, whether it’s the retailer, delivery service, or the customer.

If porch piracy becomes a day-to-day issue, some consumers may even refrain from shopping online entirely.

Business owners, particularly online retailers, also bear the brunt of porch piracy, as they may face increased shipping costs due to product replacements or need to invest in additional security measures. Eventually, this additional cost can be passed on to consumers, mainly in the form of higher product prices.

Beyond direct financial implications, porch piracy is known to negatively impact customer trust and satisfaction, which also reduces loyalty and repeated purchases.

Handling Porch Piracy Cases

Oh no, a porch piracy case has struck your online business. What can I do now?

When faced with porch piracy, it is important to adopt a thoughtful and structured approach. We recommend clear documentation of the incident, for example, by asking customers for specific details related to the theft, including the order number, delivery date, and tracking information of the package. It will help you better assess the situation.

If available, you can check if the customer has any security camera footage, which can be quite helpful as evidence of the theft.

Depending on your policy, you can consider providing a replacement or refund, but be clear on how you reach your decision. Remember to express empathy and make sure that the customer feels supported throughout the process.

For Porch Piracy, Prevention Is Key

The key, as suggested by online retailers, is to be proactive in handling the problem. Having the clear intention to minimize porch privacy cases is important, as it reinstills confidence for your customers to continue buying from you.

Here are a few solutions for you as a business owner to prevent porch piracy cases:

Encourage Delivery Instructions

An effective strategy is to allow and encourage your customers to specify delivery instructions at checkout. It can be achieved by having preferred drop-off locations or delivery time preferences so that they are more aware of the order delivery.

Require A Signature Upon Delivery

As an extended measure, you can require a signature from the recipient upon delivery of highly valuable items. This increases accountability by not leaving packages unattended and knowing the responsible party of delivery. It also lowers the risk of loss, providing peace of mind for both the online retailer and consumer.

Collaborate with Secure Delivery Services

Some delivery services are more secure than others. To avoid porch piracy, you can collaborate with carriers that offer more secure delivery options, which include those that provide secure storage units, package lockers, and designated pick-up drop-off (PUDO) points. Such methods can be considered fairly effective in combating porch piracy.

Do you know? Order tracking solutions, such as TrackingMore, can be particularly useful to deal with such scenarios. The real-time nature of such solutions and delivery alerts can swiftly reduce the window of opportunity for these porch pirates.

Your Trusted Order Tracking Solution

In the fight against porch piracy, having a comprehensive order tracking solution is top-of-mind for online retailers as it instills transparency and peace of mind in the customer.

TrackingMore , therefore, emerges as an excellent solution for you. With 1,300+ carrier partners in place and an advanced tracking API, you can ensure that the tracking data are as real-time as possible. Online retailers can notify customers promptly when packages are out for delivery and provide updates along the way.

In addition, our advanced tracking API also allows businesses to send proactive notifications via SMS and email. Whether your orders are "Out for Delivery" or "Delivered," you will be the first ones to notify.

Offering a reliable tracking solution like TrackingMore also helps you build trust and loyalty. As they feel informed and secure about their order deliveries, they are more likely to shop with you, knowing that you prioritize the safety of their packages.

In addition to these core features, TrackingMore also offers a wide range of tools designed to enhance your delivery experience.

Porch Piracy Should Be Stopped at All Costs

In this article, the porch piracy problem is critically discussed. Eventually, a message is clear: It is important to keep these porch pirates from your package.

However, we know that it is not possible to put these sneaky thieves out of action. Therefore, crafting the best defense will be key. One of the most effective solutions, as we discussed, is to take advantage of order tracking. Limiting the time between delivery and retrieval is a simple and effective way to avoid porch piracy.

Nevertheless, we want to introduce TrackingMore as your go-to solution.

With real-time tracking and proactive shipment notification in place, your packages are in great hands. Your packages are tracked in real-time, and any forms of delivery exceptions, delays, or unexpected events will be promptly communicated.

If you are interested, do not hesitate to reach out to our TrackingMore team. We are here to help you navigate your online retail journey.