Porch Pirates: 6 Steps to Take if Your Package Is Stolen

This is according to a study commissioned by ValuePenguin. Although the number of deliveries increases during the holidays, package theft is pervasive throughout the year.

If you were unlucky enough to have a package stolen from your front door, here's what you need to do.

What to do if a package is stolen from your porch

If your mail was stolen, follow these steps to be reimbursed or receive a replacement.

Step 1: Track the package

If you suspect your package was stolen, check your confirmation email for a tracking number you can use to track the item's shipping status. Sometimes, all you need to do is click this number or button. Other times, you may need to copy the number and enter it on the retailer's or shipping company's website.

It's normal for shipments to face delays, especially during peak shipping seasons, such as the holidays. The shipping status will show you where your package was last registered or the date it was delivered.

If the item is listed as having been delivered, continue to step 2.

Step 2: Check if your neighbors saw it or held onto it for you

If the item was delivered, check with your neighbors. It's embarrassing to unleash your wrath on a customer support representative, only to discover that the kind lady next door grabbed the box to prevent it from being stolen or rained on. Even if they don't have the package, your neighbors might have seen it earlier in the day.

Step 3: Contact the seller or retailer

If your package has been stolen, contact the seller or store. Retailers have different policies and processes for handling stolen items, but you'll usually get a refund or replacement.

Amazon covers most stolen packages through its "A-to-z Guarantee". Sometimes, purchases that are "fulfilled by Amazon" are actually sourced from retail partners, known as Amazon sellers. (You should know if that's the case when you order an item.)

If your purchase is from an Amazon seller, Amazon requires that you first contact the seller and try to settle the issue with them. But if you've waited two or more business days for a response or the seller is uncooperative, you can file a claim with Amazon, and they'll likely issue a refund.

In many cases, retailers will quickly agree to send you a replacement item. But if they don't take responsibility and refuse to replace it, there are still a few steps you can take to be reimbursed.

Step 4: File a claim with the shipping company

Sometimes, stores try to shift responsibility to the shipping company or require you to file a complaint. You then have to wait a certain number of days to find out for sure if your package won't be delivered.

In this scenario, you might want to file a claim with the shipping company also. UPS, FedEx, USPS and DHL all provide an online claims process for reporting missing items. You can also contact them by phone.

Step 5: Use the purchase protection features on your credit card

Many credit cards will reimburse you for stolen items — as long as the item was bought entirely with that credit card and you notify them within a specific time frame. Visit your credit card provider's website to check for purchase protection coverage and file a claim.

Unfortunately, some credit cards exclude coverage for high-value items (typically anything worth over $500 or $1,000, depending on the company). And some may require you to file a police report before they'll offer a refund. Finally, credit card purchase protection is often defined as secondary coverage, which means it only kicks in after you've already used your primary coverage, such as homeowners or renters insurance. If this applies to you, see step 6.

Step 6: Claim high-value items with your homeowners insurance

Most homeowners or renters insurance covers stolen packages. Unfortunately, this is only helpful for items worth more than your deductible.

Deductibles run from $500 to $2,000, so filing a claim wouldn't make sense for most stolen packages. Even if the lost item costs more than the deductible, you'll need to weigh the possible increase in premiums — not to mention the hassle of filing the claim itself.

How to prevent package theft

Having a package stolen is frustrating, and the claims process can be even worse. If you want to minimize your risk of package theft, consider these options.

Schedule in-person delivery

The best way to prevent mail theft is to receive your packages in person. You can do this by requiring a signature for delivery or making sure your mail is delivered to an address where somebody is always home. If you're regularly away, see if a neighbor is willing to accept delivery for you. Or, if it's okay with your employer, designate your workplace as the shipping address.

Use a lockbox service

Another way to prevent stolen mail is to have packages delivered to a lockbox through a service such as Amazon Locker. Some grocery and convenience stores also offer this service. Alternatively, you can have your package delivered to your local UPS or USPS center and pick it up there. If you want to skip the drive to the post office, buy a combination-protected lockbox for your porch to protect your packages until you get home.

Insure your packages

If you're ordering a high-value item online, such as a new iPhone or tablet, pay a few extra dollars for insurance. You can usually do this through either the vendor or the delivery service.

Install a security camera

Cheap home security cameras are easy to install around the perimeter of your home. Most cameras sync with your Wi-Fi and a phone app, so you can check on packages throughout the day. Just the presence of cameras may be enough to ward off porch pirates. But even if it isn't, you'll at least have evidence for a police report.

Bonus: Installing security cameras may qualify you for a homeowners insurance discount.

What is the value of stolen packages, and what steps have consumers taken?

According to a study commissioned by ValuePenguin, package theft has affected more than 40% of Americans at some point. In the past 12 months, more than half of shoppers reported having more than one package stolen, for an average loss of $106 per household.

Applied to the US Census total of households, these averages suggest that porch piracy cost US consumers over $7.4 billion in the past year:

Despite the abundance of stolen packages, about three-quarters of Americans reported doing nothing to protect their deliveries from future thefts. This includes more than half of people over age 55. Nearly two in three thefts happened just outside the victims' homes, so consider taking multiple precautions to ward off brazen would-be thieves.