As the holiday season takes root, online shopping volumes are increasing ”“ and, it appears, the level of theft of packages left on doorsteps and in mailboxes.
According to a new survey of 1,500 adults conducted by ValuePenguin, a division of LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE), 35% of Americans said they”™ve had a package or delivery stolen from their doorstep or mailbox, with 59% reporting the theft occurred in the past year. The majority of the thefts occurred at single-family homes (62%) compared to apartment buildings (23%).
As for the stolen items, the average estimated value of the goods that were taken in the past year is $114. And it doesn”™t seem that security cameras are making a dent in this crime ”“ 60% of respondents who”™ve reported a stolen package or delivery have at least one security camera. However, only 17% of package or delivery theft victims in the past year reported the crime to the police, with most seeking resolution either through the seller (62%) or the shipping company (30%).
“With shipping companies, claims get more complicated,” said ValuePenguin home insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar. “You may not be covered for package theft if you didn”™t buy package insurance from the shipping company. Even with package insurance, you aren”™t guaranteed protection against porch pirates. Many of these policies won”™t cover package theft after the package is delivered.”
Photo: AVID Vines / Flickr Creative Commons
