What To Do If Amazon Package is Stolen (and Refund Tips)

Package theft has become one of the more infuriating side effects of online shopping. According to Security.org's 2025 Package Theft Report, over 37 million packages were stolen in the US last year and Amazon accounts for the lion's share of those thefts. If your package shows as delivered but isn't where it should be, the good news is you have options. Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee exists precisely for this situation.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do from confirming the theft to filing your claim, dealing with third-party sellers, and making sure it doesn't happen again.

Is Your Amazon Package Really Stolen?

Before you report anything, it’s important to spend 5 minutes ruling out the most common explanations. Jumping straight to a theft claim could complicate things unnecessarily.

1. Check the package tracking details first

First, check the tracking details to confirm that the package was indeed delivered. Sometimes packages are marked as delivered early but might arrive later.

2. Search your property thoroughly

Delivery drivers don't always leave packages at the front door. Check side entrances, around the garage, behind potted plants, or anywhere else partially out of sight. If you live in an apartment building, check with your front desk, mailroom, or with your building manager.

3. Ask your neighbors

Packages can get dropped at the wrong address at times, like your neighbor’s home. A quick knock on their doors can save you a lengthy claims process.

4. Check Amazon's Message Center

Occasionally, carriers leave delivery notifications there, especially if they attempted delivery but found no safe place to leave the item.
If none of the above turns anything up after 48 hours, it's time to move to the next step.

What to Do If Your Amazon Package IS Stolen

1. Report to Amazon

If the package is confirmed stolen, Amazon offers a process to report it. You can report theft through your Amazon account under "Your Orders" and follow the prompts to initiate a claim.

2. File a police report

You can also file a police report if your package is stolen. However, some areas may require you to provide the value of the stolen item when filing the report. Local laws regarding package theft can vary, so the process and requirements might differ depending on where you’re based.

How to Report a Stolen Amazon Package

Reporting a stolen package to Amazon requires following a few simple steps through your account. Here is the complete process of what to do if your amazon package is stolen:

1. Sign in and go to "Your Orders." Find the order for the missing package.
2. Select "Problem with order." This opens a menu of issue types.
3. Choose "Package didn't arrive."
4. Follow the prompts. Amazon will show you the latest tracking information and ask you to confirm the delivery address is correct.
5. Submit your claim.

Amazon typically responds within two business days. For most standard orders, refunds are processed quickly and if you’re lucky, during the same day.

Note: According to Amazon, you have up to 90 days from the delivery date to report a package as missing or stolen. Don't let that window close before you act.

How to Report an Amazon Stolen Package to Third-Party Seller

If your order was fulfilled by a third-party seller rather than Amazon directly, the process is slightly different.

1. Sign in and go to "Your Orders." Find the relevant order.
2. Select "Problem with order". Then choose "Where's my stuff?"
3. On the next screen, choose "Contact Seller". Send them a message explaining that the package was not received or stolen. Include your order number and delivery date.
4. Give the seller 48 hours to respond. Most legitimate sellers will offer a refund or replacement but may request evidence or additional details.
5. If the seller is unresponsive or refuses to help, escalate to Amazon through the A-to-z Guarantee. Go to "Your Orders," select the order, and choose "File/View Claim." Amazon will step in to review the dispute and can issue a refund directly if the seller fails to resolve it.

The A-to-z Guarantee covers purchases from third-party sellers as long as you've made a genuine attempt to contact the seller first and at least 48 hours have passed.

Why Filing a Police Report Matters

There are two reasons.
First, Amazon may require a police report as supporting documentation before approving a refund on high-value items.

Second, if you plan to file a claim through your homeowner's or renter's insurance, a police report is typically mandatory. It's official documentation that a crime occurred and that documentation can be the difference between a successful claim and a rejected one.

To file, visit your local police department's website. Many now offer online reporting for non-emergency theft under a certain value threshold, which is like a ten-minute process. You'll need your order details, approximate value of the stolen item, and the delivery address.

What If Amazon Denies Your Claim?

It happens. Amazon can decline a refund if the delivery address was confirmed as correct, if there's a pattern of theft claims on your account, or if the item's value triggers additional scrutiny. Here are some things you can do if your claim is rejected:

Re-contact Amazon customer service directly

Chat or call rather than using the automated claims flow. Explain the situation, reference the police report if you have one, and ask for a supervisor if needed. A human review often produces a different outcome than an automated denial.

File an A-to-z Guarantee claim

if the order was through a third-party seller and you haven't already done so.

Contact your credit card issuer

If you paid with a credit card, you may be able to file a chargeback for an item that wasn't received. Most card issuers have buyer protection policies that cover this. Initiate this within 60 to 120 days of the transaction, depending on your card's terms.

Check your homeowner's or renter's insurance

Policies vary, but some cover package theft as part of personal property protection. Your deductible may be higher than the item's value, so weigh that up before filing.

How to Report an Amazon Driver That Steals My Package?

This is a separate situation that requires a different response, and credible evidence like security footage. Here's what you can do:

1. Preserve the footage. Download the video clip, note the timestamp, the driver's appearance, and the vehicle.
2. Report to Amazon immediately. Use the "Problem with order" flow, but when you contact customer service, specify that you have video evidence suggesting the driver did not leave the package as marked. Amazon takes these reports seriously and escalates them internally.
3. Contact the carrier directly. If you know whether the package was delivered via a 3rd party carrier or Amazon Logistics, file a complaint with that carrier as well.
4. File a police report. Driver theft is a more serious crime than opportunistic porch piracy, and having documentation strengthens your case considerably.

Does Amazon Replace Stolen Packages?

Yes, in most cases. Amazon often offers a replacement for stolen packages under its A-to-z Guarantee. Customers are typically advised to wait 48 hours after a delivery is marked complete before reporting a missing item to Amazon, as delays can occur.

Note: For higher value orders (above $100), Amazon may require additional questions and documentation from you to justify a replacement.

Does Amazon Refund Stolen Packages?

Amazon may issue a refund for missing or stolen packages under its A-to-z Guarantee. Customers are also generally advised to wait 48 hours after a delivery is marked complete before reporting the issue, as delays can occur. Refund eligibility and resolution may vary depending on the severity of the case.

How to Prevent Amazon Package Theft

Prevention is where you take control. A few targeted changes will significantly reduce your exposure.

Use Amazon Hub Lockers or pickup points

If there's a locker location near your home or workplace, it's the most reliable option for anything valuable. The package sits in a secure unit, accessible only with a one-time code sent to you.

Request signature confirmation on high-value orders

This means the package won't be left unattended. It adds a small friction to the delivery process, but for anything over $100, it's worth it.

Enable Amazon delivery notifications

The Amazon app sends real-time alerts when a package is delivered, including a photo of where it was left. Knowing your package just arrived means you can retrieve it quickly.

Invest in a lockable parcel box

A weatherproof, secured box near your front door gives drivers a safe place to deposit packages, and thieves a much harder problem to solve.

Install a security camera

Visible security cameras at the front door deter opportunistic thieves and provide footage if something does go missing. For porch coverage specifically, you'll want a wide field of view and reliable night vision.

The Reolink Argus 4 Pro covers both. Its dual-lens design delivers a 180-degree field of view, and records in 4K with full-color night vision, so you get clear footage day or night even without porch lighting. It's wire-free, which means you can position it wherever makes most sense for your entrance rather than where a power outlet dictates.

If you want pan-and-tilt coverage to cover your driveway or walkway, the Argus PT Ultra records in 4K resolution, adds 355° pan and 140° tilt with motion tracking, so the camera follows movement automatically rather than relying on a fixed frame.

FAQs

What does Amazon do about stolen packages?

If your Amazon package is stolen, check common issues first and then contact Amazon Customer Service to file a missing package claim. The Amazon A-Z Guarantee covers stolen packages, and Amazon will investigate to resolve the issue. You can also contact the seller and file a police report if necessary.

Why does my package says delivered but not here?

When a package shows as delivered but isn’t there, it’s often due to a premature scan and may arrive within 24–48 hours. Other reasons could be that the package is being left in a hidden spot, delivered to a neighbor by mistake, picked up by someone in your household, or held at a building’s front desk or mailroom. Check those possibilities first, and if it still hasn’t appeared after 48 hours, report it through Amazon’s order help and contact the carrier directly with the tracking number.

How to find out who sent you an Amazon package?

Check the packing slip or gift receipt inside the box first, as these sometimes include the sender’s name or a message. If that doesn’t help, look in your Amazon account under “Your Orders” for any incoming gift orders, where the sender may be identified. If you still can’t tell, contact Amazon customer service with the tracking number. They can usually confirm whether it was a gift, though they won’t share full details due to privacy rules. If no one you know sent it and you didn’t order it, it could be a brushing scam; report it to Amazon, and you're not required to return or pay for the item.

Conclusion

Dealing with a stolen package is frustrating, but the process doesn't have to be complicated. Check the basics first, report through the right channel, and keep documentation. Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee genuinely does cover most situations. The key is acting within the 90-day window and escalating if your first claim doesn't go the way you expected. And if your front porch has seen more than one theft, that's probably a sign it's worth making the setup a harder target going forward.