How to File a Police Report for Stolen Package: Step-by-Step Guide

It can be very frustrating to have your package stolen. It’s probably been on its way for days or weeks; you’ve been tracking that package, and someone snatched it from your doorstep. Although the police may not spend much time looking into small thefts, filing police report for stolen package is worth it if you want to get paid back or stop future thefts. In this guide, we’ll look at how to report package theft to the police step by step.

Will the Police Do Anything about a Stolen Package?

In most cases, the police will make an incident report about your stolen package but may not pursue it further. Due to limited resources, police typically focus on violent crimes and general theft on a large scale.

Although it isn’t necessary, having an official report is important for insurance claims, tracking crime in your area, recovering stolen items, and prosecuting prolific thieves. They also can give advice on securing the home to help prevent future package thefts.

How to File Police Report for Stolen Package?

If you want to file a police report, you need to make sure you have evidence you can use, contact the police department, give as much detail as you can, and remember to follow up on the case. Here is an overview of how to file a police report for stolen package:

1. Confirm Your Package is Missing

Be 100% certain your package was delivered and then stolen before contacting authorities about the stolen package police report. Check with the sender that the tracking actually shows delivery. Check all possible places where a package could be, e.g., front porch, side of the door, back of the door, mailbox area, leasing office if in a building, and with any neighbor.

Make sure you double-check the package before reporting it as missing. If the item was simply delivered to the wrong address, a report cannot be retracted by police.

2. Gather Evidence

Provide police with maximum proof that your package was stolen to increase the chances of recovery or prosecution. Useful evidence includes security camera footage showing the package delivery, theft, and perpetrator.
The more evidence you can provide upfront, the better to file police report for stolen package. Police can use detailed descriptions and video footage to identify suspects and track stolen goods.

3. Contact Local Police

There are several options for contacting police to report package theft. You can call the non-emergency police number for your city or county sheriff's department to explain the situation and schedule an in-person or virtual meeting.

When you make contact, explain that you would like to formally report a stolen package delivery as larceny or petty theft. Police should provide instructions on the reporting process and any forms or evidence required.

4. File the Report

Provide a detailed, accurate account of your stolen package when meeting with the police. The report should include:

• Date, time, and location of theft
• Descriptions of all missing items
• Delivery confirmation information
• Serial numbers or product IDs to identify stolen goods
• Witness accounts or security camera footage, if applicable
• Suspect descriptions, such as clothing, height, gender, ethnicity

Before finalizing your statement, carefully review all details for accuracy and ask the officer for their contact information for any follow-up needs.

5. Cooperate with Investigation

Police may conduct additional inquiries depending on available leads from security footage, suspicious activity reports, or prolific thieves in the area.

If contacted by investigators, promptly provide any clarification or additional evidence requested. Identifying perpetrators and crime patterns helps prevent future neighborhood theft.
You likely cannot compel detectives to devote major resources toward a single stolen package. However, cooperation improves the effectiveness of any investigations law enforcement deems actionable.

6. Follow Up

Contact the original officer one or two weeks after filing your report to check if any progress has been made in tracking stolen items or identifying suspects. No news is typically expected. However, follow-ups demonstrate continued interest in resolving your case.

Provide the report number and reference details to confirm the status. Ask if additional evidence submissions could be beneficial. Police may have guidance on improving home security as well.

7. Notify Insurance Company

If you have renters or homeowners insurance, report the theft to your provider per policy instructions. The police report will help verify your claim to receive reimbursement for the value of the stolen items.

Carefully document all communication with the insurance company. Follow their guidance when submitting evidence to recoup losses from your premium coverage.

Filing a Police Report for Stolen Package Online?

Some police departments allow online reporting for minor crimes through public portals on their websites. Search for your city, county, or state police department online to check for an e-reporting option. Reports are typically limited to minor infractions only, excluding felonies or crimes with identified suspects.

If e-reporting exists, follow the site instructions closely to report stolen package to police. You will likely need to create an account to submit documentation. The online form features will be similar to an in-person police report.

However, virtual reporting limits immediate dialogue with officers compared to phone conversations or station visits. You lose the opportunity for direct guidance on your case specifics or home security recommendations.

Should I Report Stolen Packages to Police?

Yes, reporting package theft establishes an official record that can provide multiple benefits, including insurance reimbursement documentation and possible return of stolen goods.

Without documentation, you have minimal recourse to recover losses or ensure accountability. Filing a report also communicates to police higher instances of missing deliveries. More reported package thefts may prompt expanded local investigations.

What Happens When You File a Police Report for Missing Package?

After filing a stolen package report, here's a typical process:

1. Police will create an official incident report with the details you provided, delivery records, footage, etc.
2. An officer may contact you with follow-up questions or security suggestions.
3. The documentation gets used to identify larger theft patterns if multiple neighborhood reports align.
4. With enough evidence, police may actively track suspects and attempt to recover stolen goods.
5. For minor one-off cases, the report usually just remains on file with no investigation unless future leads develop.

How to Not to Report Package Theft?

Preventing package theft entirely is ideal. Some effective security measures include:

Install Video Doorbells

Video doorbells with motion sensors can deter thieves and provide video evidence if packages get stolen. You can consider additional backyard/side door cameras as well.

Explore Reolink's Holiday Sales for deals on video doorbells with package detection, front door security cameras, and more!

Leave Delivery Instructions

Leave explicit instructions for couriers to deliver packages somewhere discreetly out of sight. It may require installing lockboxes or bringing packages to side/backyard areas.

Require Signatures

When ordering packages, request signature confirmation upon delivery. It mandates couriers to receive proof of receipt from a household member rather than simply leaving packages unattended.

Use Lockboxes

Invest in locked parcel boxes near your home's entrance to conceal and protect deliveries. You should also provide the box access code to delivery companies.

Customize Delivery Dates/Times

Choose delivery days/times when you reliably expect to be home to receive packages personally rather than having items sit unattended for long periods.

FAQs

Is it worth reporting stolen packages?

Yes. Creating a police report establishes necessary insurance claim documentation, contributes to area theft patterns, and opens investigation options if repeat issues arise. The minor time investment provides future value.

What can I do if someone steals my package?

First, formally report the theft to the police. Provide detailed delivery confirmation records, security footage if available, and product/content descriptions. Also, inform your insurance provider and shipping carrier about the issue. Invest in video doorbells, parcel lock boxes, backyard deliveries, signature confirmations, and delivery customization to minimize future theft.

Who is liable if my package is stolen?

The thief who steals your package is technically liable. However, realistically, consumers must take responsibility for package security once it is marked as successfully delivered. Insurance providers may cover a portion of losses. Retailers rarely accept liability for porch theft once tracking shows packages arrived intact.

Conclusion

It’s a horrible thing to have your package stolen because it can ruin your whole day. Filing a police report helps to contribute to community safety, but it also provides important legal and insurance protections should you proceed with filing charges against your stalker. You might also want to get to know your neighbors, as peer witnesses can help to identify suspects and crime patterns.

Hopefully, this guide has given you enough information to document package theft responsibly, as well as how to proactively protect yourself from future theft incidents. Keep an eye out, and don’t let porch pirates ruin your online shopping.