What to Do if Your Package Was Stolen?

Package theft is a growing problem and can be frustrating if you're a victim. In this article, we'll discuss the top five effective ways about what to do if your package was stolen, so you can increase your chances of recovering your stolen items and prevent it from happening in the future.

Suspected Package Theft? Quick Action

To confirm whether your package has been stolen, you should follow the quick action guide that start with verifying delivery and end with reporting the theft if necessary.

Verify delivery status: Check the tracking information on the carrier’s official website to ensure the package was actually delivered.

Inspect your property: Look around your porch, side doors, and hidden spots where the package could have been placed.

Ask neighbors: See if anyone received the package by mistake or noticed unusual activity.

Check for delivery notices: Look for slips or notes left by the driver.

Contact the carrier: Request details such as GPS location or delivery photos.

What to Do If Package is Stolen?

1. Contact the Sender

If your parcel gets stolen or lost from your porch, patio, deck, etc. at your apartment building, you should contact the seller at once, such as Amazon, eBay, BestBuy, Walmart, Newegg, etc.

The staff would kindly help you track down your missing package. Many people got their missing parcels back with the help of the staff.

When your package got stolen from your porch, you may ask: If a package is stolen, will UPS, USPS or Fed Ex cover it? Who is responsible for the package stolen from my porch?

If your package got stolen due to their mistakes, they will resend your ordered stuff or give you a full refund to reimburse your loss. Thus you can get your package back, or reduce your loss.

2. Contact the Courier Company

When your package was stolen, remember to contact the courier. You need to provide your tracking number and other related details that can track down the route of your package.

Some shipping companies often offer insurance on packages. If the USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and other express companies cannot help you track down your missing parcel, at least they can help you start an insurance claim for your package. Thus you can reduce your loss as much as possible.

If the shipping company refuses to help you address the issue, you can file a claim report on their official website.

3. Contact Your Credit Card Company

If other methods fail, reach out to your credit card company to check for purchase protections. Your card provider may offer a refund even if the seller or delivery service is unable to resolve the issue.

4. File a Police Report or Claim

When your package was stolen, calling cops is the most common and direct way you usually try when you are in trouble.

However, when your package is lost from your porch or doorstep, don't forget to file a complaint to the Postal Inspection Service. Sometimes this organization is more professional than cops since tracking lost or missing packages is the organization's professional field.

With the joint efforts of police and the professional staff of Postal Inspection Service, the rate of recovering your lost, missing or stolen package increases greatly.

Keep it in mind that if you don't file a report, there will be more victims of parcel theft. Those package thieves would still remain unpunished. Your small action will increase the rate of those awful package thieves being caught.

How to Prevent Future Package Stolen?

Here are 8 tips about avoiding package theft:

1. Use Secure Delivery Locations

One of the simplest ways to prevent package theft is to have deliveries sent to secure locations instead of leaving them on your porch. Services like Amazon Lockers or UPS Access Points store packages safely until you can pick them up. Alternatively, you can have packages delivered to your workplace or a trusted neighbor, ensuring someone reliable receives them rather than leaving them unattended at home.

2. Require Signature or Restricted Delivery

For high-value items, requesting signature confirmation is an effective way to ensure the package isn’t left unattended. Carriers can also hold packages at their facilities for pickup if you won’t be home. These options prevent packages from sitting on a porch where thieves can easily take them.

3. Provide Clear Delivery Instructions

You can reduce the risk of theft by giving carriers specific instructions on where to leave your package. Hidden spots like side doors, behind planters, or inside a garage can make it harder for thieves to spot. Some delivery apps even allow you to upload photos showing exactly where the package should be placed, which ensures consistent and safe placement.

4. Install Security Measures

Visible security measures can deter thieves from targeting your home. Doorbell cameras and home security cameras record any suspicious activity, providing evidence in case of theft. Motion-activated lights can also discourage thieves by illuminating areas they might otherwise approach under cover of darkness.

5. Use Package Lockboxes

Package lockboxes are secure containers that carriers can place your deliveries into. Only you have the key or access code, keeping the package safe until you retrieve it. Some smart lockboxes even send notifications when a delivery is made, giving you real-time awareness and added security.

6. Opt for Insured Shipping

Insured shipping is a good safety net for expensive items. If a package is lost or stolen, insurance ensures you can get a replacement or refund. Some carriers also offer “signature-required insurance,” which adds extra protection by ensuring a responsible party receives the delivery.

7. Track Deliveries in Real Time

Tracking your packages allows you to know exactly when a delivery is out for drop-off. Real-time notifications let you plan to be home during delivery or ask someone to receive the package, reducing the window of opportunity for theft.

8. Consider Smart Delivery Services

Services like Amazon Key allow authorized delivery personnel to leave packages inside your home, garage, or a secure locker. By keeping packages completely out of sight, these services eliminate the risk of porch piracy and provide additional peace of mind.

Bonus: 3 Best Security Cameras to Prevent Package Theft

Best video doorbell without subscription - Reolink Video Doorbell Battery

The Reolink Video Doorbell Battery is an ideal choice for preventing package theft. Equipped with a 4MP (2K) resolution and AI-powered detection, it can identify people, vehicles, and packages, sending instant alerts to your phone whenever suspicious activity occurs. Its wide 150° head-to-toe view ensures your porch and delivery area are fully monitored, while local storage via microSD cards allows you to review footage without a subscription.

Best dual-lens PTZ security camera - Reolink TrackMix PoE

The Reolink TrackMix PoE features dual lenses—wide-angle for full coverage and telephoto for detailed zoom—recording in 4K 8MP for clear footage. Its auto-tracking follows people, vehicles, or animals near your porch, while the built-in spotlight and siren act as a strong deterrent against package theft.

Best AI-powered security camera system - RLK16-1200D8-A

The RLK16-1200D8-A system features a 12MP camera and 16-channel PoE NVR, using a single cable for both power and data. With smart detection for people, vehicles, and pets, it focuses on key areas like porches and drop zones, sending alerts only for potential package theft and reducing false alarms from irrelevant motion.

FAQs

1. Do police investigate stolen packages?

Police can take reports of stolen packages and create an official theft record, which is useful for insurance claims, seller disputes, or credit card chargebacks. While they may not actively investigate single incidents, providing evidence like security footage, delivery photos, or witness statements can help document the crime. Typically, the report serves to support claims rather than guarantee the package’s recovery.

2. Who is responsible if a delivery is stolen?

If the package was mishandled or misdelivered, the shipping carrier (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.) may be liable. Some carriers offer reimbursement for lost or stolen packages, especially if you purchased shipping insurance or opted for signature-required delivery.

Conclusion

Package theft is an unfortunate reality in today's world, however, it's essential to know what to do when it happens. If you have any effective ways to find the stolen package, please leave them in the comment below. We will add your solution to this post!