Porch piracy ‘fastest growing crime’ at Christmastime, MS sheriff says. How to keep packages safe
As online shopping ramps up for the holidays, law enforcement officials across Mississippi are warning residents to be extra vigilant about potential package theft.
“In recent weeks, deputies have taken multiple reports involving delivered packages that were removed from homes before the intended recipients could retrieve them,” the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office said in a Dec. 11 Facebook post.
Mississippi has one of the highest median values of most recently stolen goods in the United States in 2025, at $75, Forbes reported.
Here’s what to know about porch piracy and how you can protect your packages this season.
How often does package theft happen?
“Last mile package theft — commonly referred to as porch piracy — is a significant challenge for the entire parcel delivery industry, impacting consumers, retailers and delivery providers alike,” according to the Office of Inspector General.
An estimated 58 million packages were stolen in the United States in 2024, impacting more than 49 million people and costing between $5.2 to 16 billion in annual losses, an OIG analysis found.
It’s common to see an increase of package theft leading up to Christmas as more people order packages, according to legal experts.
“Package theft is one of the fastest growing crimes during the holiday season,” Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said in a Dec. 7 Facebook post.
Who’s the most at risk of package theft?
Some homes are more targeted for porch piracy than others, said experts at SafeWise, a digital resource for home security.
“Package theft is a crime of opportunity. The longer packages sit on a porch — especially during the busy holiday season — the easier they are for thieves to grab,” Criminologist Ben Stickle told SafeWise.
These are some conditions that could make your home more vulnerable, according to SafeWise experts:
- Homes with porches less than 25 feet from the street
- Packages visible from the road
- Packages with identifiable brand names
How to prevent package theft this holiday season
Many carriers offer resources to help prevent package theft. Here are some tips from spokespeople at Amazon, UPS and FedEx.
Amazon
- Try using a secure delivery choice, like Amazon pickup locations, in-garage delivery (for Prime members) and designated delivery days
- Track your package
- Customize delivery instructions
UPS
- Pick up packages at UPS Access Point locations
- Use UPS My Choice for text or email alerts about packages
- Receive a delivery photo to confirm the location of delivery
- Set up alternative delivery locations, including your workplace or a neighbor’s or relative’s house
FedEx
- Use FedEx Delivery Manager for package status updates and to provide delivery instructions, including scheduling a delivery, redirecting a package to a different location and requesting a vacation hold on a package
What should you do if you suspect a package has been stolen from your porch?
If you suspect your package has been swiped, here’s what you can do, according to suggestions from spokespeople at Amazon, UPS and FedEx:
- Report it to the police
- Report it to the carrier’s customer service
- Contact the retailer for reimbursement or reshipment
While only 4% of people who had a package stolen recovered the item, 27% got a replacement from the seller, 19% got a refund from the seller and 9% got a refund from the carrier who delivered the package, according to a 2025 survey by SafeWise.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 8:35 AM.
