Porch Piracy
Porch piracy is the theft of delivered packages from doorsteps, porches, or building lobbies after the carrier has marked them delivered.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Porch piracy turns a completed delivery into a refund or reshipment that the carrier usually will not cover, so the cost lands on you or your insurer. Once a package scans as delivered, most carriers consider their job done. For example, if 0.5% of 30,000 monthly orders are reported stolen and you reship every one at $70 in product and postage, that is 150 orders and $10,500 a month. Photo proof of delivery, signature rules above a set order value, and pickup point or locker delivery all reduce the loss.
Common questions
- Who is responsible for a stolen package that was marked delivered?
- Carriers usually treat a package as delivered once it is scanned at the address, so the loss often falls on the merchant, the customer, or an insurer. Many brands set a written policy covering when they reship.
- Does shipping insurance cover stolen packages?
- Carrier declared value usually does not cover theft after a delivered scan. Some third-party shipping insurance and post-purchase protection programs do cover porch theft, so read the policy wording before buying.
- How can customers prevent package theft?
- Customers can ship to a pickup point or locker, use carrier delivery instructions or hold services, or require a signature on valuable orders. Brands help by offering these options at checkout.