Beware the porch pirates– here’s the know-how all wrapped up!

With tempting Black Friday deals around the corner and Christmas shopping (for many) already well underway, the porch pirates are ready to move in – and move off - with your parcels.

The average value of a stolen parcel increased from £102 in 2024 to £138 per item in 2025.

Last year, parcels worth a staggering £666.5 million were stolen in the UK last year.

Theft often surges during the festive shopping season, with December and November recording the highest numbers of stolen packages due to Black Friday and Christmas deliveries.

Here are practical steps to taketo reduce the risk of doorstep theft:

• Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery.
• Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile, so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system.
• Arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you?
• Opt for your parcel to be delivered to a secure off-site locker (Amazon and In Post are among the most popular) or arrange for your parcel to be couriered to a supermarket or post office. 
• If you agreed for your parcel to be left in a safe place and it’s then stolen, it is your responsibility. But if the courier left the parcel somewhere you didn’t authorise, it’s the retailer’s responsibility to sort it out.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the retailer is legally responsible for your parcel until it is in your physical possession, meaning a photo of a package left on a doorstep without your prior authorisation does not count as proof of delivery.

However, for some unsuspecting shoppers, the potential for misery can start even before the parcel is delivered.

How to spot a parcel delivery scam

• Check the number. A scam text message will often arrive as a mobile number, rather than from an official source. 

• Delivery scams are often vague and won’t be specific about where the parcel is coming from – or what’s inside.  

• A common way to spot a scam is spelling errors – check for mistakes or broken English. You may also see exclamation marks or strange capitalisation on fraudulent messages.

• Royal Mail will never use text or email to collect fees. If your message is from Royal Mail and it’s asking you to pay a fee, you can be sure it’s a scam. 

If you receive a suspicious “missed parcel” message, report it to your mobile operator. Reporting is free, helps reduce scam texts and protects others from cybercrime.

To report the scam, do not open the message. Forward it to 7726, the free spam-reporting service offered by mobile operators, then delete it.