If you have ever ordered an item online, there’s a reasonable chance you’ve had a parcel stolen by thieves at some point.
So-called ‘porch pirates’ are pouncing on unguarded parcels left on doorsteps or even hidden in recycling bins as courier firms increasingly leave deliveries wherever they can to save time.
Around £666.5million worth of parcels were stolen in the year to June – a 77 pc surge – according to data from technology company Quadient.
And December is the peak month for parcel thefts as families rush to order Christmas presents.
But there are nifty ways you can deter thieves from sneaking up to your front door and swiping parcels this Christmas.
Ring doorbell footage captures the moment a hooded man grabs two parcels from a home in Canterbury, Kent, this year
1. Buy a delivery box – and add a motion sensor
One of the easiest ways to safeguard your parcels is to install a locked delivery box in your front garden.
These are metal boxes in which a courier can slot a parcel through a large flap or drawer. The parcel automatically drops down into a locked compartment, keeping it safe until you unlock it with a key or code.
Three in five porch pirate thefts happen between 9am and 5pm, when the victim is likely to be out at work.
These lockboxes can be pricey, with one from Smart Parcel Box costing £299 and another on Amazon for £110. But as the average value of a stolen parcel is £138, it could ultimately pay for itself.
Plus, you can install a motion sensor that will let you know when the parcel box has been opened. These can be bought for as little as £13.50 from Amazon.
2. Swap your concrete driveway for gravel
Thieves want to get to your porch as quietly as possible, so that they go unnoticed.
A gravel driveway – which makes an unmistakable crunching sound – may be enough to make thieves skip your home and target easier prey.
Dan Smith, of security firm Smith and Green Security Systems, says: ‘Gravel in a front garden has benefits beyond its aesthetic appeal and could deter thieves from targeting a home in the first place.’
However, it is a costly solution and won’t appeal to every homeowner. For a large driveway, this could set you back £3,700, according to Checkatrade.
Delivery boxes are metal with a large flap or drawer through which the courier can put parcels
3. Rotate your safe delivery places
If you won’t be home when your delivery is due, you will be asked by the courier if you have a ‘safe place’ where a driver can leave the parcel.
This could be a shed, porch or greenhouse.
Consumer champion Jane Hawkes says you should rotate your delivery safe spaces each time you order a parcel.
She says: ‘Thieves can monitor your property and see where your parcels are being left. It’s the same as with passwords – you wouldn’t use the same one for every account.’
Ms Hawkes also warns that thieves who spot empty packaging from expensive brands through a plastic recycling bag on bin day could subsequently target your home. Try to conceal luxury branding where possible.
4. Add more foliage to your garden
Abundant foliage can be used to hide parcels if there are no other hiding spots available.
Mr Smith says: ‘The landscape design of front gardens can be used as an advantage. Gardens with more foliage offer discreet locations for packages to be hidden rather than being exposed on patios.
‘This can increase the time and effort it takes to steal parcels.’
Shoppers can ask couriers to hide parcels underneath hedges or inside bushes near the front door as their ‘safe space’.
But only do this if there are no other delivery options. If a package is stolen from a safe place you have specified, then you are unlikely to be refunded.
Ring sells its Wired Video Doorbell Pro for £219.99. It has a motion detector so you will receive a notification on your phone if anyone – including a thief – approaches your front door
5. Buy a video doorbell that lights up
Video doorbells have surged in popularity as they allow homeowners to see who is at their door through their phone and even talk to them.
But they are also useful for deterring porch pirates who do not want to be captured on camera.
Popular brand Ring sells its Wired Video Doorbell Pro for £219.99. It has a motion detector so you will receive a notification on your phone if anyone – including a thief – approaches your front door. The camera will automatically start recording when motion is detected and a blue light will appear, letting thieves know that they are being watched.
More affordable options include the Blink Video Doorbell, which costs £49.99, and the Arlo Smart Video Doorbell at £89.99. Both have motion detectors.
Add a sign that reads ‘You are being recorded’ as a further deterrent.
6. Add inside lighting on a timer
Leaving lights on inside your home is a well-known trick to deter burglars. But it can work for porch pirates too, Ms Hawkes says.
Plug-in timers are available from as little as £5. You can plug a lamp into the device, for example, and set a timer for when you want the light to turn on and off. This will make it look like someone is at home.
7. Get it delivered elsewhere
Do you live in a flat or on a street with no front gardens? It may be best to ask for your parcel to be delivered elsewhere if you know you are not going to be in.
For example, you could ask a trusted neighbour to take the parcel on your behalf and send the courier to their address.
Or you can ask for your parcel to be delivered to a parcel locker. This self-service system of lockers can often be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and operators include Amazon, Evri and DPD. These are usually listed as separate delivery options when you make an online purchase.
…And what to do if your parcel is stolen
If you don’t receive a parcel that has been marked as delivered by the courier then you should contact the retailer immediately. Rather than the courier, your contract is with the retailer from which you bought the item and the retailer is responsible for getting the goods to you.
You can ask to be sent a replacement item and it should arrive within a ‘reasonable’ timeframe – usually within 30 days – under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
If you don’t receive it within 30 days, you can cancel your order and ask for your money back.
But beware, there is a loophole that could end up costing you. If you agree to a ‘safe place’ for a courier to deliver your parcel and the item goes missing then it is unlikely you will receive a replacement or refund.
That’s because retailers and couriers can argue that it is not their fault the parcel is missing, as you specified the place where it should be left.