How to Prevent Porch Pirates After Cyber ​​Monday – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Shoppers spent a record $13 billion on Cyber ​​Monday, making it the biggest online shopping day ever.

But you’re not the only one waiting for these offers to arrive.

Thieves are too.

In Mansfield in mid-November, a man in a vest appeared to be a delivery driver when police said he stole at least eight packages from homes in less than four hours. Police are still trying to identify the man, who was driving a blue four-door sedan with a rusty top.

“We’ve noticed over the last few years that porch piracy is a problem, kind of a nuisance for everyone,” said Daniel Delgado, data analyst at Safewise.com.

Safewise.com recently released its annual package theft report, which found that porch pirates will cost Americans nearly $16 billion in 2023.

Of more than 300 metropolitan areas in the U.S., Dallas-Forth Worth ranked eighth in package thefts.

“This represents an estimated value of approximately $151.2 million in porch piracy last year for 2023,” Delgado explained.

Who pays for packages stolen by porch pirates?

If a package is delivered to your door and then stolen, the responsibility usually falls on the recipient. However, retailers have different policies for dealing with stolen items and many offer a replacement or refund.

According to Safewise.com, DFW saw more than 1.1 million stolen package incidents in 2023, affecting about a third of all households.

“Dallas is kind of right there and kind of in line with the national average,” Delgado said.

To avoid becoming a victim, police and Safewise suggest having packages sent to work when possible, requiring a signature for delivery, or using a package locker or delivery hub.

“Ultimately, our message is: Don’t let the Porch Pirates win. Keep ordering, keep getting your things, but know what to look for to protect yourself and your belongings so you get all your gifts on time for the holiday season,” Delgado said.

According to Safewise, one can cautiously conclude that porch piracy has reached its peak as the number of package thefts has remained consistent year after year.