OVER the course of a year, nearly £4000 worth of parcels are stolen from outside people’s homes in Avon and Somerset by opportunistic thieves, writes Seven Standen.

A total of 489 porch thefts were reported by residents from August 2022 to July 2023.

With the majority of UK consumers ordering their Christmas gifts online, the holiday season could potentially be ruined by these ‘porch pirates’.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police says: “As we enter the festive season and we see a potential rise in the number of packages being delivered to households, we advise the public to take extra precautions.”

These thieves, known colloquially as ‘porch pirates’, steal packages which are left in easily accessible areas outside homes by couriers.

More than one in ten households in the UK had a parcel stolen last year.

Nationwide parcel theft has increased by more than 500% since 2019, according to Quadient (an international company specialising in mailing equipment).

When online orders rocketed during the pandemic, so did the number of crimes committed by opportunistic porch pirates.

Despite restrictions being lifted a long time ago, home delivery has become a part of everyday life following the time spent indoors during lockdown.

The popularity of online shopping has remained higher than it was pre-pandemic.

Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, EVP Parcel Locker Solutions Europe at Quadient, says: “The plague of porch piracy has intensified during the cost-of-living crisis. Unattended items on doorsteps are just waiting to be stolen."

Online retail-sales are predicted to peak at over £30 billion this December, so UK shoppers could face significant losses if they don’t take additional security measures.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary advise people to be at home when parcels are due, to avoid them being left outside the home.

A spokesperson said: “Alternatively, check in with your neighbours and see if they can accept the packages on your behalf.

Most delivery companies will allow you to choose a 'safe place' for your parcels to be left, if not with a neighbour. Just ensure these are secure areas, not in plain sight.”

Specifying where to leave a parcel in online delivery instructions can stop couriers from leaving them in plain sight of potential thieves.

Installing a porch lockbox or using an Amazon locker can also keep parcels safe from porch pirates, as they make items harder to access.

While video doorbells or security cameras can be useful in potentially identifying thieves, they aren't necessarily effective as deterrents.

However, making a home-security system obvious to potential thieves (such as a sign on your front door or installing motion-sensor lights) can help deter them.

Asking neighbours to keep a collective eye out for thieves or joining a local Neighbourhood Watch programme can help to protect your community.

When sending gifts, tracking the parcels and requiring a signature at their destination can ensure they arrive safely for Christmas.

Last Christmas, parcels being left outside without their permission or failing to arrive at all were the most common issues reported by online shoppers.

Porch piracy is a difficult crime to solve, with only 10% of cases resulting in arrests by police and the majority remaining unsolved.

While some thieves are purely opportunistic, others may follow delivery vans around an area to see if parcels are left outside homes.

Filing a report with police can flag up active porch pirates and where they currently operate.

Major online retailers often return or refund items with no questions asked if a theft occurs, which means porch pirates frequently go unreported and can continue to operate.