After a Package Is Stolen
Verify it was actually stolen — check first
Before escalating: check with all household members, check around the side of the house or backyard, check your building's package area or front desk, and check the carrier's app or tracking — sometimes packages are marked delivered and arrive hours later, or were left with a neighbor. Also check your doorbell camera or building camera footage first.
Contact the retailer immediately
Amazon: Go to Your Orders → select the order → "Problem with order" → "Package stolen." Amazon's policy is to replace or refund stolen packages, typically instantly for Prime members and accounts in good standing — no police report needed.
Other retailers: Call or chat with customer service. Most major retailers (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco) have similar policies. Have your order number ready.
Contact the shipping carrier
If the retailer refers you to the carrier: file a claim with UPS (1-888-742-5877), FedEx (1-800-463-3339), or USPS (1-800-275-8777). Carriers have liability for packages marked delivered but actually missing — though coverage limits vary. USPS theft is a federal crime; the Postal Inspection Service takes mail theft seriously in a way local police often can't.
File a police report
Call your local non-emergency police line and file a report. In most jurisdictions they won't actively investigate a single package theft — but your report is valuable: it contributes to crime statistics that affect patrol patterns, it's required for some insurance claims, and if there's a pattern in your neighborhood, it may trigger a targeted operation. Ask for the case number.
Check your credit card for purchase protection
Many premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum/Gold, Citi Prestige) include purchase protection that covers stolen items within 90–120 days of purchase — typically $500–$10,000 per item. Read your card's benefits guide or call the benefits number on the back. This is often the most reliable path for high-value items.
Check homeowners or renters insurance
Your homeowners or renters policy typically covers personal property theft — including packages stolen from your porch. This makes most sense for high-value items over $200 (since your deductible is likely $500–1,000). The limitation: filing may raise your rates. Reserve this for significant losses.
What Actually Prevents Package Theft
Redirect deliveries to pickup locations
Amazon: delivery to an Amazon Locker (free, thousands of locations). UPS: UPS Access Point locations (CVS, Michaels, etc.). FedEx: FedEx Office pickup. USPS: package pickup hold at your post office. For everything else: most carriers let you redirect to a neighbor's address or hold for pickup in the delivery notification. The most certain theft prevention is no package on your porch.
A visible doorbell camera dramatically reduces theft
Research on porch piracy shows visible cameras significantly deter opportunistic theft. Porch pirates work fast and choose the easiest targets. A visible Ring or Nest doorbell that records motion is a meaningful deterrent. More importantly: if theft occurs, you have footage that helps police and insurance.
Package lockboxes
A heavy steel lockbox anchored to your porch allows deliveries without risk of theft. Carriers can open them with a universal combo provided by services like Package Guard or Yale's Smart Delivery Box. Amazon Key In-Garage delivery goes further — deliveries go inside your garage. Both eliminate porch exposure entirely.
Set delivery instructions and notifications
All major carriers allow delivery instructions: "Leave at side door," "Leave with neighbor in 2B," "Require signature," "Leave in mailbox." Enable delivery notifications on every carrier's app — knowing the moment something arrives lets you retrieve it before a pirate does. Amazon Sidewalk and Ring's package detection can alert you specifically when a package is left and when someone approaches it.
The bait package approach
GPS-enabled bait packages placed on your porch transmit location when moved. Services like Package Guard or DIY setups with an AirTag in a convincing box can track where stolen packages go. Several cities have used bait packages successfully for prosecutions. This is more about catching repeat offenders than preventing a single theft — but it's deeply satisfying when it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the retailer refuses to replace my stolen package?
Escalate in order: (1) Call again — different agents have different authority levels. (2) File a chargeback dispute with your credit card company under 'goods not received.' Visa, Mastercard, and Amex all support this. (3) If it was a marketplace seller (Amazon third-party, eBay), use the platform's buyer protection program — Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee and eBay's Money Back Guarantee both cover stolen deliveries. (4) For high-value items, file under your credit card's purchase protection benefit, which typically covers theft within 90–120 days.
Does my apartment building have any liability for stolen packages?
Generally no — unless your lease specifically states the building will secure deliveries. If your building has a package room or accepts packages at the front desk, they may have some liability if their own negligence led to the theft. Check your lease and building policies. Some buildings now install package lockers (Luxer One, Parcel Pending) that eliminate the problem entirely. If yours doesn't, request it — many landlords will install them because they reduce liability complaints.
Can I set up a fake package with a dye bomb or other booby trap?
No — booby traps are illegal in virtually every US jurisdiction, regardless of what's in the package or who opens it. Courts have consistently held that you cannot set traps that could injure people, even trespassers and thieves. GPS trackers are legal; anything designed to injure is not. Some people use stink bombs or glitter devices — these are legally murky but generally treated as assault if they cause injury.
Stop porch pirates before they strike — a visible doorbell camera is the #1 deterrent
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 captures 4 seconds of color video before motion is triggered, so you always see who was there — even if they grabbed the package and ran. Rated 8.6/10.