December remains the peak month for parcel theft

Reports of parcel theft to police in the UK have risen by 87% in the last year according to new Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained Quadient.

It’s the highest total of thefts recorded in Quadient’s annual Parcel Theft Report to date. Yet just 1.6% of reported thefts resulted in a charge, equivalent to approximately one in 62 cases. The data also reveals that fewer than one in 20 led to an arrest.

A supporting survey of 2,000 UK consumers found that nearly one in five households (18%) had experienced parcel theft in the past 12 months, which Quadient estimates equates to 5.11 million UK homes. Among those who had a parcel stolen, 28% said they reported it to police.

With Black Friday and Christmas deliveries approaching, the findings show that December remains the peak month for parcel theft, with 1,830 cases recorded by responding forces in that month alone. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of thefts happened between 9am and 5pm, when parcels can often be left unattended while people are at work.

Quadient’s supporting consumer research also reveals what items people are losing to porch pirates for the first time. Among those who had experienced parcel theft, clothing, shoes and accessories topped the list (27%), followed by beauty products or cosmetics (20%) and electronics or gadgets (18%). With Christmas approaching, more than one in five (21%) said they had had a gift stolen.

Unattended deliveries remain common, even though many consumers are uneasy about them. More than half (52%) of people who receive parcels say they regularly have them left outside when they are not in, up from 45% last year. However, more than two-thirds (69%) think twice about leaving parcels on their doorstep, and 70% would rather miss a delivery than risk it being stolen. For many, secure collection offers reassurance, with 65% saying they would feel more comfortable using a parcel locker or collection point.

Consumers also want more action from those responsible for deliveries. More than three-quarters (78%) believe delivery companies should not leave parcels unattended without their permission, while 71% say retailers should do more to prevent theft. The same proportion (78%) believe parcel theft should be treated more seriously by the authorities.

Regional data shows West Yorkshire (1,746 reports), Northamptonshire (1,523) and Essex (1,355) recorded the most parcel thefts, while Dyfed-Powys (12), Cleveland (43) and Derbyshire (43) recorded the fewest. Where the age of the person reporting the theft was recorded, people aged 22–44 accounted for 63% of thefts.

Commenting on the findings, Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, EVP Parcel Locker Solutions Europe at Quadient, said: “People should be able to shop online without worrying whether their purchases will still be there when they get home. Reports of porch piracy have reached the highest level in our annual study, but with so few recorded thefts resulting in a charge, prevention matters more than ever.

“With Black Friday and Christmas approaching, parcels left outside for hours create an easy opportunity for thieves and an avoidable risk for customers. Retailers and delivery companies can give people more control by making secure collection options easy to choose at checkout. A successful delivery should mean the parcel reaches the customer safely, not simply that it reaches their doorstep.”

Click here to download the 2026 Parcel Theft Report.