How to Protect Your Packages from Thieves This Holiday Season

Package theft is largely a crime of opportunity. The longer a box sits outside, especially where it can easily be seen from the street, the more opportunity someone has to grab it. According to research done by SafeWise, 104 million packages were stolen nationwide in 2024, and less than 7% get their packages back.

“It doesn’t seem fair, but the best way to keep your packages safe from porch pirates is to think ahead and make a proactive plan for deliveries,” safety and security expert Rebecca Edwards told me. 

Here are some tips to keep your packages and gifts you send to others safe with help from our expert.

Key takeaways

• Turn on delivery notifications so you know when a package arrives.
• Bring packages inside as soon as possible instead of leaving them on the porch.
• Ask delivery drivers to leave packages somewhere that isn’t easily visible from the street.
• Consider a package lockbox or another protected delivery location if you receive a lot of packages.
• Use package lockers or carrier pickup locations when you won’t be home.
• Require a signature for expensive or hard-to-replace purchases when the option is available.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up packages when you’re away.
• A video doorbell or outdoor security camera can help you monitor your delivery area.

Plan ahead

“If you’re ordering several things, see if you can group your orders to ship on the same day,” said Edwards. “Amazon makes this easy. If you have Prime, you can pick one day a week to have all your orders delivered, so they don’t sit out unattended day after day.” 

Turn on delivery notifications

Edwards noted that the longer a package sits on a porch, the easier it is for a thief to take it. So it’s important to get the package inside as soon as possible. 

Start by knowing when your packages are supposed to arrive. Sign up for text, email, or app notifications from the retailer or delivery carrier. Tracking alerts can tell you when a package is out for delivery and when it has been dropped off. Then try to bring it inside as soon as possible. 

During the holidays, keeping track of everything can get complicated when you have gifts arriving from several stores. Keep order confirmation emails until everything arrives, or make a simple list of outstanding orders so a package doesn’t sit outside for hours because you forgot it was coming.

If you work from home, don’t assume you’ll hear the delivery person. Watch for the delivery alert and grab the box when it arrives. If you’re away from home, see if you can schedule deliveries for days when someone will be there, or reschedule them if the carrier allows it.

Work together

“Before shipping a gift to a friend or family member, find out where they want you to ship it. If they work long hours or will be traveling, they may want you to ship it to their office, a neighbor, or have the courier hold it,” said Edwards. 

Get packages out of sight

A package sitting in the middle of an open front porch can be easy to spot from the street. If your porch has a less visible area, add delivery instructions asking drivers to place packages there. Depending on your home’s layout, that could be:

• Behind a porch column
• Behind a planter
• Beside the door instead of directly in front of it
• Inside a porch storage box designed for deliveries
• At another designated delivery spot

Edwards recommends giving drivers clear instructions to leave packages out of street view when possible. Don’t ask drivers to enter fenced areas where pets may be loose or to put themselves in an unsafe situation. Pick a spot that’s easy for the delivery person to reach but harder for someone passing by to notice.

Add a package delivery box

If your front porch turns into a shipping warehouse every December, consider giving packages their own home. A package delivery box can hide deliveries and, depending on the design, keep them secure until you get home.

Choose one large enough for the packages you typically receive. A box that only fits small parcels won’t help if you regularly order larger gifts. Placement matters, too. Put it somewhere convenient for delivery drivers, and add clear instructions so they know to use it. A delivery box doesn’t automatically guarantee that every package will end up inside, but it can give drivers a less visible place to leave deliveries.

Tip: Add a little treat table next to your delivery box and add a sign. It will draw attention to the box and give your delivery folks more reason to use it instead of just leaving it on the porch. Plus, they get a nice little treat to brighten their day. 

Use a package locker

If you’ll be away from home when a package arrives, or you live in an apartment with iffy security, check whether the retailer or carrier offers a secure locker or pickup location near you. 

This can be especially useful for holiday gifts because you can pick them up when it works for your schedule. It can also keep gifts away from curious family members who have a habit of examining every box that appears on the porch. (We all have that one person in our lives!)

Have valuable packages held for pickup

If you’ve ordered an expensive electronic device, jewelry, a collectible, or an irreplaceable gift, check whether you can have it held at a secure pickup location. You’ll have to make an extra stop, but that’s much less frustrating than trying to replace an expensive gift a few days before the holiday.

Require a signature

When available, consider requiring a signature for valuable deliveries. Instead of leaving the package unattended, the delivery person needs someone to accept it. This works best when you know someone will actually be home. Otherwise, you may end up chasing down a missed delivery.

Team up with a neighbor

A good neighbor can be one of your best package security tools. If you know you’ll be gone when a delivery arrives, ask a trusted neighbor whether they can grab it and hold it for you, and you can return the favor when they’re away. During the holiday season, you could also let each other know when you notice a package sitting outside for an unusually long time.

Add a video doorbell

A video doorbell gives you a view of the area where packages are usually delivered. Depending on the model and your settings, it may alert you when someone approaches the door, let you view live video, record activity, or allow you to speak through the device. 

Be sure to pick a video doorbell that will alert you when a package arrives on your doorstep for extra protection. I’ve tested dozens of doorbell cameras over the years, and my research has found that Ring video doorbells are the best at detecting packages.

A camera pointed at the sky isn’t going to be much help. Check the camera’s view before holiday delivery season gets busy. You should ideally be able to see:

• Your porch
• The usual package drop-off location
• The walkway leading to the porch
• Someone approaching the delivery area

If packages are normally left directly underneath the camera, make sure they aren’t sitting in a blind spot. You may need to adjust the camera angle, change the delivery location, or add another outdoor camera to cover the area.

Scare away suspicious people

Video doorbells and outdoor cameras include two-way audio. If you receive an alert and see someone you don’t recognize approaching your packages, you can speak through the camera to scare the lurker away. Some even have sirens that you can turn on to chase away porch pirates.

Be careful about posting holiday travel plans

Package security becomes more difficult when nobody is home for several days. If you’re traveling, arrange for someone to collect deliveries or pause, reroute, or hold packages when those options are available.

Avoid publicly announcing that your home will be empty for a week. Edwards recommends keeping travel plans off social media and asking a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on things while you’re away. Save the vacation photos for later if you’re concerned about broadcasting that nobody is home.

Package theft FAQ

How can I stop packages from being stolen during the holidays?

Reduce how long packages sit unattended. Turn on delivery notifications, bring packages inside quickly, use a less visible delivery location, and consider secure lockers or pickup locations when you won’t be home. Cameras, doorbells, package boxes, and trusted neighbors can add additional layers of protection.

Do security cameras stop package theft?

Security cameras may deter some thieves and can help you monitor deliveries or document a theft, but they can’t guarantee that a package won’t be stolen. Combine a camera with measures that keep packages from sitting unattended, such as delivery tracking, lockers, pickup locations, or neighbor help.

Where should delivery drivers leave packages?

Choose a location that’s easy for the driver to access but difficult to see from the street. Depending on your home’s layout, that might be behind a porch column, beside the door, or inside a designated package box. Add clear delivery instructions when the retailer or carrier allows it.

Are package lockboxes worth it?

A package lockbox can be useful if you receive frequent deliveries or packages often sit outside while you’re away. Look for one that fits the package sizes you normally receive, can be secured to your porch, and is easy for delivery drivers to find and use.

Should I require a signature for holiday packages?

Consider requiring a signature for expensive, valuable, or difficult-to-replace items when the retailer or carrier offers the option. Make sure someone will be available to sign, or you could end up with a missed delivery.

What should I do if I’m traveling when a package is delivered?

Reroute or hold the package if possible, use a secure pickup location, or ask a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to collect it. Try not to leave packages sitting outside for several days.

What should I do if my package says delivered but isn’t there?

Check the delivery photo and tracking information, look around other entrances, ask household members and neighbors, and review security camera footage if you have it. If you still can’t locate the package, contact the seller and carrier.

What should I do if someone steals a package from my porch?

Save any available security camera footage and document what happened. Consider reporting the theft to local police, then contact the retailer or seller and the delivery carrier. Refund and replacement policies vary.