Package Theft / Porch Piracy Prevention Checklist
An estimated 104 million packages were stolen in the U.S. over the past year, and 31% of people said they'd experienced package theft in the past 12 months (SafeWise, 2025). Check off what you already do -- and what's worth adding.
If a package is stolen, does the carrier cover it?
Usually not. UPS, FedEx, and USPS all cap their default liability around $100 -- but that coverage is for a package lost or damaged in transit. Once a package is marked delivered and then stolen from your porch, it's generally outside the carrier's responsibility. Check your credit card's purchase protection or your homeowner's/renter's insurance instead.
General education only -- no specific product, camera brand, or security service is recommended or affiliated with this checklist.
An interactive checklist of real prevention steps for package theft (porch piracy), plus a clear explanation of what carrier default liability (usually ~$100) actually covers -- and why it usually does NOT cover a package stolen after it was already delivered.
How it works
- Check off the prevention steps you already have in place -- delivery alerts, signature-required shipping, a workplace or locker delivery, a camera
- Watch your completion progress update as you check items
- Read the carrier-liability note to understand what's actually covered if a package is stolen after delivery (usually not the carrier's problem)
Frequently asked questions
Will UPS or FedEx pay me back if my package is stolen?
Usually not. Carrier default liability (typically $100) covers loss or damage in transit -- it generally does not apply once a package has been successfully delivered and is then stolen from a porch. Check your credit card's purchase protection or your homeowner's/renter's insurance instead.
How common is package theft, really?
SafeWise's 2025 report estimated about 104 million packages stolen in the U.S. over the past year, with 31% of respondents saying they experienced package theft in the past 12 months -- a slight improvement from 2023's estimated 120 million.
What's the single most effective prevention step?
Signature-required delivery, workplace or locker delivery, and delivery notification apps (like Informed Delivery) are the most consistently recommended -- combined with a visible camera, they cover most of the risk.
Does this recommend a specific camera or security brand?
No. This checklist covers general practices only, with no product or brand recommendations or affiliate links.
Related tools
From the blog
Update history
- 2026-09-30 Launched: interactive package-theft prevention checklist with progress tracking, plus a clear explainer that carrier default liability (~$100) usually doesn't cover post-delivery porch theft.