How to outsmart the porch pirates stealing Christmas: Five ways to protect your parcels this festive season

Christmas is the busiest time of year for parcel deliveries – and increasingly, for the opportunistic thieves who help themselves to packages left on doorsteps.

With one in six households reporting having had a parcel stolen, consumers are being urged to take a few simple precautions before the festive delivery rush gets into full swing.

Jane Hawkes, consumer rights expert and founder of consumer advice website Lady Janey, says shoppers should not assume their parcels will be safe simply because they have been marked as delivered.

The scale of the Christmas delivery operation is enormous. Last Christmas, Evri, one of the UK's biggest courier companies, delivered 173 million parcels in the nine weeks leading up to Christmas, with almost 4,000 parcels being delivered every minute.

And with delivery drivers under increasing pressure to meet demanding schedules, the risk of parcels being left somewhere vulnerable is a real concern.

"Christmas puts enormous pressure on delivery networks, with couriers handling staggering volumes of parcels against tight deadlines. Unfortunately, that can mean deliveries are sometimes left wherever is quickest and easiest, rather than somewhere genuinely secure," says Jane.

"Porch pirates thrive on opportunity. A parcel left unattended on a doorstep, particularly one that's visible from the street and out of sight of any camera, can be an easy target.

"With reported parcel theft having risen by 77 per cent, according to police figures, consumers cannot afford to be complacent. The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to make your home less attractive to thieves and reduce the chances of your Christmas presents disappearing before they reach you.

"Prevention is always better than cure, so don't wait until something goes missing to think about your delivery arrangements.

"Before the Christmas rush begins, check your delivery preferences, make sure your contact details and address are correct, and review any safe-place instructions saved with retailers or courier apps.

"If you've nominated a safe place, ask yourself whether it really is safe. A front porch or doorstep might be convenient for a courier, but it can also be an open invitation to thieves.

"If you're going to be out, consider arranging delivery to a trusted neighbour, a secure parcel locker or a collection point instead. Don't assume an old delivery preference is still suitable.

"A few minutes spent checking your settings now could save considerable stress later – and help make sure those Christmas presents actually make it under the tree."

Five ways to outsmart porch pirates this Christmas

1. Take control of where your parcels are delivered

The easiest way to prevent doorstep theft is to stop parcels being left on the doorstep in the first place.

Most major couriers offer flexible delivery options, including nominated safe places, alternative addresses, parcel lockers and collection points. Make use of them.

Choose somewhere genuinely secure and out of public view, rather than the front porch, an exposed doorstep or somewhere easily accessible from the street.

If you have a trusted neighbour who is usually at home, consider arranging for them to accept deliveries on your behalf.

For particularly valuable purchases, check whether a signature-required service is available. Remember, though, that a signature requirement is only useful if someone is available to receive the parcel.

"Don't confuse convenient with secure," says Jane. "A delivery instruction that saves the courier a few seconds could cost you considerably more if it leaves your Christmas shopping vulnerable.

"Think about who can access your nominated safe place, whether it is visible from the road and whether a stranger could remove a parcel without being noticed."

2. Make your home a harder target

Most doorstep thefts are opportunistic. Thieves don't necessarily know what's inside a package; they simply see an unattended delivery and take their chances.

The trick is to make your property less appealing than the next one.

A visible video doorbell or CCTV camera can help deter opportunistic thieves, while also providing useful evidence if a parcel disappears.

A lockable parcel box is another worthwhile investment, provided it is securely installed and compatible with your courier's delivery arrangements.

You could also consider motion-activated lighting and a clearly visible CCTV warning sign where appropriate.

Avoid leaving a large, obvious box outside your front door with a sign telling couriers to leave parcels there. Rather than protecting your deliveries, it could advertise exactly where thieves should look.

"Opportunistic thieves want an easy win. Anything that increases the likelihood of being spotted, recorded or interrupted can make your home a less attractive target," says Jane.

"Think about the message your property sends. A visible camera, secure parcel box and well-lit entrance are all ways to make thieves think twice."

3. Stop advertising your delivery habits

Regular deliveries can make you an easy target if someone learns your routine.

If parcels arrive at roughly the same time every week, or expensive purchases are routinely left in the same exposed location, thieves may start to recognise a pattern.

Where possible, choose plain, discreet packaging, particularly for expensive purchases, and avoid publicly sharing photographs or updates that reveal when valuable items are due to arrive.

Varying your delivery arrangements can also make it harder for anyone watching your property to predict where packages will be left.

"Don't make a thief's job easier by advertising what you're buying, when it's arriving or where it will be waiting," says Jane.

"Think about the information you're sharing online, too. A seemingly innocent post about an expensive Christmas purchase or an upcoming delivery could reveal more than you realise."

4. Leave couriers clear, specific instructions

Delivery drivers often have very little time to spend at each address, so vague instructions can easily lead to parcels being left in unsuitable places.

Be specific about where you want your delivery left and what should happen if that location is unavailable.

For example:

"Please deliver to the side gate and place the parcel inside the locked parcel box. Do not leave the parcel outside the front door. If the box is full or inaccessible, please return the parcel to the depot or follow the available redelivery procedure."

Where possible, make sure your instructions are saved directly with the retailer or courier rather than relying on a handwritten note or an informal arrangement.

Check that any nominated safe place is accessible to the courier and that your instructions are realistic.

"Clear instructions can make all the difference," says Jane.

"Don't simply write 'leave somewhere safe' and hope for the best. Tell the courier exactly where to go, what to do and what should happen if the nominated location cannot be used.

"It reduces the scope for confusion and makes it less likely that your parcel will be left somewhere vulnerable."

5. Know your rights if a parcel goes missing

Despite taking precautions, parcels can still disappear. If yours does, don't panic – and don't assume you're automatically left out of pocket.

Start by checking the tracking information and any delivery photographs. Your parcel may have been left somewhere unexpected, delivered to the wrong address or accepted by a neighbour.

If you still cannot locate it, contact the retailer promptly and explain that the goods have not arrived.

Importantly, your contract is generally with the retailer, not the courier. If you bought the goods from a retailer and arranged for them to be delivered, it is normally the retailer's responsibility to ensure they reach you.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods generally remain the retailer's responsibility until they come into your physical possession or that of someone you have identified to receive them, subject to the rules around delivery arrangements and nominated safe places.

This means a retailer cannot simply wash its hands of the problem by telling you to chase the courier yourself.

"If your tracking says delivered but you haven't received anything, don't let the retailer fob you off by telling you it's the courier's problem," says Jane.

"Report the missing parcel, explain that you haven't received the goods and ask the retailer to investigate. It is their responsibility to put things right where the goods have not been delivered in accordance with your agreement."

If you suspect your parcel has been stolen, you can also report the incident to the police. Obtain a crime reference number if one is issued, as this may assist the retailer's investigation. However, you should not generally need a police crime reference number as a legal prerequisite to pursuing a claim against the retailer.

If the retailer refuses to resolve the issue, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement, depending on the circumstances.

You can also consider raising a chargeback request with your bank or card provider. If you paid by credit card and the purchase meets the relevant criteria (including a cash price of more than £100 and no more than £30,000), you may also have additional protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Jane adds: "Don't assume that once a parcel has been marked as delivered, there's nothing you can do. A delivery notification isn't proof that you've actually received your goods.

"Keep your order confirmation, tracking details, delivery photographs and any correspondence with the retailer. If something has gone wrong, make a clear record of what happened and don't be afraid to challenge a retailer that tries to pass responsibility elsewhere.

"Christmas is stressful enough without having to pay twice for presents that never arrived. Knowing your rights and acting quickly can make all the difference."