According to a recent report, New York City experienced nearly $1 billion in parcel theft last year, making it the most severely affected city in the United States.
SafeWise’s annual study estimates that in 2023, 120.5 million packages were stolen in the U.S., resulting in a total loss of nearly $16 billion.
In terms of dollars, parcel theft was most severe in New York City, with losses reaching $945 million last year; Philadelphia followed with a loss of $450 million, and Chicago came next with losses of $262 million. Washington D.C. and Houston also made it to SafeWise’s top five annual rankings, with losses of $232 million and $207 million, respectively.
Many Americans are taking extra measures to protect their online orders, rerouting packages to secure lockers or looking for apartment buildings with package rooms.
In SafeWise’s survey, 84% of respondents stated that they had increased security measures after experiencing package theft, with the most common action being installing surveillance cameras or video doorbells with monitoring capabilities. Others mentioned cooperating with neighbors to ensure package reception.
The report recommends the following five tips to ensure the safety of your parcels:
– Opt for delivery notifications;
– Require signatures;
– Make alternative arrangements (such as secure lockers or with friends);
– Use security technology;
– Collaborate with neighbors.
SafeWise is an online guide for security and safety products, combining FBI crime statistics, independent security investigations, and its own legitimacy survey data to determine its annual rankings.
Based on the estimated dollar value of all stolen packages in different regions, here are the top ten cities with the most severe parcel theft in 2024:
– New York City: $945 million
– Philadelphia: $450 million
– Chicago: $262 million
– Washington D.C.: $232 million
– Houston: $207 million
– Atlanta: $155 million
– Charlotte, North Carolina: $152 million
– Dallas-Fort Worth: $151 million
– Boston: $144 million
– Cleveland: $133 million
However, the city with the highest economic losses is not necessarily the one with the most parcel theft incidents. Among the top ten cities with the most severe parcel theft, Cleveland has a high number of household parcel theft cases, with nearly 1,400 incidents per thousand households, indicating repeated attacks by thieves on the same residences.
According to Safewise’s data, other hotspots with recurring parcel theft include Beckley, West Virginia (2,391 incidents per thousand households); Hot Springs, Arkansas (2,107 incidents per thousand households); and Goldsboro, North Carolina (1,880 incidents per thousand households).
Cities like Seattle, San Diego, and Portland, Oregon, which previously had high rates of parcel theft, have seen a decline in their rankings this year.
(Adapted from a report by “National Hill News”)