What to Do If You Accept a Lost or Stolen Package

Sometimes packages get lost. But let's face it—most of the time if yous're searching for a missing package it's because someone swiped information technology from your doorstep. Almost 26 million packages were stolen in 2017.¹

Here are steps you lot can take to get reimbursed for package theft, track down the thief—or scare porch pirates offbefore they practise their dastardly act.

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What to exercise if your package is stolen

1. File a police study

If you seriously suspect you've been hit by a porch pirate, and something was stolen from your stoop, phone call the police and file a constabulary report for the stolen parcel. Without witnesses, they won't be able to do much, but they'll have note of the incident. If you lot take doorbell camera footage, be sure to share it with the officers. Also, let them know the time the delivery service said your bundle was delivered and when you institute information technology missing.

If others in your neighborhood study the same problems, they'll exist more probable to investigate and find the bundle thieves.

Filing a police report can also be useful if you try to brand an insurance claim on the missing commitment.

Watch out for mail-pandemic porch pirates

From Buffalo, New York to Eugene, Oregon, the pandemic sent parcel theft soring since more of us were forced to utilize online shopping.

And pandemic porch pirates got creative. Some women in Kennewick, Washington dressed up equally nurses and went on a package-theft spree. Another package thief in Pennsylvania stole a loved 1's ashes off the porch.

Nosotros suggest increased diligence, even with the pandemic winding downwardly.

  • Track every bundle.
  • Pick upward packages later on you get a delivery notice.
  • Make certain you're getting motility alerts if you have a video doorbell or security camera.
  • Use delivery lockers if you can.

ii. Contact the sender

About of the time, a missing packet is something you ordered. In that example, you want to reach out to the seller and let them know that your package hasn't been delivered.

Is the seller responsible for stolen packages? Maybe. Information technology all depends on the site where you made your purchase and its policies. Yous may want to check with its customer service department.

I've had a lot of luck with companies that send out a replacement right away, no questions asked. But not every company will send you a replacement item or refund your money. Hold on to any proof that supports your claim.

  • Snap a motion picture if y'all got a detect of delivery, but the parcel isn't where they said it was delivered.
  • Keep your social club confirmation number and any other details that assistance the visitor track downwards your order.
  • Shop commitment numbers and data to share with the company so it tin reach out to the carrier.

If the stolen package was sent from a friend or relative, permit them know it hasn't been delivered. They can reach out to the seller or the carrier to help figure out what happened.

3. How practise I study a stolen package to Amazon?

Amazon is known for its fast Prime shipping and basically no-questions-asked philosophy. If their tracking shows an Amazon package was delivered, but y'all can't discover it, you should be able to get a refund pretty quickly and easily.

After 36 hours accept passed since the stolen Amazon package's expected commitment date, you lot should contact Amazon. If packages are late, they'll normally credit your account for the inconvenience. The visitor handles all the details with tertiary-party sellers (if not their ain services), then you lot won't demand to get involved.

4. How practice I report a stolen FedEx package?

FedEx makes it easy to file lost bundle claims. If you lot ordered or shipped something from the US through them, you can file a FedEx stolen bundle claim online.

FedEx is also pretty speedy. It normally takes simply five to seven concern days to resolve a merits.

As the sender, recipient, or third-party, you'll have threescore agenda days to file a claim for damaged or missing contents and upward to ix months to file lost item reports. Just make certain yous continue all packaging or evidence considering FedEx might enquire to run into it.

5. How do I written report a stolen package to UPS?

UPS has different policies for lost or stolen packages depending on whether your package was shipped in the Usa or internationally.

Domestic shipping: if you club something domestically and it'south missing, you can't file a missing package claim until 24 hours afterward information technology was supposed to be delivered.

International shipping: Claims for internationally purchased products are trickier. For these, you won't be able to file a claim, and it could be difficult to get a refund or replacement.

All claims: Once you file a missing package claim, UPS will investigate. It's difficult to find out if a bundle was lost or stolen. Regardless, all missing packages—for whatever reason—are handled this way. If you ordered the product, you should get in contact with the seller, since UPS will issue the refund to them.

six. Contact USPS about a stolen bundle

USPS stolen packages and missing mail can exist more challenging than packages lost by other carriers because it's trickier to file a merits with USPS.

While its protocol for refunding damaged packages is articulate, its procedure for stolen mail is not. If your package was shipped and delivered by USPS, but it'southward missing, you'll need to file a claim regardless.

  • Have the tracking number ready.
  • Be set up to show proof of insurance.
  • Find proof of the value of the item, if possible.

If your package was stolen and there's evidence, take photos and submit those besides.

If your USPS lost parcel was insured, you should be able to go a refund directly from USPS. If your USPS bundle was stolen, you should be able to go through the seller to receive a replacement or refund.

What you tin do to forestall package theft (or track downwards those porch pirates!)

1. Catch them on video

If y'all take a doorbell camera or an outdoor security photographic camera, utilize it to your benefit.

Watch the footage if an expected package is nowhere to be found. You lot can cheque if the carrier dropped off the bundle or if someone walked abroad with it.

Report information technology to your local police department if you lot spot a theft. Or, if y'all can prove no one ever showed up at your door, the carrier (if you lot're the shipper) or shipper (if yous're the recipient) will be forced to refund yous.

Get proof of delivery or theft by installing a camera on your porch. In that location's a great diversity of smart doorbells and home security cameras these days. Some send instant alerts through apps, and others only record footage.

2. Smooth a light on the situation

Porch pirates like to skulk in the shadows. Add together a motion-activated light to your porch to transport thieves scurrying away.

You can even detect movement light and security camera combos. That way, yous take a blinding deterrent and a way to catch the culprits in action.

Tell u.s.a. about your lost or stolen bundle experience

Falling victim to package theft is never fun—neither is dealing with faulty carriers. We hope this guide will assist y'all take preventative measures, get your money back, or get a replacement quickly.

If yous take any advice about how y'all recovered a lost or stolen package, tell us well-nigh information technology below! Information technology's always helpful to hear offset-manus accounts.

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Rebecca Edwards

Written by

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca is the pb safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a announcer and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safe for the past eight. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over law-breaking reports and spotting trends. Her safety expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-turn a profit organizations, podcasts, and more than. You can find her adept advice and assay in places similar TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, NPR, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Existent Uncomplicated, and an e'er-growing library of radio and Television receiver clips.

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