What to Do If You Take a Lost or Stolen Package

Sometimes packages become lost. But let'due south face up information technology—most of the time if you lot're searching for a missing package it's because someone swiped information technology from your doorstep. Well-nigh 26 one thousand thousand packages were stolen in 2017.¹

Here are steps yous can have to get reimbursed for package theft, track down the thief—or scare porch pirates offbefore they do their dastardly deed.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more videos like this one! Learn how to protect your home, your loved ones, yourself and your belongings.

Stay Rubber! Sign up for SafeWise'southward weekly newsletter.

Become updates on the latest safe news, product releases, and deals.

What to practise if your package is stolen

1. File a constabulary report

If you seriously suspect you've been hit by a porch pirate, and something was stolen from your stoop, telephone call the law and file a police report for the stolen package. Without witnesses, they won't be able to practice much, merely they'll take note of the incident. If yous have doorbell photographic camera footage, be sure to share it with the officers. Besides, permit them know the fourth dimension the delivery service said your package was delivered and when you institute it missing.

If others in your neighborhood report the aforementioned problems, they'll be more likely to investigate and detect the bundle thieves.

Filing a constabulary report can as well be useful if you effort to make an insurance merits on the missing delivery.

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 use online shopping.

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

We suggest increased diligence, even with the pandemic winding down.

  • Track every package.
  • Pick upwards packages after you get a delivery discover.
  • Make sure yous're getting motility alerts if y'all accept a video doorbell or security camera.
  • Employ delivery lockers if yous can.

2. Contact the sender

Most of the time, a missing package is something y'all ordered. In that instance, you want to achieve out to the seller and let them know that your parcel hasn't been delivered.

Is the seller responsible for stolen packages? Maybe. It all depends on the site where you made your purchase and its policies. Y'all 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 non every visitor will send you a replacement item or refund your money. Hold on to any proof that supports your claim.

  • Snap a picture if you got a find of delivery, merely the package isn't where they said it was delivered.
  • Keep your order confirmation number and whatsoever other details that assist the company track downwardly your order.
  • Shop delivery numbers and information to share with the company so it can reach out to the carrier.

If the stolen bundle was sent from a friend or relative, allow them know it hasn't been delivered. They tin reach out to the seller or the carrier to assist figure out what happened.

3. How practise I report 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 parcel was delivered, but y'all can't find it, you should be able to get a refund pretty quickly and easily.

Afterwards 36 hours have passed since the stolen Amazon package's expected delivery date, you lot should contact Amazon. If packages are late, they'll unremarkably credit your account for the inconvenience. The company handles all the details with tertiary-party sellers (if not their own services), so you won't demand to get involved.

4. How exercise I report a stolen FedEx package?

FedEx makes information technology easy to file lost package claims. If you ordered or shipped something from the US through them, you tin file a FedEx stolen parcel claim online.

FedEx is also pretty speedy. It ordinarily takes just five to seven business days to resolve a claim.

Every bit the sender, recipient, or third-party, you'll have 60 calendar days to file a claim for damaged or missing contents and up to 9 months to file lost detail reports. Just brand sure yous keep all packaging or evidence because FedEx might ask to run across it.

five. How do I report a stolen package to UPS?

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

Domestic shipping: if you order something domestically and it's missing, you can't file a missing packet claim until 24 hours after it was supposed to exist delivered.

International shipping: Claims for internationally purchased products are trickier. For these, yous won't exist able to file a claim, and information technology could be hard to get a refund or replacement.

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

6. Contact USPS nearly a stolen package

USPS stolen packages and missing mail can be more than challenging than packages lost by other carriers because it'due south trickier to file a claim with USPS.

While its protocol for refunding damaged packages is clear, its process for stolen postal service is not. If your package was shipped and delivered by USPS, but it's missing, you lot'll need to file a claim regardless.

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

If your package was stolen and there's prove, have photos and submit those likewise.

If your USPS lost parcel was insured, you lot should exist able to become a refund directly from USPS. If your USPS package was stolen, you lot should exist able to get through the seller to receive a replacement or refund.

What yous can exercise to forestall bundle theft (or track down those porch pirates!)

1. Catch them on video

If yous accept a doorbell photographic camera or an outdoor security camera, apply it to your do good.

Picket the footage if an expected package is nowhere to be plant. You lot tin can check if the carrier dropped off the package or if someone walked abroad with it.

Study information technology to your local constabulary section if you spot a theft. Or, if you lot can evidence no one e'er showed upwardly at your door, the carrier (if yous're the shipper) or shipper (if you're the recipient) will be forced to refund yous.

Get proof of delivery or theft by installing a photographic camera on your porch. At that place's a great variety of smart doorbells and dwelling house security cameras these days. Some transport instant alerts through apps, and others simply record footage.

two. Shine a light on the situation

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

Yous can even observe move light and security camera combos. That way, you lot have a blinding deterrent and a mode to catch the culprits in activity.

Tell us about your lost or stolen package experience

Falling victim to package theft is never fun—neither is dealing with faulty carriers. Nosotros hope this guide will assistance yous take preventative measures, get your money back, or get a replacement chop-chop.

If you have any communication about how you recovered a lost or stolen package, tell us about it beneath! It's always helpful to hear offset-hand accounts.

Related pages on SafeWise

Compare the best domicile security systems

Brand

Best for

Everyman monitoring cost

Starter equipment price

Contract required

Smart home compatibility Icon Tooltip  Dark

Learn more

Read review

Vivint Vivint

Best overall $599.00

Icon Yes  Light No *

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave

Frontpoint Frontpoint

High-end DIY pick $129.00

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave

SimpliSafe SimpliSafe

Reader favorite $245.00

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon,
Google

Cove Cove

All-time customer experience Quote required

Icon Yes  Light No *

Amazon,
Google

ADT ADT

Nigh experienced $0.00

Icon No  Light Yes

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Moving ridge

Abode Abode

All-time DIY automation $279.00

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon, Apple tree, Google, Z-Wave, Zigbee

Ring Ring

Best outdoor cameras $199.99

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave

Blue by ADT Blue by ADT

Best optional monitoring $199.15

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Moving ridge

WYZE Wyze

All-time budget pick $85.98

Icon Yes  Light No

Amazon,
Google

Brinks Brinks

Most rubber sensor options $199.00

Icon No  Light Yes

Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave

Sources:

Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are authentic every bit of the appointment/time indicated and are subject to modify. Whatsoever price and availability data displayed on Amazon at the fourth dimension of purchase will utilise to the buy of this production. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Sure content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "as is" and is subject to change or removal at any fourth dimension.

Rebecca Edwards

Written by

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house skilful for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past eight. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime reports and spotting trends. Her safety expertise is sought after by publications, circulate journalists, non-turn a profit organizations, podcasts, and more. Y'all can find her expert communication and assay in places like TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, NPR, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Unproblematic, and an always-growing library of radio and Boob tube clips.

Recent Articles