FEATURE: Fight against porch piracy – effective strategies for securing supplies

Porch piracy, the theft of packages straight from the home, is a growing problem in the e-commerce and delivery industry. As online shopping increases, especially during the holiday season, package thefts have increased dramatically. In fact, it was estimated that approximately 235 million packages were stolen in 2023 in the United States alone, leading to an estimated financial impact of approximately $13.4 billion annually. This trend not only affects financial losses, but also undermines consumers’ trust and satisfaction with online shopping.

Latest developments

Recent research shows that package theft is still a common problem. For example, about 49 million Americans reported having at least one package stolen in the last year. Consumers have embraced technological advances such as doorbell cameras and smart delivery lockers, but the effectiveness of these measures varies. Basically, we believe it’s high time we “rethink the front porch.”

How to fight parcel theft

To effectively combat porch piracy, several strategies can be implemented:

1. Out of Home (OOH) Delivery: Using parcel lockers or PUDO (access points) significantly reduces the risk of parcel theft. Companies such as Amazon, InPost, DPD and DHL offer services that enable customers to conveniently and safely receive parcels.
2. Intelligent delivery systems: Installing intercom cameras and security systems can deter thieves. About 50% of U.S. residents have invested in such devices to protect their supplies. These systems provide real-time surveillance and offer video evidence in case of theft. Of course, they won’t stop all criminals, but they will undoubtedly reduce the number of thefts.
3. Delivery schedule and instructions: Consumers should use delivery scheduling options (time windows) offered by carriers to ensure that packages are delivered when someone is home. They can also instruct the delivery person to leave the packages in a safe, less visible place. The only caveat is to avoid trash cans; yes, believe it or not, this is not uncommon as a designated “safe space”!
4. Buy online, collect anywhere (or click and collect in Europe): This strategy involves purchasing products online and picking them up at a retail location. It is essentially similar to OOH delivery, except that products are usually picked up at the retailer’s locations.
5. Residential parcel lockers (RPL): There are good solutions which can take the form of multi-compartment lockers within residential buildings or, operationally preferred, outside them to make them widely accessible.
6. Personal parcel lockers (PPL): PPLs are lockable drop boxes on porches or other convenient and accessible locations that can provide a safe place for delivery personnel to leave packages. Their main disadvantage lies in the possibility of access by several couriers and limited bandwidth, especially during peak hours. Additionally, they are operationally suboptimal because they require the courier to drive to individual addresses and typically deliver only one or two parcels per stop.
7. Smart locks and devices: Products like Amazon Garage Key or Nuki Smart Lock can be a good solution for heavy and bulky items or for secure guard rooms for multiple people. In this case, the courier can receive one-time or specific temporary access and can be constantly monitored by the camera while delivering or collecting parcels.

Expected future developments

Looking ahead, the industry will likely see greater integration of artificial intelligence and IoT in delivery services to enhance security, such as real-time tracking technology and porch piracy prevention from Zflo Technologies. Predictive analytics like UPS DeliveryDefense can help identify high-risk areas and times for package theft, allowing you to plan deliveries more strategically or suggest alternatives to consumers.

Additionally, the development of delivery drones, as Arrive Tech has demonstrated, and other innovative delivery methods could revolutionize the way parcels are delivered and secured. However, drones’ versatility and safe flight path technology would need to advance before they could be used on a large scale.

Application

Porch piracy is a significant challenge in the e-commerce and delivery industry. Crime is moving from back alleys to front porches, turning fulfillment centers and delivery routes into a new “battlefield” with couriers at its core. By adopting a combination of technology solutions and strategic delivery planning, both consumers and businesses can reduce the risk of package theft, ensuring that products arrive at the last mile and into the hands of those who ordered them.