Report your package theft and help us build a national data set.
Each quarter, we'll provide three neighborhood watch programs and send found data to state lawmakers.
Report your package theft and help us build a national data set.
Each quarter, we'll provide three neighborhood watch programs and send found data to state lawmakers.
Report a Stolen Package
We’ll Help You Fund a Neighborhood Watch Program
Surveys show that package theft has impacted 4 of 10 Americans, and yet the FBI and other law enforcement agencies do not release public statistics specific to this crime.
We want to change that.
Help us build a national database for package theft by reporting thefts in your neighborhood. With more data at hand, we can all feel safer in our homes and our communities. As an ongoing campaign, Security.org will help fund Neighborhood Watch Programs every quarter.
- Surveys show 40% of Americans are victims to package theft
- A package is stolen every minute in America
- We need a national database on package theft
If there isn’t a neighborhood watch program in your neighborhood yet, that’s okay.
Here are some resources to start your own:
Why are neighborhood watch programs so important?
Citizen policing programs are associated with a “significant reduction in crime,” according to a meta-analysis from the United States Justice Department titled “Does Neighborhood Watch Reduce Crime?”. On average, the analysis found, communities with a Neighborhood Watch program saw crime decrease by 16% when compared with control areas. Something that takes only a few hours a week can have a major impact on you and your family’s safety, so why not try it out?
Package theft falls under the umbrella of larceny-theft.
Larceny-Theft: The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another.
Why Isn’t There Good Data on Package Theft?
While the FBI tracks larceny theft and property crime, they don’t track package theft specifically. Plus, their theft data only goes up to 2019, while we are looking for data from 2020. While some of the theft that the FBI tracks may be package theft, they don’t differentiate based on the items stolen or exactly where they’re stolen from. And while LexisNexis’ Community Crime app has real-time information, they also don’t track package theft specifically, leaving us with incomplete data. We aim to change that with a national database focused on package theft from the most recent 2020 data.
So, what happens to someone who’s convicted of porch piracy, known in the legal system as property theft? Well, that’ll differ based on what state you live in as well as the value of the stolen packages. In a nutshell, all property thefts are deemed to be either theft in the first degree, the highest offense, second degree, the second highest, etc. What determines the degree of theft is largely the value of the items. From there, the state categorizes each degree as either a felony or a misdemeanor in Classes A, B, C, and so on. For example, in Alaska, someone convicted of stealing a $1,600 package has committed theft in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony. First-time offenders could receive up to 18 months of imprisonment, although the punishment is determined by the individual judge. Some states are more strict on property theft, while some are more lax, with lower maximum fines and terms of imprisonment.
Information is power, and with more data, states can better protect people against package theft. Help us to find out how common package theft really is and stop it once and for all.