Porch Pirates cash in on January sales as parcel thefts soar
Despite nearly 3 million Brits planning to curb their spending as the new year begins, January sales, Christmas gift cards, and new year purchases keep Brits reaching for their wallets, with January spending surging 20% higher than average in the first week.
Alongside this, around £1bn worth of Christmas gifts are expected to be returned or resold online, with second-hand marketplaces driving a fresh wave of doorstep deliveries. This extended delivery period means more parcels left unattended well into January, leaving UK households exposed to opportunistic porch pirates.
Now, new Freedom of Information (FOI) data from UK police forces sourced by Hillarys has revealed that parcel thefts remain elevated in January compared to most of the year. In fact, January is the most dangerous month for parcel theft outside of the Christmas build-up period (2,269), a risk level not surpassed again until October (2,536).
January remains a danger zone for stolen packages
Following the expected peak in December, the parcel thefts remain elevated in January, with 2,269 stolen packages reported to police in the first month of the year since 2020.
This makes January the most dangerous month for parcel theft outside of the Christmas build-up period (2,269), a risk level not surpassed again until October (2,536).
Households in the South East face an elevated risk of parcel theft at the start of the year, with Hertfordshire Constabulary recording the highest number of incidents in January between 2020 and 2024 (223), followed by Essex Police (220) and Kent Police (212).
John Foster, exterior installation and service manager at Hillarys explains why households shouldn’t let their guard down in January: “Ensuring your home is secure is pivotal all year round, but especially important even after the festive season ends, when the risk of parcel theft remains higher than usual. Our data shows thieves continue targeting homes into the New Year, taking advantage of post-Christmas returns, gift-card spending and January sales deliveries.
Many Brits let their guard down in the New Year and are often less vigilant because Christmas is over, yet opportunistic ‘porch pirates’ know that many households are empty as we all return to work, and parcels are still arriving on doorsteps. To keep your packages safe in January, we recommend:
- Installing security cameras or a doorbell camera: A camera can deter opportunistic thieves and provide useful footage to share with both police and retailers if something goes wrong. They will also alert you when a parcel arrives and allow you to speak to couriers directly to advise them on a safe spot to leave the parcel until you’re home.
- Use parcel lockers or collection points: If you are away from home, use a collection point or locker to ensure no items are left unattended and avoid having to stay in so that you don’t miss packages. If possible, require a signature for deliveries to prevent items from being left unattended.
- Choose a safe place option: Many delivery services allow you to specify where they can leave a package if you are not home, including with neighbours, in lock boxes, in sheds, and even to not leave a delivery on the doorstep.
- Installing smart blinds: Smart window dressings can deter thieves, and with remote control access, you can set blinds to open or close when you are away from home to create the illusion that someone is home.”