Top Cities for Package Theft in the U.S. (2025 Data)

Porch piracy is a problem that affects communities across the country, but some U.S. cities are hit harder than others. With online shopping at record levels, package theft has surged in both urban and suburban areas. According to a Capital One Shopping study, more than 120 million packages were stolen nationwide in 2023, totaling an estimated $16 billion in losses.

Why Package Theft Varies by City

Not all cities experience porch piracy at the same rate. Several factors contribute to higher theft levels in certain areas:

• Population density: More residents mean more deliveries, which creates more opportunities for theft.
  
• Online shopping volume: Cities with higher e-commerce activity naturally see more packages targeted.
  
• Crime trends and enforcement: Local theft rates, police resources, and community vigilance all play a role.
  
• Housing types: Apartment complexes and dense housing areas often report higher theft than single-family homes.
  
• Regional safety perception: SafeWise’s 2025 survey shows wide differences in safety concerns, with California leading in worry (64%) and Vermont among the least concerned (29%).

The Top Cities for Package Theft

SafeWise ranked the worst metro areas for package theft, meaning those with the highest financial losses and incidents per capita from porch piracy in 2024. 

Here are the top 10:

1. New York City, NY: $945M lost, 9.2M incidents, 593 per capita

2. Philadelphia, PA: $450M lost, 4.2M incidents, 561 per capita

3. Chicago, IL: $262M lost, 2.7M incidents, 728 per capita

4. Washington, D.C.: $232M lost, 2.5M incidents, 326 per capita

5. Houston, TX: $207M lost, 1.5M incidents, 517 per capita

6. Atlanta, GA: $155M lost, 1.1M incidents, 444 per capita

7. Charlotte, NC: $152M lost, 1.2M incidents, 546 per capita

8. Dallas–Fort Worth, TX: $151M lost, 1.1M incidents, 350 per capita

9. Boston, MA: $144M lost, 1.1M incidents, 568 per capita

10. Cleveland, OH: $133M lost, 1.2M incidents, 1,370 per capita (highest per capita rate)

Notable Regional Trends

• Northeast concentration: New York, Philadelphia, and Boston all rank in the top 10, showing the heavy impact in dense East Coast metros.
  
• Midwestern outlier: Cleveland has the highest per capita theft rate despite its smaller population size.
  
• Southern growth: Charlotte and Atlanta made the list, reflecting rising theft in fast-growing southern metros.
  
• Texas hotspots: Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth both rank in the top 10, reinforcing the state’s high theft totals.
  

What These Rankings Mean for Homeowners

Living in one of the top porch piracy cities means you may face a higher risk, but package theft is a national issue. Even cities that do not appear on annual lists experience significant levels of porch piracy. The key takeaway: every homeowner or renter can benefit from extra precautions.

How to Protect Yourself No Matter Where You Live

Whether you live in a top-ranked city or a quieter suburb, there are steps you can take to safeguard deliveries:

• Use package lock boxes, Amazon Lockers, or alternate delivery addresses.
  
• Schedule deliveries for times when someone is home.
  
• Add visible deterrents like security cameras.
  
• Install a video doorbell camera to monitor visitors and capture evidence.
  
• Consider a comprehensive home security system with professional monitoring for layered protection.

Keeping Packages Safe in High-Theft Cities

Some cities see more porch piracy than others, but the risk exists everywhere. Understanding which areas are hardest hit can help raise awareness and encourage smarter delivery habits. 

No matter where you live, investing in preventative solutions like cameras, doorbell systems, and monitored home security from Guardian Protection can make your home less of a target for porch pirates.

Request a free quote today.