A parcel sits visibly on a doorstep for six hours. Taking it requires walking up a path and picking it up. There is no lock to defeat and no skill involved, which is why it happens so much.
The responses that work change where the parcel ends up. The ones that mostly do not involve watching it happen.
What changed in 2026
- Delivery volume kept rising. More parcels meant more opportunity.
- Collection point networks expanded. Lockers and shop collection points became widely available.
- In-home and in-vehicle delivery stayed niche. Options placing parcels inside remained limited in adoption.
- Camera saturation increased without deterring much. Widespread doorbell cameras produced footage rather than prevention.
Cameras record; they rarely prevent
A camera is useful for knowing what happened and for a claim. It is a weak deterrent.
Footage of a stranger with a covered face walking away with a box is rarely enough to identify anyone, and the value of a single parcel rarely justifies investigation. Thieves know this.
Where a camera genuinely helps: confirming a delivery occurred when a carrier says it did, providing evidence for a claim or a card dispute, and — occasionally — recognising someone local.
Treat it as documentation rather than as protection, and spend the effort on measures that change the outcome.
| Measure |
Prevents theft? |
| Doorbell camera |
Rarely — records it |
| Delivery to a collection point |
Yes — never on the doorstep |
| Delivery to a workplace |
Yes |
| Signature required |
Yes — not left unattended |
| Specified safe place |
Frequently |
| Parcel box or locker at home |
Yes, if used |
| Neighbour receiving it |
Yes |
| Scheduled delivery window |
Frequently |
Change the destination
The category of measure that works.
Collection points and lockers. Most carriers offer delivery to a locker or a participating shop. The parcel is never left unattended, and you collect when convenient. This is the most complete solution and it is free.
Workplace delivery, where permitted, achieves the same.
A neighbour who is reliably home, arranged in advance, works well for occasional deliveries.
A parcel box at home — a secure container the carrier can deposit into and lock — removes the problem for deliveries you cannot redirect. Worth it for households receiving frequent deliveries.
Delivery instructions
Underused and effective for the deliveries that do come to your door.
Most carriers let you specify a safe place: behind a gate, in a porch, with a specific neighbour. Instructions are followed more often than not, and a parcel out of sight from the street is dramatically less likely to be taken.
Set them once in your carrier accounts rather than per delivery, so they apply by default.
Scheduled windows help too. Knowing a parcel arrives between specific hours means it sits outside for minutes rather than hours.
Signature on delivery for anything valuable removes the scenario entirely — the parcel is not left. It costs a little and is worth it above a threshold you choose.
When something goes missing
Check thoroughly first. Behind bins, in porches, with neighbours, and around the property. A meaningful proportion of "stolen" parcels were placed somewhere unexpected.
Contact the retailer, not the carrier. Your contract is with the retailer, and in many jurisdictions goods remain their responsibility until delivered to you. A parcel left in an unsafe place and taken is generally their problem rather than yours.
Report within the window. Retailers and carriers have time limits for missing item claims.
Escalate to your card issuer if the retailer will not resolve it — non-delivery is a standard dispute ground, per the chargeback guide.
Common mistakes
- Relying on a camera. Records rather than prevents.
- No delivery instructions set. The cheapest effective measure.
- Not using collection points for valuable items. Removes the problem.
- Contacting the carrier instead of the retailer. Wrong party.
- Reporting late. Claim windows close.
- Assuming a "delivered" scan means delivered. Scans are frequently premature or wrong.
- Not checking around the property first. Often it is there.
FAQ
Who is responsible for a stolen parcel?
Generally the retailer until delivery is properly completed, in many jurisdictions. A parcel left somewhere unsafe without your instruction is typically not your loss.
Do parcel boxes work?
Yes, when carriers use them. Effectiveness depends on the box being obvious, accessible, and on drivers cooperating, which improves if you note it in delivery instructions.
Is a camera worth having at all?
For evidence and for general awareness, yes. Just not as your primary measure against theft.
What about signature requirements?
Effective and inconvenient — you must be home. Worth it above a value threshold, and less practical for routine deliveries.
Where to go next
For recovering money when a parcel never arrives, read the chargeback guide. For securing the home generally, water leak sensors covers a different risk, and for mail redirection when moving, mail forwarding.