How to Prevent Package Theft During the Holidays

The surest way to prevent package theft during the holidays is to keep boxes off your porch entirely: ship to a locker, a pickup point or your workplace, or ask the carrier to hold the package. When a doorstep delivery is unavoidable, tracking alerts, delivery instructions and a camera make theft less likely and recovery easier. This guide covers every major option from USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon, plus a step-by-step plan for what to do if a package is stolen.

Updated October 2026. USPS service details checked on usps.com and uspis.gov on October 31, 2026. Carrier features change, so confirm options in each carrier’s app.

Quick answer: the best ways to stop porch pirates

Option	Cost	How well it works	Best for
Amazon Hub Locker or Counter	Free for eligible orders	Very high	Amazon orders
UPS Access Point pickup	Usually free	Very high	UPS shipments
FedEx Hold at Location	Usually free	Very high	FedEx shipments
USPS Hold for Pickup or PO Box	Hold for Pickup is chosen by sender; PO Box has a rental fee	Very high	USPS deliveries
Ship to work (with permission)	Free	High	Office workers
Delivery instructions (“leave at back door”)	Free	Medium	Houses with a hidden entry
Lockable parcel box	One-time purchase	Medium to high	Frequent shoppers
Video doorbell or camera	Purchase plus optional subscription	Medium (deters, helps evidence)	Homeowners
Signature required	Fee set by carrier or seller	High	Expensive items

Option 1: Have packages go somewhere other than your porch

Amazon Hub Lockers and Counters

At checkout on Amazon, you can choose a locker or staffed counter at a nearby store as the delivery address for eligible items. You get a pickup code by email or in the app and collect the package when it suits you. Pickup windows are limited to a few days, and Amazon shows the deadline in your notification, so do not order to a locker right before you leave town. Size, weight and value limits apply, and some items are not eligible.

UPS Access Point locations

UPS partners with stores such as The UPS Store and other local retailers as Access Point locations. You can often reroute a package to one through UPS My Choice or the tracking page, and some sellers let you choose an Access Point at checkout. Bring a photo ID to pick up.

FedEx Hold at Location

FedEx can hold eligible packages at FedEx Office locations and partner retail stores. Use FedEx Delivery Manager or the tracking page to redirect a package before it goes out for delivery. FedEx Delivery Manager also offers a vacation hold for longer trips.

USPS options

• PO Box: rented at your local Post Office. Packages too large for your box are held at the counter.
• Hold for Pickup: a sender can choose this when shipping, so the package waits at a Post Office.
• Package Intercept: a sender (or authorized representative) can redirect or stop delivery of an eligible package for a fee. According to the USPS Package Intercept page, the fee is $19.45 plus any added postage, charged only if the item is intercepted. It is not a guaranteed service.
• Hold Mail: pauses delivery of mail and packages while you are away, for a set period.

Ship to work or a trusted neighbor

If your employer allows personal deliveries, workplace mailrooms are a simple fix. For neighbors, agree in advance, give them the tracking number, and return the favor.

Option 2: Know exactly when packages arrive

Theft risk is highest when a box sits outside for hours. Free tracking tools close that window.

• USPS Informed Delivery: free, according to the USPS Informed Delivery page. You get a morning email previewing letter mail and expected packages, plus package alerts, and you can leave delivery instructions and schedule redelivery.
• UPS My Choice: a free membership with delivery alerts and estimated windows. A paid premium tier adds more control over delivery timing and rerouting.
• FedEx Delivery Manager: free sign-up, with alerts, delivery instructions, and options to hold or redirect eligible packages.
• Amazon app notifications: delivery photos and real-time “out for delivery” maps for many orders.

Turn on push notifications, not just email, during December. A two-minute warning lets you grab the box before anyone else does.

Watch out for fake delivery texts

The holiday season also brings a wave of text messages and emails that pretend to come from a carrier: “Your package could not be delivered, confirm your address here,” or “Pay a small redelivery fee.” These messages lead to look-alike websites that steal card numbers and passwords. Protect yourself with a few habits:

• Do not tap links in unexpected delivery texts. Open the carrier’s app or type the official website address yourself, then paste in the tracking number.
• Be suspicious of any request to pay a fee, update payment details or “verify” your identity by text.
• Remember which carrier is actually handling your order. A UPS text about an Amazon order shipped by USPS is a red flag.
• Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) so your mobile carrier can block similar messages, then delete them.

Combining real tracking tools with a healthy dose of suspicion keeps both your packages and your personal information safer this season.

Option 3: Make your doorstep harder to steal from

Delivery instructions

Ask carriers to leave packages at a side or back door, behind a planter, or inside a screened porch or garage keypad entry where available. Keep instructions short and specific: “Please leave at side gate, left of the garage.”

Lockable parcel boxes

A lockable delivery box lets drivers drop packages through a slot that cannot be reached from outside. Bolt it to the ground or wall, and add a small sign so drivers know to use it. Large boxes still may not fit, so combine with other options for big orders.

Cameras and video doorbells

Visible cameras discourage some thieves and give you evidence if a theft happens. To make footage useful:

• Mount the camera to capture faces at the door, not just the tops of heads.
• Make sure it can see the street or driveway to record vehicles.
• Check how long footage is stored and whether you need a subscription to save clips.
• Respect neighbors’ privacy and local laws about recording audio and public areas.

Simple deterrents

• Bring boxes in promptly and break down empty boxes before putting them on the curb, so you are not advertising new electronics.
• Keep porch lights on in the late afternoon, when winter darkness falls early.
• Ask a neighbor to collect packages if you travel over Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) or Christmas week.

Option 4: Change how you order

• Consolidate orders so fewer deliveries arrive on different days.
• Choose a delivery day when someone is home; many retailers offer this at checkout.
• Buy online, pick up in store for local retailers.
• Request signature confirmation for expensive items. Packages then cannot be left unattended.
• Order early. USPS recommends mailing First-Class and Ground Advantage packages by Dec. 17 for delivery before Christmas 2026, and shippers who wait until the last week often end up with boxes delivered when you are at work.

What to do if a package is stolen

1. Confirm it was delivered. Check tracking, delivery photos, your neighbors’ porches, behind planters and your building’s mailroom. Packages are sometimes marked delivered early and arrive later that day.
2. Save evidence. Download camera footage and take screenshots of tracking and delivery photos.
3. Contact the seller first. Retailers often replace or refund stolen items, and they are usually the customer of the carrier, which makes their claim easier.
4. File a carrier claim if needed. USPS, UPS and FedEx have missing-package processes on their websites. Claims for insured packages are usually filed by the sender.
5. Report to police. File a report with your local police department, online if available. Many insurers and retailers ask for a report number.
6. Report USPS mail theft to postal inspectors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service takes reports of mail theft online or by phone at 1-877-876-2455. Stealing mail is a federal crime.
7. Check your card protections. Some credit cards offer purchase protection for stolen items. Call the issuer.
8. Consider homeowners or renters insurance only for high-value losses, since deductibles often exceed the cost of a single package.

Theft or delivery error?

Sign	Likely cause	Next step
Tracking shows a different address or GPS spot	Misdelivery	Check neighbors, contact carrier
Delivery photo shows your porch, box gone	Theft	Save photo, contact seller, police report
“Delivered” but no photo, nothing on camera	Early scan or misdelivery	Wait 24 to 48 hours, then contact carrier
Mailbox opened, letters missing	Mail theft	Report to USPIS and police

For small businesses shipping holiday orders

If you sell online, stolen-package complaints cost you refunds, reshipping fees and reviews. A few policies help:

• Offer pickup-point or locker delivery at checkout where your shipping platform supports it.
• Require a signature for orders above a set value.
• Insure higher-value shipments and keep proof of mailing.
• State your stolen-package policy clearly on your shipping page so customers know what to expect.
• Send tracking emails promptly so customers can watch deliveries.

Apartment and condo tips

• Ask building management about package rooms, smart lockers or a front-desk hold.
• If packages are left in lobbies, use pickup points instead during peak season.
• Add your unit number to every address field, including the second line, to avoid misdelivery.
• Agree with neighbors on a simple rule, such as taking in any package left at a shared door and posting a note in the building group chat.

Renters should also check their lease and renters insurance policy. Some policies cover theft of personal property from common areas, while others exclude it or apply a deductible that makes a claim pointless for one package. Knowing this before December helps you decide which orders are worth routing to a locker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible if a package is stolen from my porch?

It depends on the seller’s and carrier’s policies. Once a carrier marks a package delivered, many treat their job as done, which is why contacting the seller first usually works best. Some retailers replace stolen items, especially for repeat customers.

Is stealing a package a federal crime?

Stealing mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service is a federal crime investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Theft of packages delivered by private carriers is usually prosecuted under state law, and several states have passed laws aimed specifically at porch theft.

Is USPS Informed Delivery free?

Yes. USPS says Informed Delivery is free. It previews incoming letter mail and lets you track and manage expected packages from one dashboard.

Can I redirect a package that is already on its way?

Often, yes. UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery Manager let recipients redirect many packages to pickup locations before they go out for delivery. USPS Package Intercept is available to senders for a fee.

Do video doorbells actually prevent package theft?

They can discourage some thieves and give you evidence, but they do not physically protect the box. Combine a camera with pickup options or a lockable parcel box for the best results.

What should I do before going away for the holidays?

Use USPS Hold Mail, set vacation holds with FedEx or UPS where available, ask a neighbor to watch the porch, and send any orders to a locker or pickup point instead of your home.

Keep the boxes moving, not sitting

Package theft is a timing problem: the longer a box sits outside, the higher the risk. Route your biggest holiday orders to lockers or pickup points, sign up for free tracking alerts from every carrier, and keep a short checklist ready in case something goes missing. A few minutes of setup in November can save you a lot of stress in December.