New study reveals which residents in the UK are most likely to experience mail theft

Following the boost in online sales fuelled by the global pandemic, UK consumers are expected to increase their online spending over the next couple of years.

Unfortunately, thieves are taking advantage of the rise in online orders and residents across the UK are experiencing an increase in porch thefts.

International courier service Pack and Send has analysed the latest available data from 33 Police Forces across the UK to reveal which residents are most (or least) likely to have their mail stolen from their front door*.

Overall, residents across the UK have reported over 11,000 incidents of mail theft since 2019.

However, Essex tops the table, with 102 mail thefts per capita. The police in Essex have reported a 418 percent increase in mail theft since 2019 and in the first quarter of this year, residents reported over 240 incidents of doorstep thefts.

This may not come as a surprise to the residents of Essex as it’s among the top 20 most dangerous counties in the UK, with the overall crime rate in Essex is 81 crimes per 1000 people.

While these figures highlight that mail theft crimes are continuing, Essex Police have released practical information to help residents avoid being a victim of this crime.

Kent follows in second place, as the area most likely to experience mail theft, with 67 thefts per capita. The county has experienced a 185 percent increase in doorstep thefts since 2019, with 2022 on track to be its worst year yet**.

Northamptonshire, Avon and Somerset and Greater Manchester complete the top five areas most likely to experience mail theft with 51, 46 and 40 mail thefts per capita.

At the other end of the scale, Northern Ireland is deemed the safest place for online orders, with only one mail theft per capita. Since 2019, there have been only 26 reports of doorstop thefts in the whole of Northern Ireland.

Humberside follows closely as the second least-likely area to experience mail theft, with two mail thefts per capita. The northern county has counted a mere 21 porch thefts since 2019.

Surrey (4), Dyfed-Powys (5) and Gwent (6) complete the five areas of the UK with the lowest number of mail thefts per capita.

Most courier company’s basic service classes a parcel as being delivered when recorded as left on a doorstep, so it would be viewed as stolen if it then went missing.

However, there is practical advice to help British consumers reduce the risk of being affected by the growing trend of porch piracy, such as:

· Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery. If you’re not going to be home, arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour or if possible, rearrange the delivery date to when it best suits you
· Select a shipping service which requires a signature
· Install a video doorbell, this can be connected to your mobile, so you’re notified immediately of any delivery
· Install a lockable package box
· Use an off-site locker for frequent deliveries or for more expensive items, have them delivered to store

Mike Ryan, Chief Executive at Pack and Send commented:

“There is nothing worse than anticipating a parcel to be delivered, only for the item to be stolen before you can enjoy the contents.

“With the study showing porch theft is rising, it’s important that consumers take appropriate steps to prevent it from happening to them. Should the worse happen, you can report it to the police by calling 101 or contact the sending retailer directly.”