Home security company SimpliSafe has found that almost one-third of UK residents surveyed had a parcel go missing at least once from their ‘safe place’ at home – meaning an estimated 19,000,000 parcels went missing from porches and other safe places across the country in 2022.
More men reported parcels going missing than women, with over 30% of men having had a package disappear from their doorstep compared to only 25% of women. The survey data revealed that younger generations are more likely to have a parcel go missing, with this having happened to 38% of those under 34 at least once. On the other hand, 79% of those over 55 have never had a parcel go missing.
Jonathan Wall, UK general manager at SimpliSafe, said, “The statistics from the survey are concerning, especially if around 19 million people could be a victim of parcel theft. When it comes to compensation and reporting a missing parcel, Citizens Advice reported that one in three consumers who had an issue said they took no action as they didn’t think it’d make a difference. But what if there could be video evidence of an item being stolen, or to deter the theft in the first place?
“There are extra measures that could be taken to secure online deliveries. One potential solution is to use an outdoor camera or video doorbell, so you can keep an eye on what’s happening on your property 24/7 as well as deter would-be porch pirates away from your home, and it’ll also provide extra peace of mind. You could also avoid the problem altogether by getting your parcel delivered to a neighbor or to your workplace.”