Skip to main content
  1. Support
  2. Track A Package
US
  1. Ship & Mail
  2. Financial Services
  3. Resources
  1. Buy Supplies
  2. Sign In
  • Sign In
  • Support
  • United States
Office Ship & Mail
  • Postage Meters
  • Online Postage
  • Mail Accounting & Expense Management
Ecommerce & Retail Solutions
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Delivery Services
  • Returns
Parcels & Packages
  • Parcel Locker
  • Package Tracking Solutions
  • Consumer Connect
Mailing Services
  • First Class Mail
  • Marketing Mail / Direct Mail
  • Bound Printed Matter
Mailing Equipment & Software
  • Mailing Software
  • Addressing Equipment & Printers
  • Letter Openers & Folders
  • Folders Inserters
  • Shredders
Shipping & Postage Payments
  • Line of Credit
  • Prepaid Deposit Account
Financing
  • Equipment Financing
  • Working Capital
Industries
  • Manufacturing
  • Healthcare
  • Construction
Postal Resources
  • Postal Rate Change
  • Postal Information
Support
  • Postage Meters Support
  • Account Support
  • Mailing Equipment Support
  • Connectivity Support
Communications
  • Blog
  • News
  • Events
Back to Top Top
  1. Pitney Bowes Blog
  2. BOXPoll landing page
  3. Porch piracy
BOXpoll - A weekly consumer survey on current events, culture and ecommerce logistics

Porch piracy is a problem. Or so I’ve heard.

7 in 10 say that it’s a problem that needs to be solved ASAP. 1 in 5 have actually experienced it.
Package thief caught on video doorbell system stealing a box delivery from the front step of a suburban home

Nextdoor, the popular micro-neighborhood social networking platform has more than 10 million registered users, spread across 100,000 neighborhoods. In addition to complaints about barking dogs and the neighbor who left their trash cans out too long, it is rife with reports of package thieves, often caught on hidden doorbell cameras.

Porch pirates make for a good news cycle. And with the rise in packages being delivered, it makes sense that a crime of opportunity—and one that is so quick and easy to perpetrate—would draw concern from online shoppers. 

Consumers are taking porch piracy seriously:  7 in 10 believe it is a problem that needs to be solved ASAP.

There aren’t significant differences in how different demographic groups perceive the problem – all are similar, except:

  • The older consumer, the more urgency:  75% of Baby Boomers say it’s a problem vs. only 56% of Gen Z
  • Women (72%) are slightly more likely than men (67%) to consider it an urgent problem
  • Surprisingly, there are no significant differences between urban, suburban, and rural residents or among income brackets (all fall in the 68-70% range)
Percentage of consumers who are taking porch piracy seriously, chart

Yet only 1 in 5 consumers have experienced porch piracy themselves. 1 in 3 know someone who has had a package stolen, implying this is a collective fear that is shared among consumers’ social graphs.

  • Urban consumers, often notorious for their lack of porches, are nearly twice as likely as suburban and rural consumers to have experienced porch piracy (29% vs 16%)

 

 

As a result of this fear, 52% of consumers are taking proactive steps to address porch piracy. They fall into three categories:

  • Apparently have a lot of time on their hands: More than 1 in 3 (38%) watch delivery drivers through their windows
  • Want to throw money at the problem: 1 in 4 (24%) install a video/smart doorbell or other security (likely the same ones who plant a glitter bomb decoy package to foil the thieves)
  • Looking for a reason to leave the house: Less than 1 in 5 (18%) choose to pick up packages at a store or other location
BOXpollTM by Pitney Bowes, a weekly consumer survey on current events, culture,and ecommerce logistics. Conducted by Pitney Bowes with Morning Consult //2094 US consumers surveyed November 2020.© Copyright 2020 Pitney Bowes Inc.

Let BOXpoll come to you

Sign up to get sneak previews of upcoming content and summaries of our best findings.
Sign-up Now
Latest Findings
jeans denim and measure tape
Putting on or taking off the COVID-19?
The majority of consumers have seen their weight change during the pandemic, driving new purchases across product categories.
Man opening a box with light spilling out of it on a black background.
"Sometimes the only thing I have to look forward to."
Amid the monotony of pandemic life, consumers find value in receiving and unboxing online deliveries.
Online shopping, boxes delivered to someone's front door
How many deliveries are too many?
More than half of consumers have become more aware of the growing mountain of boxes at their doors since the start of the pandemic. Few feel inclined to change it.
Young girls coworkers in santa hats working late on holiday evening with parcels cardboards boxes to deliver
Consumers may be lacking a sense of urgency
Consumers were slow to get started on online holiday shopping although 36% plan to pay for expedited shipping in the final week of the season.
About Pitney Bowes
Our Company Newsroom Contact Us Track A Package Investor Relations Corporate Responsibility Careers Events & Tradeshows Blog
Shop
Ink & Supplies by Meter Meter Connectivity Mailing Supplies Order History & Returns
Your Account
View & Pay Bills View Order History ValueMAX Your Account Support Rewards Sign in to your account
Product Support
Postal Rate Change Envelope Messaging Product Support Connectivity Support Parcel ID Tracker Business Services
Partner Program
Small Business Program Shipping API Program
Developers
Developer Hub
Follow Us
Facebook Linked In Twitter YouTube
©1996-2021 Pitney Bowes Inc. All rights reserved.
Legal Privacy

United States
United States