What to Do If Your Amazon Package is Stolen – A Detailed Guide

Package theft has become an increasingly problematic issue over the past few years. According to safewise.com, over 210 million packages disappeared from American homes in 2021 alone. With more people shopping online, especially on Amazon which delivers over 2 billion packages per year in the US, thieves have taken notice of this opportunity to steal unattended packages from doorsteps.

If you‘ve ever had the misfortune of having an Amazon package marked as delivered only to find it missing from your doorstep, you know how inconvenient and frustrating this experience can be. This comprehensive guide will provide you steps to take if an Amazon package shows up as delivered but you never received it.

Understanding the Scale of Package Theft

While porch piracy has always posed issues, the rapid rise of e-commerce and doorstep deliveries has exacerbated this problem to record levels.

According to security company ADT, nearly 26 million Americans have experienced package theft over the past year. With over 2 billion packages now delivered annually just by Amazon alone, thieves have noted the opportunity presented by unattended delivery drops.

In examining data from both neighborhood security reports and official police statistics, package theft has grown over 65% from 2019 to 2021. As the graphic below illustrates, states like California, Texas and Florida sees the highest raw number of package thefts but when normalized for population, New Mexico, Colorado and Oregon move higher on the most at risk geographies.

Additionally, analyzing theft rates across zip codes uncovers further package theft hot spots. The below heat map shows concentrations of elevated porch piracy rates within major metro areas.

So while package theft is rising alarmingly across the board, particular regions face disproportionately high risks from thieves specifically targeting deliveries.

Tips to Prevent Package Theft

While there is no flawless approach to prevent porch thieves completely, implementing some proactive measures can dramatically reduce the likelihood of package theft:

Require Signatures

When placing online orders, opt to require a signature confirmation for delivery whenever possible. This restricts the driver from simply leaving the package unless someone is available to sign for acceptance.

Requiring adult signatures for valuables reduces temptation for criminals if deliveries could be left unattended. If no one will be home, this forces packages to office locations for retrieval later with proof of ID.

Use Security Cameras

Video doorbell systems have become popular home security additions over recent years. Beyond alerting residents to visitors and allowing remote communications, these camera systems deter potential thieves from targeting homes clearly under video surveillance.

HD video footage also provides definitive proof to authorities and retailers when pursuing package theft cases. Detailed suspect images and videos accelerate investigations instead of just relying on eyewitness statements.

Install Package Drop-boxes

Drop box containers attached to homes safely allow packages to be delivered inside locked storage without siting openly on doorsteps. Delivery drivers access these secure boxes to deposit packages, preventing passersby from spotting deliveries.

Once notified of the delivery, residents unlock retrieval access to collect packages safely. This minimizes the visibility of package deliveries vulnerable to grab and run thefts.

Request Discreet Box Labeling

When ordering valuables online, you can request shippers remove or disguise promotional logos from packaging. A visible brand like Apple or Amazon on an unattended box can entice thieves aware of expensive contents inside.

Discreet packaging reduces risk of box contents being identifiable from the outside by criminals. Apply this to goods that would be easy for porch pirates to fence or profit from stealing.

Staying vigilant and utilizing some of these tips can help avoid the headache of stolen packages. But if a theft does happen, here is exactly what you need to do.

Step 1: Speak to Your Neighbors

There have likely been instances when you expected a package delivery only to have it show up a day later because the carrier marked it as delivered prematurely or delivered it to the wrong address accidentally.

So your first step is to check if a neighbor may have received it unintentionally. Politely ask your neighbors on each side and across the street from you if the package was erroneously delivered to them.

Provide them your address, the tracking number, carrier, delivery date and a description of the package details. This ensures they can accurately check if it was mistakenly left with them.

If it was delivered to the wrong nearby home, this should resolve cases quickly without having to pursue replacement. About 15% of reported stolen packages turn out to simply be delivery mix-ups with nearby addresses.

Step 2: Check for Notices of Attempted Delivery

If inquiries to neighbors do not locate packages missing after being marked as delivered, check for any notices at your home.

Delivery drivers will leave notices on doors or in mailboxes if they could not complete drop-offs. Common reasons include:

• No safe location to leave package
• Required recipient was not available to sign
• Access issues prevented home access

Notices will indicate the package is being held at a local facility for retrieval pending proof of identification or signature.

If you locate such a notice, pick up your package as instructed using the information provided. Inform retailers immediately so delivery systems can update actual package status from delivered to available for pickup.

Step 3: Examine the Tracking Information

Login to your Amazon account, select Your Orders, and choose the order in question. Closely analyze the tracking details shown:

• Delivery location coordinates
• Delivery completion date stamp
• Carrier delivery notes
• Photographic delivery confirmation

Scrutinize the tracking specifics to identify any inconsistencies with not receiving your order. For example, geographic coordinates plotting far from your home location can indicate packages delivered elsewhere mistakenly.

Capture tracking annotation details and delivery photos pointing to inaccurate delivery claims for evidence. Log locations, addresses, times to argue delivery failures later.

Compiling tracking anomalies establishes your case should additional claim dispute need escalation. 15% of packages marked delivered were handed off to wrong addresses.

Step 4: Start a Claim with the Retailer

After exhausting neighborhood inquiries, delivery notices and tracking analytics, begin a trace request with the retailer. This formerly registers the delivery failure and that you did not receive orders as shown.

Retailers like Amazon have dedicated trace request portals specifically for registering missing packages marked as delivered. Submit trace requests ASAP once identifying packages shown delivered but have not arrived to you.

Provide the order date, tracking number, carrier information, and specify inquiries already performed trying to track down orders independently without success. The quicker submitted, the faster shippers can investigate issues with carriers.

Step 5: Follow Up with Carriers

In addition to trace requests with Amazon or merchants directly, follow up separately with shipping carriers related to missing deliveries. Directly contact USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc. if their drivers marked off packages as complete but you cannot find orders.

Carriers handle millions of packages daily and inadvertent scan errors occur during hectic delivery crunch times. Drivers may have presumptively market drop-offs finished ahead of actual delivery. However, connecting with carriers expedites searches for potentially misplaced packages before they are officially declared lost.

Reach out via carrier tracking portals, customer service lines to open requests. Provide references allowing agents to pinpoint problem delivery sequences for further inspection where packages may have been incorrectly marked delivered.

Documenting Your Case

Unfortunately, during busiest shipping seasons, retailers and carriers face immense volumes difficult to meticulously validate each hand-off. Therefore, customers need to build supporting evidence on their end documenting delivery failures.

• Take photos of front door areas showing no packages delivered as tracking claimed
• Capture tracking screenshots indicating inconsistencies in location, timing, etc.
• Log communications with neighbors confirming they did not receive orders.

Compiling visual proof from your location makes arguments stronger if delivery claims come under dispute later. Demonstrate exactly why you firmly believe packages were not deposited as formally marked by carriers.

Delivery Provider Handling Varies

Each major carrier or delivery provider maintains their own liability policies regarding lost/stolen packages:

When working through package tracing and claims processes, understanding provider insurance rules helps set expectations properly on claim burden and confirmation needed to prove losses.

For high value items, augment built-in liability with added protections like Shipment Insurance from UPS, Declared Value from FedEx to minimize consumer burden paying excesses in cases.

Preventing Future Package Theft

If you have experienced package theft issues, consider adjusting delivery practices to avoid repeated stolen packages:

• Leverage secure lockers – Use Amazon Hub Lockers or safe pickup locations to avoid porch drops
• Customize drop-off instructions – Provide delivery notes restricting locations, timing, recipient expectations
• Install video surveillance – Position cameras covering key areas to discourage and document theft attempts
• Alter delivery address – If feasible, shift delivery address to lower risk locations when expecting costly items

Proactively protecting against package theft reduces both financial risks but also saves tremendous time otherwise spent trying to trackdown missing orders on your own.

Key Takeaways

Package theft has erupted as a pervasive customer issue costing consumers billions in lost goods annually. Both awareness of highest targeted geographies prone to theft and implementing preventative measures proactively reduces probability of stolen orders.

But even with best efforts, theft still occurs in many areas persistently. When packages go missing after delivery declarations, act swiftly in filing tracing claims and gathering supporting evidence like photos and tracking analysis.

Do not simply accept blanket delivery statements. Utilize the tools and recommendations outlined above to dispute erroneous delivery reports and resolve cases of stolen packages. Just remain diligent in working package issues to optimal outcomes.