Londoners are being urged to stay vigilant this festive season as a dramatic surge in 'porch piracy' sees parcels vanishing from doorsteps at an alarming rate. New data reveals that thefts of delivered packages have skyrocketed across the capital, turning the Christmas period into a peak season for opportunistic criminals.
Staggering Surge in Doorstep Crime
According to fresh analysis from home experts at Hillarys, reported parcel thefts in London have exploded by 376% since 2021. The figures, sourced from Metropolitan Police reports, show incidents leapt from 896 in 2021 to a staggering 4,264 in 2024. In total, close to 9,500 parcels have been reported stolen in the capital since 2020, averaging around five thefts every single day.
The risk is particularly acute in December. Reports of stolen packages spike by more than 90% compared to other months, as couriers deliver millions of items in the Christmas rush. With an estimated 1.2 billion parcels delivered nationally over the festive period, unattended packages on London doorsteps present an easy target for thieves.
Festive Period Presents 'Perfect Conditions' for Crime
John Foster, a home security expert at Hillarys, explains that the Christmas season creates the ideal environment for such crimes. "Homes are full of valuables, parcels are left unattended and many people are out celebrating," he states. This combination offers what he describes as "perfect conditions" for theft.
The threat extends beyond parcels. The same study indicates that 2,983 burglaries occurred in London between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day from 2020 onward. The 2023–24 period was the worst on record. Alarmingly, 82% of these festive burglaries were never solved by police.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Parcels
While some offenders are caught, such as a perpetrator of a Christmas Day burglary spree in Dagenham who received a six-year sentence, these cases remain exceptions. Therefore, prevention is key. Foster offers straightforward, practical advice for residents:
- Keep doors and windows locked, even when at home.
- Hide presents and delivered goods from view through windows.
- Use doorbell cameras or security cameras where possible.
- Consider using parcel lockers or click-and-collect points if you know you will be out.
As online shopping continues to dominate consumer habits, the convenience of home delivery now carries a significant risk. The clear message for Londoners this Christmas is that vigilance is no longer optional but a necessary part of protecting your property and purchases.
