Were your package deliveries stolen? What to know about porch piracy and what you can do about it

You found the perfect holiday gift online. You ordered it. A notification arrived on your phone, showing the package had arrived. But when you open your doors, the parcel is nowhere to be found.

If this has happened to you, then count yourself among the unlucky group of shoppers who fall victim to package thefts — or porch piracy, as its commonly known.

Here’s what you should know about the issue, and what to do if it happens to you.

How big of a problem is porch piracy?

It's hard to tell. Most police departments don’t track package theft in its own category, which means there's a lack of national data.

The FBI’s figures do