You’ve probably seen those doorbell-camera videos of petty thieves dashing up to homes and swiping freshly delivered packages, sometimes getting caught in booby traps that end up covering them in paint. Porch pirates, as they’re known, might be a staple of Tiktok. But they get especially busy during the holiday season, preying on an astonishing number of victims across Chicagoland.
We recognize that such small-scale stealing does not rise to the level of serious crime by Chicago standards. Every week, gun violence claims multiple lives. Homicides, assaults and armed robberies have marred our city’s reputation worldwide.
But the theft of parcels from the doorsteps of honest citizens isn’t harmless either. Even though crime rates are declining overall, Chicagoland has the unfortunate distinction of being a leader in this annoying category of crime.
A recent survey from security company SafeWise pegs Chicago as the No. 1 metropolitan area for parcel theft, based on the financial toll it takes: the metro area apparently will lose an estimated $254 million in packages to porch pirates this year.
SafeWise, which has tracked package theft for eight years, estimates that American consumers will lose $15 billion to stolen packages in 2025, with retailers out another $22 billion. That’s below the more than $100 billion estimated annual loss from traditional shoplifting, but hardly pocket change.
A competing online survey by a different security company unearthed some interesting details. Fewer than 1 in 4 victims of package theft bother to report the crime to law enforcement, assuming correctly that the police aren’t going to stage a manhunt every time a package goes missing. Instead, most complain to the retailer or delivery services such as FedEx and UPS, according to the Security.org report.
Theft rates tend to be high in some rural areas and suburbs where security is looser than in cities. People living in apartments and condos without a doorman or mailroom are among the most vulnerable, as they attract thieves aiming to steal a bunch of packages at once.
What to do? There’s plenty of advice available, starting with the simple choice of buying stuff (or at least picking it up) in brick-and-mortar stores, as opposed to getting online orders delivered to the home. E-commerce is still growing, but it’s possible that frustration with package theft could be a factor in slowing it down.
E-commerce companies take porch pirates seriously enough to offer services such as Amazon Key, which lets drivers leave packages inside locked garages, doors or gates. That requires a lot of trust, however, compared to less-intrusive steps such as tracking a delivery to ensure someone is available to receive it.
Outdoor cameras and smart lighting have become very popular. They can also help solve crimes.
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling told us recently that technology has revolutionized crime-fighting techniques. “We police differently now,” he said during a meeting with the Tribune Editorial Board in September. “Everything we do is intelligence-based. The use of technology is the key.”
During a separate session with the Tribune on Dec. 9, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said the prevalence of cameras has provided some of the best possible video evidence for convicting criminals. And she acknowledged that package thefts aren’t trivial, as they can make people feel unsafe, telling us, “There has to be a feeling of safety all over the system.”
You can say that again. Porch pirates, technology is gaining on you and your infuriating violations of our personal spaces. Keep your mitts off our baby formula, pet food, medication, work supplies, holiday presents and all the other packages arriving in the days ahead.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/porch-pirates-theft-chicago-crime-amazon/
