Map reveals ‘porch pirate’ hotspots where Black Friday & Christmas parcels are most at risk – do you live in red zone?

A MAP has revealed Britain’s “porch pirate” hotspots where Black Friday and Christmas parcels are most at risk of theft.

Thieves swiping parcels left abandoned by couriers on front doorsteps have been wreaking havoc across the country for years.

Some £376.6 million worth of parcels were stolen over the last 12 months, compared to £304million last year, according to a study by postal tech firm Quadient.

And now a map can reveal the UK’s worst hit areas.

Bedfordshire topped the list, with 99 thefts per 100,000 people.

It marks a sharp rise from last year’s leader, Hertfordshire, which reported 73 thefts per 100,000.

Londoners are also among the most affected, with one in five residents reporting stolen parcels.

Dorset sees a festive surge with 20 per cent of parcel thefts happening in December.

While Cumbria reports 35 per cent of thefts over November and December.

Meanwhile, Northumbria takes the top spot for priciest stolen parcels, with an average value of £202.20.

Young professionals aged 22-34 are the age group most likely to report stolen parcels.

Data suggests November and December are peak months for parcel thefts, accounting for 21 per cent of incidents as opportunistic criminals target homes brimming with online orders.

Searches for ‘stolen parcel’ also spike in the UK during November, December, and January, with Google Trends data showing a peak in the weeks before Christmas

Shoppers are expected to spend £7.1 billion this festive season, making their doorsteps a lucrative target.

Shockingly, one in seven UK households has fallen victim to parcel theft, with stolen deliveries averaging £102 in value.

Yet, many cases go unreported with just one in 333 incidents logged with police, meaning the true scale is likely far greater.

Experts warn high-risk areas include flats, where thieves can grab multiple packages at once, and houses left empty during the workday.

Most thefts happen in the working day, between 9am and 5pm.

Experts blame a mix of factors, including lingering online shopping habits from the pandemic and a return to office work, leaving homes unoccupied during peak delivery times.

The figures were sourced from police data and a survey of 2,000 people.

The cost of living crisis may also be pushing organised crime gangs to ramp up their operations, targeting delivery vans and homes alike.

In one alarming incident highlighting the growing brazenness of parcel thieves, a helpless DPD driver in Leytonstone, London, could only watch as hooded thugs raided his delivery van in broad daylight.

Footage captured by a bystander shows a gang of men dressed in black leaping from their white Ford Fiesta and ransacking the van while the driver was delivering a package.

Despite attempts to deter the robbers by honking a car horn, the thieves continued unabated, loading stolen parcels into their vehicle before speeding off.

Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, Quadient’s Executive Vice President, warned those living in flats to be especially wary.
She added: “No home is immune to the plague of parcel theft. High value items are being stolen, and flats are becoming prime targets as thieves look for easy wins”.

To combat the growing threat, shoppers are advised to take precautions.

The National Police Chiefs Council recommends using parcel lockers or arranging deliveries to a secure location, such as a neighbour’s house or a local shop offering courier tie ups.

Installing video doorbells and security lights can also act as deterrents.