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

The “porch pirate” regions in Britain where Black Friday and Christmas packages are most vulnerable to stolen have been identified by a MAP.

For years, thieves have been causing mayhem all throughout the nation by stealing packages that couriers have left on front doorsteps.

A survey by postal IT company Quadient found that throughout the past 12 months, about 376.6 million packages were stolen, up from 304 million the previous year.

The worst-hit parts of the UK may now be seen on a map.

The county with the highest number of thefts (99 per 100,000) was Bedfordshire.

Compared to Hertfordshire, the top last year, which recorded 73 thefts per 100,000, it is a significant increase.

One in five Londoners indicate that their packages have been stolen, making them one of the most affected cities.

20% of package thefts in Dorset occur in December, indicating a seasonal spike.

In contrast, 35% of thefts in November and December are reported by Cumbriare.

With an average value of 202.20, Northumbria leads the nation in the costliest stolen packages.

Young professionals between the ages of 22 and 34 are the most likely to report stolen packages.

According to data, opportunistic burglars target residences full of online orders throughout November and December, which account for 21% of parcel theft incidents.

In the UK, searches for “stolen parcel” likewise increase in November, December, and January; according to Google Trends data, this is especially true in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

This holiday season, shoppers are predicted to spend 7.1 billion dollars, making their doorsteps a tempting target.

Remarkably, one out of every seven families in the United Kingdom has experienced parcel theft, with the average value of stolen items being 102.

However, only one out of every 333 occurrences gets reported to the police, thus the actual number is probably far higher.

Experts caution that homes left unoccupied throughout the daytime and apartments, where burglars can seize several shipments at once, are high-risk locations.

The majority of thefts occur between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on workdays.

Experts attribute this to a number of reasons, such as a return to office work and pandemic-related online buying patterns, which leave homes empty during peak delivery periods.

The numbers came from a survey of 2,000 people and police data.

Organized crime groups may be increasing their operations in response to the cost of living problem, targeting both houses and delivery vans.

A defenseless DPD driver in Leytonstone, London, was forced to watch as hooded criminals stormed his delivery truck in broad daylight in one terrifying episode that exposed the increasing brashness of parcel thieves.

A bystander recorded a group of black-clad males jumping out of their white Ford Fiesta and looting the van as the driver was delivering a cargo.

The criminals proceeded unabated, packing stolen packages into their car and driving away despite attempts to dissuade them by honking a car horn.

Quadient’s Executive Vice President, Katia Bourgeais-Cr mel, cautioned apartment dwellers to exercise extra caution.”No home is immune to the plague of parcel theft,” she continued. As burglars search for quick cash, high-value goods are being stolen, and apartments are increasingly becoming popular targets.

Customers are encouraged to take steps in order to counter the growing threat.

According to the National Police Chiefs Council, deliveries should be made to a secure place, like a neighbor’s home or a nearby store that offers courier tie-ups, or parcel lockers should be used.

Installing security lights and video doorbells might also serve as a deterrent.