UK reports of parcel theft to police have risen by +87% in the last year, according to new Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by Quadient, with ‘porch piracy’ levels rising to the highest on record.

Yet just 1.6% of these reported thefts resulted in a charge, while fewer than one in 20 led to an arrest.

“Reports of porch piracy have reached the highest level in our annual study, but with so few recorded thefts resulting in a charge, prevention matters more than ever,” said Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, EVP Parcel Locker Solutions Europe at Quadient.

A supporting survey of 2,000 UK consumers found that nearly one in five households (18%) had experienced parcel theft in the past 12 months, which Quadient estimates equates to 5.11million UK homes. Among those who had a parcel stolen, 28% said they reported it to police.

With Black Friday and Christmas deliveries approaching, December remains the peak month for parcel theft, with 1,830 cases recorded by responding forces in that month alone. Nearly two thirds (65%) of thefts happened between 9am and 5pm, when parcels can often be left unattended while people are at work.

Among those consumers who had experienced parcel theft, clothing, shoes and accessories topped the list (27%), followed by beauty products or cosmetics (20%) and electronics or gadgets (18%). With Christmas approaching, more than one in five (21%) said they had had a gift stolen from their doorstep.

Unattended deliveries remain common; more than half (52%) of UK customers regularly have parcels left outside when they are not in. However, more than two thirds (69%) will now think twice about leaving parcels on their doorstep, and 70% would rather miss a delivery than risk it being stolen.

“With Black Friday and Christmas approaching, parcels left outside for hours create an easy opportunity for thieves and an avoidable risk for customers,” Bourgeais-Crémel continued. “Retailers and delivery companies can give people more control by making secure collection options easy to choose. A successful delivery should mean the parcel reaches the customer safely, not simply that it reaches their doorstep.”