Home Security · Guide
| 6 Min Read | Updated June 2026 | The Adoorn Editorial Team |
Package Theft, What To Do
What to do if your package is stolen.
The Direct Answer
If a package is stolen from your porch, act in four steps: (1) document it, photos, tracking, order details; (2) contact the retailer or carrier to report the loss; (3) file a police report (and report to USPIS if it was USPS mail); and (4) file a claim, then secure future deliveries so it can't happen again.
Take a breath. Most stolen-package situations get resolved, and the steps below are exactly what to do, in order.
| 01 | Recover It |
How to handle a stolen package, step by step.
- 1 Document everything. Before anything else, capture the record: a screenshot of the tracking page showing “delivered,” the order number and item details, the delivery date and time, and a photo of where it should have been. This is what every retailer and carrier will ask for. Two minutes now saves an hour later.
- 2 Contact the retailer or carrier. Start with whoever sold you the item: most retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart, and others) handle stolen-package claims directly and will replace or refund faster than the carrier. If you bought from a smaller seller, contact the carrier that delivered it (UPS, FedEx, USPS, or the regional courier on the tracking). Report it as delivered-but-missing.
- 3 File a police report. For anything of meaningful value, file a report with your local police department's non-emergency line. Many retailers require a police report number before they'll process a high-value claim, and it creates a record if the theft is part of a neighborhood pattern. If the item came through USPS, you can also report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov (or 1-877-876-2455).
- 4 File your claim, then close the gap. Submit the claim with your documentation to the retailer or carrier. Then do the one thing that keeps this from repeating: give your deliveries a place to land that locks. That's the difference between handling this once and handling it every few months.
That's the full recovery process. Here's what to expect next.
| 02 | What Happens Next |
What happens after you report a stolen package.
Here is the timeline so nothing catches you off guard. Most major retailers resolve a stolen-package claim within a few business days, often with a replacement or refund, no police report required for lower-value items. Carrier claims take longer (typically one to two weeks) and usually require the documentation from Step 1. If you paid by credit card and the seller will not help, your card's purchase protection is a backstop. A police report rarely recovers the specific package, but it builds the local record that matters if porch theft is hitting your street repeatedly.
| 03 | Retailer vs Carrier |
Who is responsible for a stolen package, the retailer or the carrier?
It depends on where the package was in the journey. Once a package is marked “delivered,” responsibility usually sits with the retailer you bought from, which is why contacting them first (Step 2) is fastest. Carriers are generally responsible for packages lost in transit (before delivery), and they handle those through their claim process. Some large retailers, like Amazon, may replace a delivered-but-stolen item as a goodwill gesture. That is a courtesy at their discretion, and policies vary by retailer, so do not count on it. The practical rule: start with the retailer, escalate to the carrier if the retailer points you there.
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| 04 | Stop The Next One |
How to stop it from happening again.
Once the claim is filed, there is one move that takes porch theft off your plate for good: give deliveries a locked place to land. A secure package box sits on your porch, the carrier drops the package through a top door, and an anti-theft panel keeps it locked inside until you retrieve it with your key, so a package that has been delivered cannot be lifted.
It is what Adoorn's Package Box is built for: heavy-duty galvanized steel construction, stainless steel hinges, a rust-resistant powder-coat finish, weatherproof and worry-proof. On more than 350,000 homes, rated 4.5 stars across 165+ reviews. It works with every carrier, no app and no driver training required.
A note on Adoorn orders, plainly: if an Adoorn order never arrives, or the carrier delivers it to the wrong address, we reship free. Like any retailer, we cannot cover a package stolen after it is confirmed delivered to your door. That is exactly the gap a locking box closes.
Want a simple way to lock down the whole front door? Get our Front-Door Security Checklist, one email, no clutter.
| 05 | The Questions |
Frequently asked.
What should I do if my package is stolen?
Document it (tracking screenshot, order details, a photo of the spot), contact the retailer or carrier to report it missing, file a police report for anything valuable, and submit a claim. Then secure future deliveries with a locking package box so it cannot happen again.
Who is responsible if a package is stolen, the retailer or the carrier?
Once a package is marked delivered, responsibility usually sits with the retailer you bought from; carriers are generally responsible for items lost in transit. Start with the retailer. Some large sellers, like Amazon, may replace a stolen delivery as a goodwill courtesy, though it is not guaranteed. Escalate to the carrier if directed.
Will the carrier refund a stolen package?
Carriers refund packages lost in transit through their claim process, with your documentation. For packages marked delivered then stolen, the retailer is usually the faster path. Your credit card's purchase protection can be a backstop if neither resolves it.
How do I report porch piracy?
File a report with your local police non-emergency line, and report the loss to the retailer or carrier. If the item came through USPS, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov (or 1-877-876-2455). Keep any report numbers.
How do I stop packages from being stolen?
Give deliveries a locked place to land. A secure package box accepts drops from any carrier and keeps them locked until you retrieve them, the simplest, most durable fix. See the Adoorn Package Box.
Related Resources
- Prevent the next one: Mail & package theft prevention guide
- If mail was taken too: How to report stolen mail, step by step
- Report it: U.S. Postal Inspection Service (or 1-877-876-2455)
- Lock down deliveries: See the Package Box