Holiday deliveries mean an uptick in package thefts, but Delaware police departments have issued warnings and tips to combat the issue. (Photo from iStock/Getty Images)
With the holiday season approaching, Delaware police want to ensure residents are careful with their packages, especially with an uptick in porch thefts.
The Wall Street Journal published an article last week listing Delaware as one of eight states with a problem of iPhone package theft, but they did not respond to multiple inquiries this week about whether they plan to beef up security procedures here.
“As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to remain vigilant when ordering online and receiving packages,” said Sgt. Andrea Botterbusch, public information officer for the New Castle County Police Department. “With the increase in deliveries, there is also a rise in package theft.”
The New Castle County Police Department issued a warning to track all deliveries, choose a safe delivery location, install security cameras, and opt for in-store pickups.
The Wilmington Police also suggest requiring a signature when receiving a package.
“In some cases, suspects have posed as delivery drivers from other companies, walking right up to take the package,” the department stated. “In one incident under investigation, the package was stolen in just two minutes.”
The police have recently seen an increase in packages being stolen in recent months, with several being iPhones.
“Currently, we don’t have an explanation as to the recent increase in the thefts,” Botterbusch said. “However, typically around the holiday season, we experience an increase in thefts due to the holiday shopping.”
Recent figures for package thefts
However, the overall number of package thefts is decreasing in some places.
In Wilmington, there have been 12% fewer theft occurrences compared with the same time last year, and 46% fewer than in 2018.
“We have seen sustained reductions in misdemeanor thefts over the past several years, and we continue to encourage residents to take steps to help prevent incidents like these,” said David Karas, police policy and communications director at the Wilmington Police Department.
Data from New Castle County Police shows 19 package thefts from Oct. 1 to Oct. 14, 25 in September, 27 in August, 22 in July, 19 in June, and 16 in May, totaling 128 total package thefts since May.
The department does not have data on how those numbers compare to May through October of 2023.
The Wall Street Journal article listed Delaware as one of eight states with a problem of iPhone package theft – specifically those affiliated with AT&T. The story says AT&T items delivered by FedEx often do not require a signature at the time of delivery, and porch pirates swoop in shortly after a box is placed at someone’s house.
Does frictionless = safe?
“We strive to make delivery as simple and frictionless as possible for our customers,” said Jim Kimberly, a spokesperson for AT&T. “For customers who prefer an in-store option, we offer AT&T store pickup. We require signatures in several markets where we have experienced theft issues, and we regularly make changes to our processes, whether it is type of delivery or even type of packaging, to reduce instances of these thefts.”
He pointed out that context is important, and the phone service ships tens of thousands of packages a day without incident.
Parcel theft is not a problem unique to AT&T, he added, and like other types of crime, the occurrence of this is often cyclical and based on the steps that shippers, customers, and the parcel carriers take to combat it.
“Parcel theft is a concern across many businesses, and we take it seriously,” he said. “We work with law enforcement agencies and parcel carriers to protect our deliveries from these sophisticated criminals. We understand how frustrating and stressful these events can be for our customers. When these unfortunate events occur, we work as quickly as possible with the customer to make it right.”
Kimberly and other corporate officials from AT&T did not respond to multiple inquiries about whether the company plans to require signatures in Delaware moving forward.
Thieves often target unattended packages left at doorsteps, Botterbusch said, and with the higher volume of orders, it can be easier to miss a delivery or have one stolen before it’s retrieved.
Kimberly said AT&T uses multiple parcel carriers and works hard with them to address issues as they arise.
“These are crimes committed by sophisticated criminals that are being investigated by both federal and state law enforcement agencies,” he said.
In addition to the police department’s tips, Botterbusch suggested that package recipients ensure someone is home or a trusted neighbor is available to accept an item.
Police ask the public to report any suspicious activity immediately by calling the department at (302) 573-2800 or dial 911.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
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