Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to score deals on streaming devices, smart TVs, laptops, Wi-Fi gear, and other tech. Amazon’s biggest shopping event of the summer runs June 23-26, but while millions of Americans prepare to fill their carts, criminals are getting ready too.
A new study from online retailer Ecigone, based on the latest SafeWise package theft data, estimates Americans lose more than $14.9 billion worth of packages every year, with over 104 million deliveries stolen nationwide. As Prime Day kicks off next week, the report serves as a reminder that landing a great deal doesn’t matter much if someone else grabs the box before you do.
During Prime Day 2025, U.S. shoppers spent a record $24.1 billion online, according to Adobe Analytics, making it one of the biggest shopping events of the year. With Amazon once again expecting millions of orders during this year’s four-day shopping event, front porches across America are about to become a lot busier.
“Prime Day is exactly the kind of shopping moment where people order quickly and then forget the delivery risk. If a parcel is valuable, age-sensitive, or hard to replace, do not leave it sitting outside all afternoon,” said Shane Margereson, who works with online fulfillment and age-sensitive deliveries at Ecigone.
These Cities Top the List for Package Theft
Ecigone analyzed package theft data across major metro areas, ranking cities by total value lost, total theft incidents, and incidents per capita. Chicago topped the list with an estimated $254.3 million in stolen packages and nearly 6.5 million package theft incidents, narrowly edging out New York City, where shoppers lost an estimated $248.2 million.
Rounding out the top five were:
- Chicago — $254.3 million lost
- New York City — $248.2 million
- Miami — $213.8 million
- Houston — $200 million
- Baltimore — $159.5 million
Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Detroit, and Virginia Beach completed the top 10.
The Highest Risk Isn’t Always in the Biggest City
At first glance, it’s easy to assume the biggest cities have the biggest problems simply because they have more people. But the study found another trend hiding beneath the rankings.
When researchers looked at theft per capita, several smaller metro areas became much more concerning. Virginia Beach recorded the highest theft rate among the top 10 cities, with 4,199 incidents per capita, despite ranking tenth in total dollar losses. Baltimore also stood out. The city jumped from 67th place in the 2024 rankings to fifth this year, suggesting package theft has become a much bigger problem over the past year.
The research shows that porch piracy isn’t just an issue in America’s largest cities. Whether you live downtown, in the suburbs, or in a smaller metro area, unattended packages remain an easy target.
How to Keep Your Prime Day Deals Safe
Big online shopping events like Prime Day create the perfect environment for package thieves. Instead of receiving one delivery, many households receive several over the course of a few days. Amazon often ships items separately depending on which warehouse they’re coming from, meaning shoppers may have packages arriving in the morning, afternoon, or even late into the evening.
Fortunately, avoiding porch pirates doesn’t require much extra effort. Remember, for thieves, a stack of Amazon boxes can signal opportunity.
- Ship Expensive Orders to an Amazon Locker: These secure pickup locations eliminate the risk of it sitting on your porch.
- Choose Delivery Days Carefully: If applicable, select a delivery day when you’ll actually be home, which will significantly reduce your chances of theft.
- Turn On Delivery Notifications: The Amazon app can alert you within seconds of a package being delivered, so you can bring it inside sooner.
- Ask for Signature Confirmation: Requiring a signature prevents packages from being left unattended.
- Let Someone You Trust Grab Your Package: If you’re away from home, ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to pick up deliveries before they spend hours outside.
- Use a Video Doorbell: Security cameras won’t stop every thief, but they can discourage opportunistic criminals and provide valuable footage if a package disappears.
“Use a locker, collection point or signed delivery where possible, and choose a delivery day when someone can actually receive it. Retailers can help by giving customers clear delivery options at checkout, but the safest parcel is usually the one that never waits on a doorstep,” Margereson said.
Don’t Let a Great Deal Turn Into a Bad Surprise
As shoppers hunt for discounts on everything from streaming gear to smart home devices, the Ecigone study is a reminder of just how expensive package theft has become.
With nearly $15 billion in annual consumer losses and more than 104 million packages stolen across the country, taking a few extra minutes to choose a secure delivery option or have someone collect your package could be the difference between celebrating a great Prime Day deal and filing a missing package claim.
The 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Package Theft
Take a look at Ecigone’s full data set:
| Rank | City | Estimated Value Lost | Estimated Incidents | Incidents Per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $254,279,155 | 6,495,947 | 1,760 |
| 2 | New York City | $248,221,997 | 6,374,072 | 821 |
| 3 | Miami | $213,779,820 | 4,542,976 | 1,844 |
| 4 | Houston | $199,951,984 | 4,559,301 | 1,524 |
| 5 | Baltimore | $159,487,383 | 3,857,234 | 3,416 |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth | $159,096,197 | 3,627,708 | 1,124 |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $150,271,324 | 4,279,085 | 839 |
| 8 | San Antonio | $132,908,348 | 3,030,574 | 2,813 |
| 9 | Detroit | $119,132,736 | 3,410,203 | 1,971 |
| 10 | Virginia Beach | $107,669,161 | 2,989,897 | 4,199 |
Not an Amazon Prime member? Try Amazon Prime for 30 days free.
