Report by BBC Breakfast (3rd Dec 2025) outlined the new trend of ‘porch pirates’.The report supported that the delivery driver was not responsible for parcels being stolen at the doorstep. It highlighted that the households are required to take responsibility for receiving the parcel and designate a ‘safe' place.

BBC news recent investigation says 1 in 6 households are now subject to stolen parcels on the doorstep. Kat Cereda from Which magazine explained 'Think really carefully before you designate a safe place as this can reduce your rights.’

The customer has up to 14 days to claim for a lost or damaged parcel but stressed that this was the responsibility of the retailer to refund or replace not the delivery company. She went on to say that it is for the household to take precauions and to instruct the delivery company of a designated safe place and when doing so realise that they, the household, understand the risks of that safe place. Too many people just say ‘leave it - there’ and it isn’t a safe place. Door videos are the best evidence to produce if your parcel has been stolen from the doorstep.

'It is a busy time of year and many people are stressed, what do you suggest?’

Kat said ‘you maybe be feeling stressed or bad tempered, under pressure but you still need to treat your delivery driver with respect. it isn’t the delivery driver who is liable, it is the retailer who has the responsibility to deliver the parcel to you.

Kat continued to suggest that households need to be aware of this risk and be alert. The Metropolitan Police commented that they are aware of this recent upscale of porch piracy and are carrying out targeted undercover surveillance to capture gangs and those in organised crime.