Londoners warned to watch out for 'porch pirates' as parcel thefts rocket
Parcel thefts in London have risen by 376% since 2021, with December now the worst month for doorstep crime, according to new data from home experts at Hillarys.
Londoners ordering Christmas gifts online are facing a growing risk of having them stolen before they even make it indoors.
New figures supplied by Hillarys, reveal that parcel thefts reported to the Metropolitan Police have jumped dramatically in recent years, rising from 896 incidents in 2021 to 4,264 in 2024 — an increase of 376%.
Since 2020, almost 9,500 parcels have been reported stolen in the capital, the equivalent of around five thefts every single day.
December is by far the worst month. Reports of stolen packages spike by more than 90% compared with other times of year, as couriers race to deliver millions of items in the run-up to Christmas.
With an estimated 1.2 billion parcels delivered nationally over the festive period, London’s doorsteps have become an easy target.
It’s not just parcels at risk. The same study shows that 2,983 burglaries took place in London between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day from 2020 onwards, with 2023–24 the worst festive period on record. Alarmingly, more than four in five of these crimes — 82% — were never solved.
While some cases do lead to convictions, such as a Christmas Day burglary spree in Dagenham that ended with a six-year prison sentence, these remain the exception rather than the rule.
John Foster, home security expert at Hillarys, says the festive season creates “perfect conditions” for opportunistic crime. “Homes are full of valuables, parcels are left unattended and many people are out celebrating,” he explains.
His advice is simple but practical: keep doors and windows locked, hide presents from view, use doorbell cameras where possible and consider parcel lockers or collection points if you’re away.
As online shopping continues to rise, the message for Londoners this Christmas is clear — convenience comes with a risk, and vigilance is no longer optional.