Record-Setting Sales
Online sales this holiday season are forecasted to be 33% higher than last year's record high of $142 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. In fact, there were 39% and 33% bumps in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, as reported by CNBC.
This Means Record-Level Porch Piracy
Given those statistics, it goes without saying that there will be more packages shipped this year during the holidays than ever before. Last year, 31% of shoppers said they had a package stolen during the holiday season, according to C+R Research. If that statistic holds true, we can say with near certainty that this year there will be a record number of presents and parcels that get pirated instead of wrapped up and given to friends and family.
It’s Not Just Packages, but Food, Too!
Part of this package increase includes food deliveries, which have also skyrocketed during the pandemic, according to CNBC. Delivery companies like GrubHub and DoorDash are reporting an uptick in theft, as well, according to Wavy.com.
The Twittersphere Reacts to the Package Theft Threat
People are doing different things to combat the almost inevitable explosion of parcel pilfering we are experiencing, threatening to turn the jolliest time of year to the sorriest time of year:
According to C+R Research, 47% fear that their shipment is going to disappear from the front porch. Check out this Tweet from @CheeseMoonYen:
I'm waiting for my new laptop to get shipped to my house but I'm afraid a porch pirate is going to steal it :(
— Yo I’m Yen ✨Comms Open (1/3)✨ (@CheeseMoonYen) November 22, 2020
Delivery folks are trying to do their part when dropping off your orders, but when they let you know even that doesn't help. See this Tweet from @duckvalentine:
It was listed as delivered and the delivery person included a photo of my front door. I called them and they said they delivered it.
— Rebekah Valentine (@duckvalentine) July 14, 2020
@The_Ron_says wants a PlayStation but won’t purchase one because he doesn't want it to get stolen:
I guess they’re trying to keep people from crowding in the stores during a pandemic. I’m not gonna order it online because I’m afraid some porch Pirate is going to steal it
— Ronald Scott (@The_Ron_says) November 8, 2020
Companies like Target are warning customers which boxes are going to show their contents on the exterior—making them porch pirate magnets if they advertise sought after or expensive items inside. Check out this tweet from @Wario64:
If you ordered a PS5 from Target, there is a warning that it's being shipped in its original packaging with no way to hide what it is pic.twitter.com/TzI5CVumoT
— Wario64 (@Wario64) November 10, 2020
The whole state of Oklahoma is enacting the Porch Piracy Act, a new set of laws that include stronger punishment and restitution requirements for those caught stealing other people's stuff. See this tweet from @JamisonTVNews:
A new Oklahoma law creates a three-strike system for porch pirates just as holiday shopping begins.
— Jamison Keefover (@JamisonTVNews) November 3, 2020
Learn more ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/UHxoAm68zw