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Porch pirate thefts down in Worcester, police say

  • Posted by Worcester News 6 hours ago - Filed in News - #Worcester  #crime  #Worcester Police Department  #theft  #porch pirates  - 244 views


    Worcester Police Department images (Facebook)

    WORCESTER — Worcester police say reported package thefts declined sharply during the 2025 holiday season, even as delivery activity remains high across the city.

    From October 1st through December 8th, police received 43 reports of stolen packages, according to the Worcester Police Department. That represents a decrease of nearly 38% from the same period in 2024, when 69 package thefts were reported. Police said last year’s higher total was driven in part by thefts tied to a nationwide surge in stolen iPhones.

    While overall reports are down, police noted that many of this year’s thefts occurred not on private porches, but inside apartment building lobbies or shared mailrooms, where multiple deliveries are often left unattended.

    As the holiday shopping season continues, police are urging residents to take steps to reduce the risk of being the victim of porch pirates. Recommended precautions include requiring a signature for delivery, avoiding leaving packages unattended for long periods, picking up items in-store or at designated receiving centers, and using secure boxes or lockboxes for deliveries.

    Police also advise residents to consider installing security cameras with motion-detection alerts and visible signage, providing delivery instructions that direct packages to concealed locations, and signing up for delivery management services such as UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager or USPS Informed Delivery to better track shipments and specify delivery preferences.

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