With holiday shopping in full swing, Canadians across the country are clicking “buy now” at record rates. But as delivery vans cruise through neighborhoods from Halifax to Victoria, so too are the opportunists we’ve come to call porch pirates – thieves who snatch packages from doorsteps before rightful owners can retrieve them.
“We’re seeing about a 30% increase in reported package thefts during November and December compared to other months,” says Staff Sergeant Melissa Chen of the Ottawa Police Service. “The surge in online shopping creates a perfect storm of opportunity for these crimes of convenience.”
The phenomenon isn’t new, but it’s growing. Last holiday season, an estimated one in four Canadians reported having at least one package stolen from their property, according to a Maru Public Opinion survey conducted in January. With e-commerce sales projected to climb another 15% this year according to Statistics Canada, the problem is only intensifying.
I spoke with Diane Kwong, whose family business ships handcrafted goods from their workshop in Burnaby, B.C. “We’re eating the cost of replacements and reshipments almost weekly now,” she told me during a call last Thursday. “It’s not just the big retailers suffering – it’s small businesses like ours where every package matters.”
The human cost extends beyond dollars and cents. Marcel Gagnon, a 72-year-old grandfather from Sudbury, described the disappointment of having his grandchildren’s carefully selected gifts vanish from his porch. “I saved up for months for those special toys,” he explained while we chatted at a community center. “The money’s one thing, but seeing the kids’ faces when I had nothing to give them – that’s the real theft.”
The frustration is compounded by what many victims describe as an inadequate response from authorities. Police departments across provinces acknowledge they’re stretched thin tracking these crimes, which often fall into a gray area of priorities.
“We simply can’t dispatch officers for every stolen package,” admits Constable Jamal Williams of the Edmonton Police Service. “We encourage reporting through online systems, which helps us identify patterns, but the reality is we’re focusing limited resources on violent crimes first.”
So what can everyday Canadians do to protect their deliveries during this vulnerable season?
Security expert and former RCMP officer Anita Sharma recommends several practical approaches: “Install a video doorbell if possible – they’re more affordable than ever, starting around $50 for basic models. Consider delivery lockers offered by Canada Post or Amazon. Have packages sent to your workplace if your employer allows it. Or simply request signature confirmation for valuable items.”
Some neighborhoods are taking community-based approaches. In Regina’s Cathedral district, residents created an informal network of “package buddies” who collect each other’s deliveries when someone is away from home. The idea spread through their community Facebook group and now involves over 200 households.
“It started with just a few neighbors looking out for each other,” explains Farrah Nazim, who helped organize the initiative. “Now we’ve got a whole system where you can post when you’re expecting something important, and someone on your street will grab it for you if you’re not home.”
Retailers themselves are adapting too. Canadian Tire now offers text alerts when packages are delivered, while Shoppers Drug Mart has expanded its in-store pickup options. Even smaller businesses are finding solutions – Toronto-based bookshop Type Books launched a “neighborhood delivery day” where an employee makes personal deliveries to local customers once weekly.
The problem goes beyond individual inconvenience. Insurance Bureau of Canada spokesperson Trevor Hamilton notes that while some home insurance policies might cover stolen packages, “many Canadians have deductibles higher than the value of most deliveries, making claims impractical. And repeated claims could potentially affect premiums.”
For residents in apartment buildings and condos, the situation can be even more complex. Parcels often sit in unsecured lobbies or mail rooms accessible to numerous residents and visitors. Toronto condo manager Raj Patel has seen the problem firsthand: “We’ve had to install additional cameras and secure package rooms in buildings we manage, but it’s an ongoing challenge balancing convenience with security.”
The technology battle continues to evolve. Some homeowners have resorted to package lockboxes that delivery personnel can place items into, while others use fake security cameras as visual deterrents. More tech-savvy residents have created homemade contraptions that make noise or flash lights when packages are delivered.
Law enforcement officials note that many porch pirates are opportunistic rather than organized criminals. “These aren’t usually sophisticated theft rings,” explains Sergeant Chen. “They’re individuals who spot unattended packages and make split-second decisions to take them.”
That opportunistic nature means that even simple preventative measures can be effective. Something as basic as requesting packages be placed out of sight, behind a planter or column, can reduce theft risk significantly.
As we move deeper into the holiday season, the most important strategy might simply be awareness and planning. Tracking numbers and delivery notifications allow recipients to arrange to be home or have someone collect packages promptly.
“The best defense is reducing the time packages sit unattended,” security consultant Sharma emphasizes. “Even thirty minutes can make the difference between a successful delivery and a disappointing theft.”
For those who do fall victim to porch pirates this season, experts recommend immediately contacting the retailer or sender, many of whom have policies covering stolen items. Filing a police report, even online, helps authorities track theft patterns and may be required for replacement claims.
As Canadians navigate another holiday season of clicks and deliveries, the porch pirate phenomenon reminds us that alongside the convenience of online shopping comes new challenges. But with some planning and community cooperation, we can help ensure those special deliveries end up in the right hands – not walking away with opportunistic thieves.
