Tennessee ranked low on list of worst states for package theft

If you’ve ever refreshed your tracking page only to see “Delivered”, while your porch sat completely empty, you’re far from alone. Package theft has quietly become one of the most common petty crimes in the U.S., fueled by the boom in online shopping and the reality that most deliveries are left unattended.

From viral doorbell-camera clips of so-called “porch pirates” to police departments urging residents to change delivery habits, the issue has moved from mild inconvenience to everyday anxiety for millions of Americans. A new study by fulfilment.com now reveals which states are hit hardest and how much stolen deliveries typically cost residents when they disappear.

Kentucky tops the ranking, with 12% of residents reporting a recent package theft, the highest share in the country. What’s striking is that despite the frequency, the median stolen package value is $78, suggesting thefts are common but often involve everyday items rather than big-ticket purchases.

North Dakota is second with a 11% rate, yet records the lowest median loss among the top ten at $63. Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska all report 10% theft rates, but their financial impact varies widely. Alaska mirrors the lower-value trend at $75, while Iowa stands out sharply with $200 stolen per incident, tying for the highest median loss nationwide. Nebraska sits in between, with thefts averaging $100.

Vermont ranks sixth with 9% of residents affected and a median loss of $113, reflecting both moderate frequency and value. Nevada and West Virginia each report 7% theft rates, but Nevada sees some of the lowest-value losses at $68, while West Virginia’s losses are closer to $100, suggesting fewer thefts but more costly ones.

Rounding out the top ten are California and Delaware, both at 6%. California’s placement challenges the assumption that it dominates package theft nationwide, with losses averaging $83. Delaware, however, mirrors Iowa’s pattern: fewer incidents overall, but high-value packages disappearing, with a median loss of $200.

At the other end of the spectrum, Connecticut, Michigan, and Utah report just 1% of residents experiencing a recent package theft, making them the safest states in the study.

James Olsen, spokesperson for fulfilment.com, commented on the study:

“What we’re seeing is that package theft isn’t just about city size or population density anymore. Some smaller or more rural states rank higher simply because deliveries are easier to access and less likely to be monitored.”

“The explosion in home deliveries has created more opportunities for theft, especially in areas where packages are routinely left unattended for hours. In states with higher theft rates but lower losses, it suggests quick, impulsive thefts rather than targeted ones.”

“Where the losses are higher, like in Iowa or Delaware, it often points to fewer thefts overall, but a greater chance that what’s stolen is something valuable. That could be electronics, specialty items, or deliveries timed around major sales events.”

“The good news is that simple changes still make a big difference. Using delivery lockers, requiring signatures for higher-value items, installing visible cameras, or even coordinating delivery times can dramatically reduce risk, especially in high-theft states.”

Methodology
The study analyzed the percentage of residents in each U.S. state who reported recently having a package stolen, ranking states by prevalence. The median value of stolen packages was included to provide context on the financial impact of theft. States with the highest reported theft rates ranked as the worst for package theft.

Source
Security org

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