11 Million U.S. Homeowners Experienced Package Theft Within the Last Year, August Home Study Reveals

69% of Package Theft Victims Prefer a Delivery Service Enter Their
Home, Via an App, From Wherever They are Versus Leaving the Package
Outside

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Package theft is plaguing today’s consumers; nearly 11 million U.S.
homeowners have had a package stolen within the past year. August
Home Inc, the leading provider of smart locks and smart home access
products and services that make life more simple and secure, today
released the results of a new study, Package
Theft Report: Outsmarting Criminals at Your Front Door. The study
provides new insights into the rise in package theft and the steps
consumers are willing to take to ensure their packages are received
safely and securely including allowing delivery services to place
packages directly inside their home.

U.S. homeowners receive an average of 27 packages each year and 26%
receive deliveries at least once a week, which creates a real worry that
packages left on the doorstep will be stolen (53%). This becomes a
greater worry for those who have been victims of package theft (74%) and
increases to 81% during the holidays.

The majority of packages are stolen during the day when homeowners are
out (74%) and theft victims spend close to $200 to replace each stolen
package. Sixty-nine percent of package theft victims shared that they
would rather let a delivery person into their home via an app from
wherever they are, rather than being forced to have a package left
outside. And 28% commented that it would be ideal if delivery services
could leave packages directly inside their home.

“Package theft is increasing exponentially. And this doesn’t just affect
consumers’ wallets as they replace stolen goods, it’s also a threat to
them feeling safe and secure at home,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August
Home. “With the average value of packages stolen costing $200 or more to
replace, 80% of homeowners mentioned that they would rather invest in
smart technology, such as our Doorbell Cam, which would eliminate this
worry once and for all, rather than continue to spend money replacing
stolen goods.”

Online Shopping Increases Threat of Package Theft During the Holidays

The rise of online shopping has significantly increased the prevalence
of home deliveries. Seventy percent of U.S. homeowners expect to receive
packages during the holiday season with 61% receiving more packages than
they would at any other time of year making them an even bigger target
for package theft (81%). Victims noted that they were forced to stay
home when expecting deliveries (49%) or leave work early to meet the
delivery person (20%) to prevent theft. This rise in package theft
leaves victims feeling angry (76%), frustrated (60%) and vulnerable
(35%). These feelings are further complicated during the holiday
season when package theft victims are busier than usual and may not have
time to replace stolen gifts (46%).

Smart Home Technology Primed to Mitigate Theft

Smart home technology could significantly reduce package theft. More
than 1 in 4 homeowners that experienced package theft say it would be
ideal if delivery personnel could leave packages directly inside their
homes. And, consumer comfort with in-home delivery when they can’t be
home increases dramatically with the ability to use the core features of
smart locks and doorbell cameras (81% homeowners; 94% package theft
victims). Eighty-six percent mention the value of smart locks as
allowing packages to be left in the home without leaving the door
unlocked and 92% agree that doorbell cameras provide peace of mind with
the ability to see anyone at the door, from anywhere.

Consumers also positively cite being able to see the delivery person
inside their home (50% homeowners; 70% package theft victims), watch the
delivery person enter and exit their home (49% homeowners; 67% package
theft victims), speak to the delivery person as they enter and exit the
home (47% homeowners; 67% package theft victims) and remotely lock the
door behind the delivery person when they leave (47% homeowners; 67%
package theft victims). Further, in the case of foul play, consumers
took comfort knowing that smart home technology could be used to
identify package thieves and give information to authorities (35% of
homeowners; 45% package theft victims).

For more information on the research results, see the infographic
and research
highlights.

Contacts

August Home Inc
Lisa Auslen
press@august.com