LoginNew data reveals that £666.5 million worth of parcels were stolen across the UK in the past 12 months, almost £290 million more than in 2024, according to new Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by technology company Quadient.
The figures, based on FOI responses from 27 of the UK’s 45 police forces, show that 4.83 million households experienced at least one stolen parcel in the last year, a 31% year-on-year increase. Despite this sharp rise, only one in every 353 thefts is reported to the police, indicating that the true scale of parcel theft is likely far higher.
While December remains the peak month for opportunistic thieves, November continues to see a spike in thefts driven by Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. What was once a seasonal problem has now become a year-round risk, with the average value of a stolen parcel rising from £102 to £138.
Regional data highlights the UK’s most vulnerable areas: Leicestershire (799 reports), Hertfordshire (767), and Kent (750) top the list of hotspots, while the City of London (3) and Cheshire (16) reported the fewest incidents. The data also continues to show that people aged 22–44 are the most likely demographic to report parcel theft (53%).
A growing call for secure home delivery solutions
“It’s really sad that parcel theft has risen so dramatically in the past year,” said Paul Needler, CEO of iParcelBox, the UK’s leading secure at-home parcel delivery solution.
“The message from consumers is very clear: while most still prefer home delivery, they don’t want parcels left visible on their doorsteps for opportunists to steal. With UK households losing an estimated £666.5 million to parcel theft in just 12 months, many in broad daylight, the findings make a strong case for making secure parcel boxes the norm, not the exception.”
“For consumers, investing in a high-quality iParcelBox for their home or business can dramatically reduce the risk of theft, eliminate the frustration of missed deliveries, and avoid the inconvenience of collecting parcels from remote lockers or depots — helping restore confidence in home delivery.”
