FedEx survey says 61 per cent of Ontario shoppers worry about “porch pirates”

As Cyber Monday orders begin to arrive on doorsteps, a FedEx survey found many Ontario shoppers are worried about ‘porch pirates’.

A “porch pirate” refers to someone who steals mail deliveries and packages from someone else’s property – often when packages are left on the porch for an amount of time.

The delivery company released the results of a survey in November, where they polled 1,500 Canadians to discover any online shopping trends.

According to the survey over 60 per cent of people who participated said they will still turn to online shopping for its convenience despite package theft concerns.

The 2024 survey says only seven per cent reported a package theft in the past year, a drop from 17 per cent in 2023.

Public Relations Advisor for FedEx James Anderson says that digital tools are to thank for the decrease in packages being stolen.

He says the increase in monitoring technology and the stronger sense of community has lowered the number of stolen packages.

“There is so much more awareness, much more tools and options for consumers,” Anderson said. “I think we’re all in this together in terms as communities reporting suspicious activity.”

FedEx recommends online shoppers to use online tracking, setting delivery instructions or to redirect a package to a more reliable location if someone isn’t able to receive it.

Anyone who has become a victim of package theft is asked to contact police.

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