How to Stop Package Theft This Holiday Season (Mostly for Free)

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Package theft spikes when deliveries do. The good news: most of the protection costs nothing. This guide starts with the free fixes, then covers the two purchases that actually help, and what to do if a package still goes missing.

It is a real problem, not just a doorbell-video meme. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says Postal Inspectors arrested almost 9,300 suspects for theft of mail and packages from 2019 to 2024. Most thefts are crimes of opportunity: a box sitting in plain view for hours.

Start with the free fixes

1. Know when packages arrive. Turn on delivery alerts in each retailer’s and carrier’s app. For USPS, Informed Delivery is free and shows what is arriving each day.
2. Have it held instead of left outside. Retailers and carriers offer pickup locations and lockers, and many let you redirect a package to one after it ships. If you ship something yourself, USPS’s Hold for Pickup option lets the recipient collect it at their Post Office.
3. Pick up promptly. The Postal Inspection Service’s first tip is not to leave packages at your door for any length of time. If you can’t, ask a neighbor you trust.
4. Give better delivery instructions. A side door, a back porch, or behind a gate is out of sight from the street. Most apps let you add delivery notes.
5. Ask for a signature on valuable items. Signature confirmation means the package can’t simply be dropped and left.
6. Traveling? Pause deliveries, and use USPS Hold Mail so nothing piles up while you’re away.

Worth buying if you’re often away

If packages regularly arrive while nobody is home, two things genuinely help. Both are optional. The free steps above come first.

1. A video doorbell

A camera at the door won’t stop every thief, but it lets you see deliveries as they happen, talk to a driver, and record what happened if a package goes missing. Two points before you buy: to save and replay recorded video, both brands below generally require a paid subscription plan, so check the current plan price; and both Blink and Ring are owned by Amazon.

Blink Video Doorbell

$26.99 · 4.1★ from 16,000+ ratings

The budget pick. Runs up to two years on three AA lithium batteries, or connects to existing doorbell wiring, with head-to-toe HD view and night vision. The Sync Module Core is included. Person alerts and saved clips need a Blink subscription.

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. Price and rating checked September 23, 2026.

Ring Battery Doorbell 2K

$39.99 · 4.2★ from 6,300+ ratings

Sharper 2K video with up to 6x zoom, Live View and Two-Way Talk, and a rechargeable battery that pops out to charge. Saving and sharing recordings requires a Ring subscription.

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. Price and rating checked September 23, 2026.

2. A locking package drop box

A drop box keeps packages out of sight and out of reach, as long as the delivery fits and drivers actually use it. Add a note in your delivery instructions asking carriers to place packages inside. Honest caution: many drop boxes on Amazon are new, lightly reviewed brands. We looked for one with a longer track record.

Architectural Mailboxes Elephantrunk Parcel Drop Box

$241.50 · 4.3★ from nearly 1,000 ratings

Cast aluminum and galvanized steel with a hopper-style door, so packages drop into a locked compartment that can’t be reached from the opening, plus a pry-resistant 3-point lock. Expensive, and very large items still won’t fit, but it’s built to last.

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. Price and rating checked September 23, 2026.

What we would skip

• No-name doorbell cameras under $15. Cheap cameras from unknown brands often come with weak apps and unclear data practices. A camera connected to your home network needs a maker that keeps its software updated.
• Buying gear before trying the free fixes. Delivery alerts, pickup locations and prompt pickup solve the problem for most households at no cost.

If a package is stolen anyway

1. Contact the seller first. Many retailers will replace or refund a package marked delivered but missing, especially if you report it quickly.
2. File a claim with the carrier through its website or app.
3. Save any doorbell video and report the theft to your local police, especially if it keeps happening.
4. For stolen mail or packages sent through USPS, you can report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
5. If you paid by credit card, ask your card issuer about purchase protection.

For more holiday protection, including shopping scams and travel, see our Holiday Safety Guide 2026 and the Holiday Safety Center.