A new freedom of information (FOI) request from technology company Quadient has revealed that record breaking £666.5m (US$878m) worth of parcels were stolen across the UK in the last 12 months, nearly £290m (US382m) more than in 2024.
According to The 2025 Parcel Theft Report, 4.83 million homes across the UK suffered at least one stolen parcel in the past year, a rise of 31% compared to 2024, but only one in 353 thefts were reported to the police.
The data shows that December remained the peak month for parcel theft, closely followed by November, and the average value of a stolen parcel climbed from £102 (US$134) in 2024 to £138 (US$181) this year, pushing UK consumer losses to “unprecedented levels”, according to Quadient.
“Parcel theft has risen dramatically in the past year, and with the busiest delivery season approaching, the message from consumers is clear: they don’t want packages left on their doorsteps anymore,” said Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, director of lockers automation Europe at Quadient.
“With UK households losing an estimated £666.5m to parcel theft in just 12 months, with many of these thefts taking place in broad daylight, the findings make a clear case for making secure parcel lockers the norm, not the exception.”
Safety in lockers
According to supporting consumer research conducted by Quadient, the public is aware of parcel theft issues and seeking safer delivery options. In fact, nearly two thirds (64%) of the UK public say they’d feel more comfortable using secure parcel lockers or collection points instead of doorstep delivery; and more than two-thirds (68%) would prefer to miss a delivery entirely rather than risk having their parcel stolen. Concerns around how the crimes are dealt with also run high for consumers. Almost eight in 10 (79%) believe authorities should take parcel theft more seriously.
“Retailers and carriers should review their practices and move away from defaulting to ‘safe place’ drops, prioritizing secure collection points or lockers to protect customers and their reputations,” Bourgeais-Crémel said.
“For consumers, especially during December’s peak period, choosing lockers or pickup services for higher-value items can significantly reduce the risk of theft. By embracing secure locker infrastructure, business and communities can help reverse the rise in crime, ease pressure on police, and restore consumer confidence in home delivery.”
Download The 2025 Parcel Theft Report.
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