Study: Texas ranks among worst states for porch pirates

How long do you think this package is going to last on a Texas porch? Credit: Pexels / Polina Tankilevitch

Texans getting gifts delivered for the holidays better watch out.

If a package is destined to a Lone Star State ZIP Code, there’s an elevated chance it may fall into the hands of porch pirates, according to a new study from data pattern and behavior website Action Network.

Texans have the nation’s fifth-highest odds of having their package stolen, the report found.

Researchers determined those odds by looking at reported stolen-package data, how often people search the internet for help with stolen packages and residential larceny crime records to compile its rankings.

Texas tallied more than 26,000 residential larcenies over the last quarter of a year — the highest in the nation. What’s more, some 5% of residents report having a package stolen in the past three months.

To avoid becoming a victim of porch pirates, Action Network researchers recommend people use in-store pickup when possible, install visible doorbell cameras and track deliveries to quickly retrieve delivered goods.

The states with the highest odds of porch piracy, in order, are Kentucky, California, Alaska, North Dakota and Texas.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.