LoginCriminals cashing in as police records from 23 forces across the UK reveal that thefts of parcels and packages order by online shoppers have risen sharply over the last three years
London – October 14, 2019 – Thefts of parcels and packages from Britain’s doorsteps have surged by nearly one quarter over the last three years, according to Police records.
The data, obtained under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act by iParcelBox, the smart home parcel delivery solution, showed a whopping 2,578 thefts were reported to 23 police forces which supplied information across the UK. The figures show a rise a rise of 786 thefts in the financial year 2016-2017 up to 962 in the financial year 2018-2019 – an increase of 22 per cent. The total figures of UK parcel theft are likely to be substantially higher, as only half of the UK’s police forces provided a formal response.
The area with the highest levels of parcel thefts was Lancashire Constabulary, which reported 292 thefts in total and 108 in the last 12 months.
The West Country was also revealed as a hotspot for parcel crime with 20 per cent of all thefts coming from this area. Devon and Cornwall Police reporting 264 thefts in total, with 91 in the last year. Meanwhile Avon and Somerset Police reported 262 incidents of parcel theft in total.
Additionally, Leicestershire Police reported a total of 216 thefts over the period, closely followed by West Midlands Police on 211 incidents.
The lowest areas of parcel theft came from Nottinghamshire Constabulary with only 21 accounts of parcel theft over a 3-year period (1 per cent of total figures). Other safe areas considered to have low levels of parcel theft were Durham Constabulary which recorded 28 reports of parcel thefts and North Wales Police, which reported only 34 incidents.
Paul Needler, founder, iParcelBox comments:
“It’s clear that the online shopping surge is fuelling a new crimewave of parcel thefts across the UK. For opportunistic thieves, the chance to steal an unattended parcel that is sitting on the doorstep is irresistible.
Asking the delivery driver to place your package under a flowerpot or behind your wheelie bin when you’re out should no longer be an option. Instead, it’s vital that all online shoppers ensure they have a secure, easy to use, delivery box in place to receive their parcels.”
Full table of regional force results below:
| Police force | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | Total |
| Avon and Somerset Police | 101 | 76 | 85 | 262 |
| Bedfordshire Police | 26 | 38 | 54 | 118 |
| Cambridgeshire Constabulary | 28 | 11 | 60 | 99 |
| Derbyshire Constabulary | 9 | 7 | 12 | 28 |
| Devon & Cornwall Police | 76 | 97 | 91 | 264 |
| Dorset Police | 78 | 49 | 74 | 201 |
| Durham Constabulary | 5 | 17 | 6 | 28 |
| Gwent Police | 6 | 16 | 22 | 44 |
| Hampshire Constabulary | 42 | 39 | 38 | 119 |
| Lancashire Constabulary | 88 | 96 | 108 | 292 |
| Leicestershire Police | 59 | 88 | 69 | 216 |
| Lincolnshire Police | 3 | 13 | 22 | 38 |
| Merseyside Police | 38 | 47 | 55 | 140 |
| Ministry of Defence Police | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Norfolk Constabulary | 15 | 13 | 15 | 43 |
| North Wales Police | 8 | 11 | 15 | 34 |
| Northamptonshire Police | 26 | 25 | 27 | 78 |
| Nottinghamshire Police | 4 | 9 | 8 | 21 |
| South Wales Police | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suffolk Constabulary | 23 | 23 | 23 | 69 |
| Surrey Police | 52 | 46 | 55 | 153 |
| West Midlands Police | 61 | 72 | 78 | 211 |
| West Yorkshire Police | 34 | 37 | 44 | 115 |
| Total | 786 | 830 | 962 | 2578 |
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About iParcelBox:
Founded in 2019 by entrepreneur Paul Needler, iParcelBox is the game-changing parcel delivery solution which is monitored and controlled via a smartphone app. The iParcelBox solution is easy to use, allowing the delivery driver to follow simple instructions, pressing a button to request a delivery. The smartphone notification alerts the customer who unlocks the iParcelBox remotely using the free app. If the parcel needs to be ‘signed for’ then the delivery driver can scan the unique bar code inside the lid of the iParcelBox as proof of delivery.
iParcelBox has been designed to be easy for couriers to use. The delivery driver simply presses a button on the iParcelBox to request a delivery. The first delivery will be accepted automatically, and for subsequent deliveries a smartphone notification alerts the customer, who unlocks the iParcelBox remotely using the free app. The delivery driver can scan the unique bar code inside the lid of the iParcelBox as proof of delivery.
The iParcelBox solution can be used by all courier and delivery firms, as it requires no integration with their back-end systems. Companies successfully delivering parcels to iParcelBox include Amazon, DPD, Royal Mail, DHL, UPS, Fedex, Hermes and Yodel. iParcelBox is made of steel, the compartment is locked and if it contains parcels is only accessible when unlocked by the owner.
