Billions is lost to package theft annually
Porch piracy remains a low-effort, high-reward grab that continues to plague neighborhoods, including Preston Hollow.
According to data collected by Safe Wise, porch pirates cost Americans an estimated $15 billion in the past year, with more than 104 million packages stolen nationwide. That works out to roughly 250,000 stolen packages every single day — enough to fill a fleet of delivery trucks that never quite make it home.
Consumers aren’t the only ones feeling the sting. Retailers absorbed even larger losses, with $22 billion lost to stolen packages over a 12-month period, according to data from ZFLO Technologies, a loss prevention and e-commerce research firm. Combined, the economic toll of porch piracy reached at least $37 billion last year.
Dallas ranks as the sixth worst metro area for package theft, trailing only Chicago, New York City, Miami, Houston, and Baltimore. Los Angeles and Detroit rank slightly lower.
For Allison Tate of Preston Hollow, the impact goes beyond replacing a missing box.
“It’s not just about the theft itself,” Tate said. “It’s the feeling that someone brazenly walked up to your house and took something that was yours, and often in broad daylight.”
According to Safe Wise, most people don’t install deterrents until after they’ve been hit. The three most common prevention measures are delivery tracking, security cameras or video doorbells, and coordinating with neighbors. Others opt for lockable delivery boxes, signature-required deliveries, or full home security systems.
Lawmakers have also sharpened their response. As of 2025, most states have laws specifically addressing package theft, often elevating porch piracy to a felony offense. Penalties range from six months to 30 years in prison, depending on the state and severity.
Texas updated its laws in 2019 with House Bill 37, amending the Penal Code to specifically criminalize mail and package theft. Under Section 31.20, stealing packages from fewer than 10 addresses is a Class A misdemeanor, while theft from 10–29 addresses becomes a state jail felony, and theft from 30 or more addresses escalates to a third-degree felony.
While the pirates may still be prowling, between smarter homeowners and sharper laws, Preston Hollow porches may finally be getting a fighting chance.
For many, it’s about neighbors working together to protect each other.
“It’s really helpful when information about a particular person, the make and color of their car, or even the time of day a package is stolen is shared in our group chat or on platforms like Nextdoor,” Tate said. “That way we can all be more aware and together we might have a fighting chance combating the easy grab and go thefts taking place in our neighborhoods.”
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