How To Prevent Package Theft In Apartments: Top Strategies For Secure Deliveries

With package theft on the rise in apartment complexes, it’s important to put some effective preventive measures in place. Here’s your guide to preventing stolen packages in multifamily properties, including a range of security measures aimed at safeguarding mail deliveries.
Residential tenants have certain expectations of their property managers. A decent place to live, for one. Reasonably fast repairs. And that their personal belongings are safe—including mail and packages.
Unprotected mailrooms have long been a source of trouble. By focusing on preventing multi-family package theft, you can help ensure a more secure environment for your residents and improve their overall living experience.
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Package theft statistics
Unfortunately, package theft is prevalent across the U.S. — and it’s only becoming more common. The numbers speak for themselves:
- In a survey of 1000 renters, package theft was the most common crime reported in their apartments.
- An estimated 120.5 million packages were stolen by porch pirates in 2024, reflecting a 1 million increase from the previous year.
- Package theft resulted in an estimated $12 billion in losses in 2024.
- 44 million Americans were the victim of package theft at least once in the past 12 months.
- The average value of stolen items is $50.
Top U.S. states and cities most affected by package theft
According to Forbes, the states with the most significant package theft issues in 2024, determined by a combination of crime data and search trends, are:
- New Hampshire
- Oklahoma
- Delaware
- Iowa
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Washington
- Oregon
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Massachusetts
- Alabama
In another survey, SafeWise identified the metro areas that saw the highest rates of package theft. They include:
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Richmond, VA
- Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
- Greenville-Anderson, SC
- Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
In short, package theft can happen anywhere that packages are left unattended. Major cities in particular see high rates of stolen packages.
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Why does package theft happen?
It’s pretty simple: The more people shop online, the more packages are delivered to their homes. And more packages may mean a higher risk of package theft. On average, the U.S. postal service delivers 23.5 million packages each day thanks to the rise of online shopping.
And while it’s a problem year-round, the number of package thefts does spike during the holiday season and around shopping events like Black Friday, Prime Day, and Cyber Monday.
In 2024, 52% of Americans expressed concern about package theft. However, the actual number of thefts is likely higher due to underreporting. Many victims do not file police reports, and the arrest rate remains low, with less than 10% of cases resulting in an arrest. This underreporting is partly because major online retailers often provide refunds or replacements without requiring a police report.

Package theft isn’t just a problem for houses — multi-family properties are at risk too.
People often associate porch pirates with residential homes. But package theft can (and does) happen at multi-family residential properties. In fact, multi-family properties may be at even greater risk of package theft.
In any apartment complex, the sheer volume of people coming and going — residents, delivery personnel, friends, family, staff, contractors, and so on — means that even a locked lobby door can’t always keep crime out.
Unfortunately, renters aren’t always able to take action to prevent multi-family package theft. But as a property owner or manager, there are many strategies, tools, and services you can adopt to keep your package room safe.
5 ways to prevent package theft in multifamily properties
As a property owner or manager, you have a responsibility to keep the building clean, well-maintained, and secure. In fact, under the concept of reasonable care, you are legally required to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of your tenants.
Your residents have a reasonable expectation of safety and security in exchange for their rent or condo fees, and this extends to their packages, mail, and deliveries. Preventing package theft is essential to ensuring the security of valuable items like deliveries, sensitive documents, and personal belongings within your apartment complex.
But what can you do to deliver on that promise? Here are some actionable strategies to prevent multi-family package theft.
1. Enforce access control measures
Controlling who enters and exits your building is essential to prevent package theft and secure your residents’ deliveries.
Here are some key ways to implement access control across your property and safeguard packages:
- Install electronic keypads or card access systems for secure access
- Use intercom systems for visitor verification to ensure only authorized individuals enter
- Employ security personnel for monitoring entry points and preventing unauthorized access
- Implement video surveillance at entrances to deter suspicious activity and document incidents
- Use smart locks to secure doors, ensuring package security and reducing vulnerability
- Install motion-sensor lighting at entry points to alert security to potential intruders and deter package thieves
- Require ID badges for contractors and maintenance staff to prevent unauthorized entry into sensitive areas
- Ensure every point of entry is properly monitored to avoid unauthorized access and protect your residents’ packages.
By taking these steps, you’ll not only help reduce package theft but also improve the overall security and peace of mind for your residents.
→ Security tip: Modern control and intercom systems can create a temporary delivery pass, a one-time code given to the delivery person for access. They can also generate a unique delivery PIN, permanently assigned to each courier like FedEx, UPS, Purolator, and DHL. These tools allow access only to authorized individuals and maintain a digital record of who was present and when, in case of theft.
2. Create a package room
At its most basic, a package room is simply a locked room to store packages until the recipient can collect them. It need not be any more complicated than that. Of course, that would require someone on-site to physically put the packages into the room, which may not be an option.
Smart package rooms are equipped with touchscreens and smart locks. Couriers access them with a delivery code or by scanning the package itself. They deposit the packages, and recipients can pick them up at their convenience.
Couriers often prefer secure package rooms to lockers because rooms allow them to leave all of their packages in one place rather than door-by-door, saving time and money. Many locker providers also have room solutions, too. Luxer One and Package Concierge are two examples.
Of course, if all of the packages are in the room together, this option can’t prevent those with access to the room from stealing other people’s items. For that, you’d need package lockers.
3. Install package lockers
These lockers offer individual slots for packages, each accessible only by the recipient using a unique code or via a smartphone app. This helps minimize the risk of package theft since only authorized individuals can access specific compartments.
Here’s how it works: These compartmentalized structures have cubbies of various sizes and open with either a key or code provided to couriers. When the courier has a delivery, they open the locker assigned to the recipient and deposit the package. Then the recipient is notified by either the courier or the locker itself.
Package lockers can be set up both inside and outside, offering flexible solutions that fit different building layouts and user needs. Providers like Amazon Hub Locker and Parcel Pending offer customizable options that can be adjusted to fit various property sizes and security needs, making it easy to integrate into existing setups.
4. Hire a door attendant or concierge
Another option — albeit a potentially expensive one — is to hire a door attendant or concierge for the main lobby.
These individuals can help residents as needed. But they can also act as the first line of defense against unwanted intruders. They can buzz delivery personnel in, sign for packages, securely store the items, and notify residents that their package has arrived.
If a live concierge is outside of your budget, you might consider a virtual one. Companies like 1Valet can provide a virtual concierge system as a more affordable option. What’s more, many of these services include a package delivery management system that lets couriers in, scans packages, provides temporary access to secure lockers, and notifies the recipient via a mobile app. It’s like having a concierge on duty at all times. The downside, of course, is that real humans are smarter than a piece of technology.
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5. Install security cameras
Surveillance cameras are a must-have tool in any multi-family property security system.
Strategically placed security cameras in common areas, hallways, and entry points can act as a strong deterrent to criminal activity. Not only do they enhance the sense of security among residents, but they also provide valuable evidence in case of any incidents.
But what if a camera could not only record, but also actively stop package thefts in progress? AI-powered security cameras like Deep Sentinel meld tech and human guards to identify and intervene in suspicious activities before they escalate.
Here’s how it works: These smart cameras can detect unusual behavior and trigger alerts to on-site security personnel or remote surveillance teams who can intervene in real-time. This proactive approach doesn’t just document incidents for later review; it helps prevent them from happening in the first place.
Watch Deep Sentinel stop a real package theft:
How can apartment residents prevent package theft?
As a renter or unit owner, you can take proactive steps to protect your packages beyond what the building is doing for everyone.
- Request a signature upon delivery, especially for big-ticket items
- Use a third-party service like Doorman
- Schedule deliveries for when you know you’ll be home
- Provide delivery instructions specifying a safe or secure location to leave the package.
- Use a nearby Amazon Pickup or Hub Locker location
- Use delivery tracking available through most major couriers
- Consider a product like DoorBox or Package Guard if allowed
(Building managers, it’s a good idea to share these tips with your tenants.)
RELATED POST: How to Stop Porch Pirates from Stealing Your Packages
Deep Sentinel offers the most effective protection against package theft.
Deep Sentinel works closely with property managers nationwide to provide multi-family residential security solutions that deliver real-time intervention and deterrence tactics.
By integrating advanced AI technology with the expertise of live security guards, Deep Sentinel ensures rapid response to any potential security threats. The system’s capability to identify suspicious activities and involve human operators means that security breaches are addressed before they can develop into serious incidents.
This advanced layer of protection not only reduces the risk of theft but also enhances the overall safety of residential environments. Property managers can equally benefit from detailed incident reports and analytics, providing insights into security trends and areas for improvement.
Protect your perimeter and points of entry from break-ins, vandalism, theft, loitering, and other intruders with live monitoring that prevents crime before it happens.
Learn more at deepsentinel.com or call 833.517.1609 for a free quote.
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