New research by Comparethemarket has revealed that around 12.2 million online shoppers in the UK have had their parcels stolen, often from outside their front door with clothes, shoes and accessories the most commonly taken items.
The survey of 2,000 UK residents discovered that one in five have had a parcel stolen from their home. It found those shopping for a new wardrobe should be extra cautious, as 37% of stolen parcels contain clothing and accessories, followed by 21% containing gifts, and 14% containing technology and electronic accessories.
It also highlighted the parcel theft hotspots across the UK, with Cardiff ranking as the city with the highest rate of parcel theft at 34% of residents admitting to having a parcel stolen. Norwich residents followed closely with 29% and London at 28%.
Sheffield came out as the safest place, with only 12% of residents saying they’ve experienced parcel theft.
Additionally, the survey found that after finding out a parcel has been stolen 55% contacted the delivery company, and 50% contacted the retailer the delivery came from.
As theft is a crime, it comes as no surprise that almost 17% said they have contacted the police to report their stolen delivery. However, Comparethemarket pointed out while it’s important to report crime, the police won’t be able to help with getting a refund or a replacement.
The comparison website added as many as 51% of respondents were unsure as to whether they can claim on their home or contents insurance after having a parcel stolen, and one in 10 believe that they can. It stressed not all home insurance policies will cover a delivery stolen from outside the home. The insurance company recommended checking individual policy’s terms and conditions, as this may fall under “contents left in the garden” or “contents left in the open” as it’s often called, which may be excluded in some policies.
