Neighbor Stole My Packages (This Made Them Stop!)

With online shopping at an all-time high, porch pirates certainly have an influx of opportunities. More than 52% of Amazon packages are reported stolen each year. Have you fallen victim to your neighbor stealing your packages? What can you do to make them stop?

Stop neighbors from stealing packages by getting a smart delivery box to secure your packages. You should also install security cameras or smart doorbells at your front door. Knowing their crime will be caught on camera is usually enough to deter most thieving neighbors.

Installing a security system of some sort is your first step to ensuring your package safety. But what do you do in the meantime if you want to apprehend those sneaky neighbors? Continue reading to learn everything you need to do if you think your neighbors are stealing your packages.  

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Can I Sue My Neighbor for Stealing My Packages?

You can absolutely sue your neighbor for stealing your packages. Laws change depending on which state you live in so penalties differ but rest assured you can press serious charges on your neighbor if you catch them stealing.

For example, in Illinois, if a package was stolen that was worth $500 or less, it is considered a Class A misdemeanor. If the thief is charged, they can face up to one year in jail, a fine of $2500, and will be forced to pay back the cost of the goods stolen.

If you believe your neighbor is stealing your packages, it may be worth your time to press charges. But like most crimes, proving it happened is tricky. 

How Can I Prove a Neighbor Stole My Package?

If you believe your neighbor has been stealing your packages, the best thing you can do is present a video recording of them being caught in the act. Of course, this can only happen if you have a doorbell camera or other security cameras set up.

If you do not have security footage set up, you could think about asking your neighbors – but not the ones who you are thinking of convicting, of course – if they have any security cameras set up that might capture your front door. 

In this case, you can use the security footage as hard evidence. Without hard evidence, however, you may have a very difficult time making a case and may want to take preventative measures.

You might also enjoy our post on Can Your Neighbor Steal Your Water?

Is There a Way to Prevent People From Stealing My Packages?

Doorbell cameras, scheduled deliveries, smart delivery boxes, and a relationship with a trusted neighbor are all effective ways to prevent people from stealing your packages. 

Porch pirates is a well-known phrase these days since online shopping has boomed over the past couple of years. According to a recent report, 52% of Amazon packages are reported stolen each year. 

In response to this, companies have designed Smart Doorbells and Smart Delievery Boxes to be able to track when a package has been delivered and to record any funny business that goes on after.

The Arlo doorbell is one of the best smart doorbells on the market today. Thanks to its accompanying app, you can see what is happening on your doorstep through a live stream.

When the doorbell is armed, you will get notifications of when a parcel is delivered and when a person is near your front door. If a porch pirate is thinking of stealing your package, an alarm will be set off, hopefully, scaring them away.

If you do not want to invest in a smart doorbell, you may be able to schedule your delivery. With USPS, for example, you can direct USPS to hold your package at your local post office or even with a trusted neighbor. Simply enter your tracking number online and follow the instructions to redirect your package.

A more old-fashioned way to prevent your package from being stolen is to ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up for you if you will not be home to receive it.

With most USPS packages, you will get a notification when your parcel has been delivered. When this happens, ask your trusted neighbor to hold it for you until you get home.  

What Do I Do If My Neighbor Stole My Package?

If a neighbor has stolen your package, you should first file a claim with the seller or retailer. Ask if they can resend the goods or reimburse you for the loss. Next, file a claim with the shipping company, and consider suing your neighbor.

When you file a claim with the seller or retailer of your stolen goods, you may be insured under their stolen package policy. You may be entitled to a refund or to have the items shipped again.

If this doesn’t work, you can file a claim with the shipping company. Most shipping companies have a system in place that allows you to track down your missing items. 

If all else fails, you may want to consider suing your neighbor for theft. Stealing packages is a crime in most US territory with repercussions of fines and jail time. 

You might also enjoy our post on Can Amazon Deliver to Mailboxes?

What Happens if My Neighbor Keeps My Package?

If your neighbor is refusing to give back a package that they stole from you, call the police immediately. 

The police will confront your neighbor and start an investigation about the stolen package. It is best to leave this type of situation to the police to avoid any danger that might happen if you confront your neighbor yourself. 

If they can prove the neighbor stole the missing goods, they can charge your neighbor with mail theft. 

You might also enjoy our post on How to Deal With Trespassing Neighbors for Good

Can You Press Charges if Someone Steals Your Package?

You can absolutely press charges if someone steals your package. However, you will need hard evidence to prove them guilty. 

The most acceptable hard evidence of theft is security footage. If you caught the thief on camera, present this footage to the police and they will begin an investigation. 

This is why it’s smart to have a decent security system like a Ring Video Doorbell or Outdoor Security Cameras.

Not only is stealing mail a state offense, but it can also be a federal offense- up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

What if I Know Who Stole My Package?

If you know who stole your package, present your findings to the police. Stealing mail is a crime and needs to be left to the professionals.

If you have footage of the suspect stealing your parcel, let the police know immediately. This will make their job much easier and will speed up the process for everyone. 

If you do not have footage, any other findings that may present as evidence should be gathered before you confront the police. If you do not have any evidence, the police may brush you off.

Can I Call the Police if Someone Won’t Give Me My Package?

Call the police immediately if someone has stolen your package and is refusing to give it back. Stealing mail is a state and/or federal offense.

It may seem petty to call the police over a stolen Amazon package but it’s more common than you think. 

Although stealing a package may not be considered a serious crime, it is still a crime and the police are ready to deal with it.

Is It Illegal to Keep Someone Else’s Package?

Keeping someone else’s package is considered mail theft which is in violation of 18 U.S. Code § 1708. This violation is subject to up to one year in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Burglary may also be charged if the thief stole the package from inside their victim’s home. Burglary is subject to up to seven years in prison. 

If you accidentally came across someone else’s package, return it immediately. It’s likely the owner of the package is looking for it and will find you. Either return it to the shipping company or to the owners themselves. 

You might also enjoy our post on Neighbor Tried to Open My Door

How Can I Stop My Neighbor From Stealing My Package?

The best way to stop your neighbor from stealing your package is to confront them directly. It’s possible that they think they’re on a stealing streak when, in fact, you’ve been on to them the whole time. 

Kindly address your neighbor if you think they’ve been stealing your packages. Choose to record them on your phone if you feel you might need evidence for the police.

Don’t go alone. Go with someone else in your household, a trusted neighbor, or a friend. Let the neighbor know that you will not be pressing charges if they return all the stolen items. 

If they cannot produce the items or refuse to, ask them to reimburse you for the value of the goods stolen. If this is still not possible, you may need to consider pressing charges.

To prevent your neighbor from stealing from you in the future, set up a smart package delivery box, smart doorbell or security camera.

What Happens if a Package Is Delivered to the Wrong House?

If a package was delivered to your house by mistake, either deliver the package to the correct address or return it to your local postal office. Keeping that package is considered mail theft and is punishable. 

Tempting as it may be to keep that unexpected Amazon package, please deliver it to the rightful owners. Keeping a package that was delivered to your address by mistake is a state and/or federal offense that may land you up to seven years in prison.

What is the Punishment for Stealing a Package? 

The punishment for stealing a package depends on which state you live in. But, either way, you will be charged with mail theft.

Mail theft can be either a state offense or a federal offense. You will be charged with a federal offense if you steal a USPS package since USPS is government-owned, which is most Amazon packages. 

The penalty for mail theft is up to five years in prison, depending on state or federal offense, up to a fine of $250,000, and you will be forced to reimburse the value of the goods stolen.

You might also enjoy our post on Can UPS Deliver to Mailboxes?

What Kind of Crime Is It to Steal a Package?

Stealing a package is considered mail theft under the laws of the United States of America. It is a minor crime that is punishable for up to five years in prison. 

Mail theft violates 18 U.S. Code § 1708 – Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter gen­erally. If you are thinking of keeping a package that was accidentally delivered to you, don’t. If you suspect that someone is stealing your packages, then you are protected by this law and may be able to charge your suspect if you have hard evidence. 

Package Delivered to the Wrong Address and They Won’t Give It Back

If you have found out that your package was delivered to the wrong address and you have asked for it back but they won’t give it back, you may need to contact the police.

Whoever kept your package, as soon as they decided to accept it and not give it back, committed mail theft. Mail theft is a punishable crime in the United States of America. 

Contact your local police and let them know immediately that you have already confronted the person who kept your package and they refused to give it back. This will give the police more to work with and allow them to open an investigation. 

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Is It Illegal to Keep a Package Wrongfully Delivered to You?

It is indeed illegal to keep a package wrongfully delivered to you. If you decide to keep the package, you are committing mail theft. 

It’s possible that you won’t get caught but it’s also more possible that the person you stole it from is looking for it and will utilize all their resources to find it. 

If you get caught, you can get charged with mail theft which faces jail time and hefty fines.

Can I Get a Refund if My Package Was Delivered to the Wrong Address?

It is likely that you can get a refund if your package was delivered to the wrong address. Contact the seller/retailer and file a claim. If they don’t budge, file a claim with the shipping company.

It is the shipping company’s fault for delivering your package to the wrong address. Therefore, it is likely that they will reimburse you for the goods lost and for the shipping fees. 

Call the customer service number for the shipping company and explain the situation. Make sure to have your tracking number handy.

Who Is Responsible if a Package Is Delivered to the Wrong Address?

If the address was entered correctly for a package and it was still delivered to the wrong address, then the shipping company is responsible for the misdelivery of the package.

If you received a package that you did not order, call the customer service line for the specific shipping company and explain the situation. Someone from the company will pick up the package so it can be delivered to the correct address. 

If you want to deliver the package yourself, you can do this, as well. Explain to the package owner what happened and prepare to be labeled a good samaritan.

If you are missing a package, call the shipping company who was supposed to deliver it and see if they have any information for you. In some cases, you may have to call the seller/retailer and ask for a refund if your package is missing. 

You might also enjoy our post on Can FedEx Deliver to a Mailbox?

Neighbor Stole From Me: What Can I Do?

You can start by confronting your neighbor in a non-aggressive manner with someone accompanying you. If they deny that they stole from you, you can start to gather evidence that you can present to the police. 

You will need hard evidence to accuse someone of stealing your package. This can be in the form of security footage or a witness. 

If you do not want to go to the police yet, you can contact the seller/retailer and see if they have a stolen package insurance policy. If they do, then they can reimburse you for the goods stolen or resend the goods. 

If this fails, you can contact the shipping company and see if they have insurance on stolen packages.

Neighbor Stealing Amazon Packages

Confront your neighbor if they are stealing your Amazon packages. Inform them that stealing packages, regardless of value, is considered a crime and that they could spend up to a year in prison and be heavily fined.

It is possible that your neighbor doesn’t know the repercussions of stealing Amazon packages. Letting them know may prevent them from stealing in the future.

Regardless, set up a security camera, if you have not already, to catch your neighbors in the act. If you have security footage of your neighbors stealing your packages, you might be able to charge them with mail theft.

You might also enjoy our post on How to Stop Neighbors From Knocking on Your Door

Related Questions

Can I Keep a Package That Was Delivered to the Wrong Address?

You can absolutely keep a package that was delivered to the wrong address BUT you will be committing a crime and, if you’re caught, you could spend up to a year in prison and be fined $250,000.

So, it’s in your best interest to not keep that package that was accidentally delivered to you. Even though the package magically showed up on your doorstep, it is still not yours to keep. 

You will be committing mail theft if you choose to keep the package and that is considered a crime in the United States of America. 

Is It Illegal to Keep a Package Wrongfully Delivered to You?

If you keep a package that is wrongfully delivered to you, it is considered an illegal act. It violates 18 U.S. Code § 1708 that is punishable by up to five years in prison.

It may seem like an innocent act, to just keep a package that showed up on your doorstep. You didn’t deliberately steal it, right? It just happened.

Not in the eyes of the law. Keeping any mail that is wrongfully delivered to you, even if just a letter, is considered mail theft and is punishable.

What to Do With Packages That Aren’t Yours?

If a package has been wrongfully delivered to you, you have to return it either to the owner or to the shipping company. 

Keeping a package that was not supposed to be delivered to you is a criminal offense.

Speak to the customer service representative of the company who shipped the package. Explain to them the situation. They will send a driver to pick up the package so that it can be sent to the proper address.

If you would like, you can deliver the package yourself to the correct address. But do not just drop it off. It’s possible that you are also at the wrong address and will just continue to complicate the matter. If no one answers, then call the shipping company. 

What Happens if a FedEx Package Was Delivered to the Wrong Address

Call FedEx customer service immediately, provide the tracking number, and explain the situation to them. 

It is possible that the person at the wrong address has already notified FedEx of this misdelivery and is having the package sent to you. 

If not, then FedEx will open a claim for you and start an investigation into the missing package. They will likely reimburse you if the package cannot be found.

You might also enjoy our post on Is It Illegal to Walk Into Someone’s House Uninvited?

What Happens if a UPS Package Was Delivered to the Wrong Address

If a UPS package was delivered to the wrong address, you have to contact the seller/retailer to find out what happened.

UPS is a little trickier to deal with as they will always tell you to contact the person who shipped you the package. If it is an Amazon package, contact Amazon directly and explain to them the situation.

The seller will have to start a package trace with UPS. The seller will be the one communicating with you and not UPS in this case. They should keep you informed of the results of the trace. 

What Happens if a USPS Package Was Delivered to the Wrong Address

If a USPS package was delivered to the wrong address, call customer service for USPS immediately and explain to them the situation. 

If you have the package that was sent to the wrong address, USPS will schedule a driver to pick up the package and have it sent to the correct address.

If you are missing a package, then USPS will attempt to trace it and if not, will file a claim that will further investigate the missing package. If it cannot be tracked down, they may reimburse you for the missing items.

USPS Package Delivered to a Neighbor

If you have received a USPS package that was supposed to go to your neighbor, then you can either deliver the package yourself to your neighbor or call USPS to pick the package up and try delivering it again.

Call the customer service line at USPS if you would like USPS to pick up the package so they can attempt delivery again.

If you feel like you can deliver the package yourself to your neighbor, make sure you can give it directly to them and explain the situation. If they are not home, then arrange for USPS to pick it up. 

Final Thoughts

It’s very invasive for your neighbor to be stealing your packages. You want to feel safe and comfortable in your home and if you feel like your neighbors don’t have your best interest at heart, then it may be difficult to feel such things.

The best way to keep your annoying neighbors away from your packages, and your home, is to install security cameras or a smart doorbell. 

If you feel that their petty theft is becoming a real concern, then it’s time to contact the police and give your neighbors what they deserve.