Learn what to do with a stolen Amazon package | Safe Roads (2023)

FAQs

What do you do if your Amazon package is stolen? ›

To file a claim, go to your Orders List and select “View/File Claim” on the order. Follow the on-screen instructions, which will require you to select a reason for the claim. Reasons for claims can include: Returned order that was not refunded.

Depending on the circumstances of the offense and the value of the package stolen, the suspect could face misdemeanor, felony, or even federal charges.

Package theft is a type of mail theft and may be punishable by both state and federal laws.

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursement.

Contact Amazon to file a missing package claim: https://www.amazon.com/ > All > Your Account > Customer Service > select the missing order. Contact a third-party seller: Your Orders > Problem with order > missing package > contact seller.

As of 2021, 23 million Americans have had their packages stolen from their homes. For Amazon lost packages, an average of 51 packages a year got reported missing or stolen. Porch pirates have taken advantage of the rise of e-commerce due to the pandemic to steal from others.

Call 1 (888) 280-4331- speak with customer service for a tracking update. Ask neighbors if they received the package. Wait 36 hours after the expected delivery date and time to file a claim. Start a claim with Amazon here.

Alert the police

If you suspect a porch pirate is responsible for your missing package, contact the police to file a report. While local law enforcement can't do much to ensnare package thieves right away, they can check neighborhood security cameras (or video doorbells!) for evidence.

How do you defend yourself when accused of stealing? ›

Package Theft Victims

So far in 2022, almost 1 in 7 (14%) Americans have fallen victim to porch pirates – some more than once. Most (67%) have had one package stolen, 22% have had two, and 11% have had three or more stolen.

Under this view, whether an unintended recipient receives misdelivered or misaddressed mail, it is unlawful to remove any such item from the mail and possess it with the intent of preventing the item from reaching its intended recipient. Such mail is considered stolen and is protected by § 1708.

Our survey also found that a number of socio-demographic variables factor into whether you're likely to have a package stolen. Package theft was more common in multifamily dwellings than single-family homes, as well as in urban areas (16 percent) than in suburban (9 percent) and rural areas (8 percent).

Report suspected mail losses to Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455 or at www.uspis.gov.

Porch pirates likely hope that small packages contain expensive items that can be resold, such as phones, video game systems, sound systems, or computers. Some people might simply have a compulsion towards theft that drives them to seek out the thrill of stealing.

Of course it is illegal. If you knowingly misrepresent to USPS, or any of the other interstate carriers (e.g., FedEx) that a package that you did in fact receive wasn't received, you could be looking at a mail fraud prosecution.

If tracking shows as delivered in Your Orders but you cannot locate your item(s); Try your safe place location, check with neighbors if safe to do so or contact the carrier (some carriers deliver until 10pm). This opens in a new window. Note: Some carriers may deliver until 10 pm.

Does Amazon have to take a picture? ›

We may take a photo on delivery when a package is unattended. Photo on delivery shows you that your package is safe on arrival. The photo shows the location of your package. Delivery photos may appear in Track your package in Your Orders.

If Your Amazon Package Was Sent to the Wrong Address

But if it's in a completely different location, Amazon's Customer Service via chat or by phone. You can either request a refund or they may send you a replacement at no extra cost.

Contact an Amazon representative by calling 1-888-280-4331. This number operates 24/7. Email: Amazon's customer service email address is cs-reply@amazon.com, but as Insider reports, the e-commerce company prefers to handle support via live chat or phone.

For instructions on how to obtain service under this limited warranty, contact customer service at 1-866-216-1072, or, alternatively, go to www.amazon.com/contact-us. Customer Service will ask you questions to determine your eligibility under this limited warranty.

Unfortunately, porch pirates aren't caught as often as they should. So it's best to take preventative measures. Installing a doorbell camera, outdoor camera, or other security measures can let porch pirates know you're onto them.

Porch pirates are hard to catch.

One source claims that police make arrests in less than 10% of reported theft cases. More often than not, law enforcement will suggest that you simply get a refund for your package instead of embarking on a wild goose chase.

Amazon Customer Service Phone Number (866) 216-1072.

For your lost or stolen Amazon device, contact Amazon Customer Service. Amazon Customer Service marks the device as Lost/Stolen. It prevents the device from getting registered to another Amazon account in most cases.

In most cases, used or open box items purchased from Amazon Warehouse and shipped from Amazon.com can be returned within 30 days of receipt of shipment. Some products have different policies or requirements associated with them.

Can Amazon call the police on you? ›

Amazon reserves the right to respond immediately to urgent law enforcement requests for information in cases involving a threat to public safety or risk of harm to any person. These requests must be submitted through the Amazon Law Enforcement Request Tracker (“ALERT”) by selecting the emergency request button.

If you bought insurance, a USPS claim will cover the shipping costs and package value up to the specified amount for damaged or lost mail, Some services like Express Mail also have delivery guarantees so you're able to file a claim if it doesn't arrive on time.

Package searches can take up to 10 business days. If the package is not located, a Damage/Loss claim letter will be sent to you, the shipper, via email, fax, or post. If the package is found, UPS will not approve the claim and will route the package on to the recipient.

Common reactions include surprise and disbelief, denial of the accusation, anger and frustration, a desire to prove their innocence, and a willingness to cooperate with any efforts to investigate the situation.

tell the child that stealing is wrong. help the youngster to pay for or return the stolen object. make sure that the child does not benefit from the theft in any way. avoid lecturing, predicting future bad behavior, or saying that they now consider the child to be a thief or a bad person.

Depending on the circumstances of the offense and the value of the package stolen, the suspect could face misdemeanor, felony, or even federal charges.

However, even with cameras in place, the majority of package thieves get away with their crimes. Those who do get caught usually face only minor charges unless they can be linked to more than one stolen package.

Typically, police do not investigate stolen packages for the following reasons: Lack of resources: Police departments are often stretched thin, and may not have the resources to investigate every report of stolen packages. They may prioritize other types of crimes that are deemed to be more serious or urgent.

If it appears that your package has been stolen, contact the seller or retailer that sold you the item. Retailers have different policies and processes for handling stolen items, but you're usually entitled to a refund or a replacement. Amazon covers most stolen packages through its "A-to-Z" Guarantee Protection.

Who pays when a package is stolen? ›

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursement.

The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time.

What do thieves do with stolen packages? Many thieves steal because they simply have the opportunity. They see a package out for a few days and figure it's an easy thing to swipe. They may keep your package, sell it in a pawnshop or Craigslist, or even re-gift the item.

You can file a mail theft complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for USPS deliveries. USPS will start your claims process. If your package came through another carrier, contact the sender of the package to initiate a trace process with UPS or FedEx.

By using mailbox surveillance cameras to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication, you may face an up to $2,500 fine or an up to 1-year imprisonment.

The reason is the usual one --- cash. According to Georgia State University's Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group, stolen or copied mailbox keys can sell for as much as $1,000 once they're used to steal mail.

Who is responsible if a package is stolen? The retailer is responsible for delivering a parcel safely to you. If it's stolen, you should contact them to arrange a refund or replacement. But if you told the courier to leave your parcel in a safe place, then you're responsible for it going missing or being stolen.

File a Police Report for the Stolen Package

If there have been package thefts in your neighborhood recently, there is a higher likelihood that the cops will investigate the situation. If you're planning on making an insurance claim regarding the missing delivery, a police report can be helpful documentation to have.

If your order has been showing as “In transit” for ten days or more without any further updates, you would be right to think that your package might be lost. You can use the following phone number to call Amazon for a tracking update: 1 (888) 280-4331.

What number do I call for lost or stolen Amazon package? ›

Amazon missing packages:

Call 1 (888) 280-4331- speak with customer service for a tracking update. Ask neighbors if they received the package. Wait 36 hours after the expected delivery date and time to file a claim.

We may take a photo on delivery when a package is unattended. Photo on delivery shows you that your package is safe on arrival. The photo shows the location of your package. Delivery photos may appear in Track your package in Your Orders.

By law, companies can't send unordered merchandise to you, then demand payment. That means you never have to pay for things you get but didn't order. You also don't need to return unordered merchandise. You're legally entitled to keep it as a free gift.

If the tracking for your package shows it as delivered but you haven't received it, you should: Check if someone else at your address has accepted it. Look around the delivery location. Your package may have been left with a neighbour.

We found that about half (49%) of those who've had a package stolen live in the suburbs; not surprising since 54% of survey respondents live in the suburbs. However, those that live in a city are more likely to be a victim of package theft (39% – higher than the proportion of survey respondents: 29%).

More than a third of Americans (35%) have had a package or delivery stolen. 59% of consumers who've been a victim of package or delivery theft say it occurred in the past year. The majority of porch piracy occurs at single-family homes (62%) and apartment buildings (23%).

The short answer is: The seller, which means you, the business owner. Obviously, if you printed the wrong address on the shipping label, didn't include a return address, or poorly packaged the item, it's 100% on you to compensate the customer with a new shipment or a refund.

According to UPS, a box being too big or too small, lacking enough cushioning, poorly placed labels, and unclear delivery instructions can lead to lost packages. Reusing an old box and not removing old labels can also create problems.

The most common reason packages get lost by the USPS is because the address label falls off or the shipping label becomes smeared or illegible.