What to do if you have a lost or stolen package

Sometimes packages and mail get lost. But let's face it—most of the time if you're searching for a missing package it's because someone swiped it from your doorstep. In 2020, an estimated $468 million worth of parcels was stolen from Aussie homes in the past year — that's roughly one in seven of us falling victim to porch pirates.

Here are steps you can take to get reimbursed for package theft, track down the thief—or scare porch pirates off before they do their dastardly deed.

If you seriously suspect you've been hit by a porch pirate, and something was stolen from your stoop, call the police and file a police report for the stolen package. Without witnesses, they won’t be able to do much, but they'll take note of the incident. If you have doorbell camera footage, be sure to share it with the officers. Also, let them know the time the delivery service said your package was delivered and when you found it missing.

If others in your neighborhood report the same problems, they’ll be more likely to investigate and find the package thieves.

Filing a police report can also be useful if you try to make an insurance claim on the missing delivery.

Most of the time, a missing package is something you ordered. In that case, you want to reach out to the seller and let them know that your package hasn't been delivered.

Is the seller responsible for stolen packages? Maybe. It all depends on the site where you made your purchase and its policies. You may want to check with its customer service department.

I've had a lot of luck with companies that send out a replacement right away, no questions asked. But not every company will send you a replacement item or refund your money. Hold on to any proof that supports your claim.

• Snap a picture if you got a notice of delivery, but the package isn't where they said it was delivered.
• Keep your order confirmation number and any other details that help the company track down your order.
• Store delivery numbers and information to share with the company so it can reach out to the carrier.

If the stolen package was sent from a friend or relative, let them know it hasn't been delivered. They can reach out to the seller or the carrier to help figure out what happened.

If contacting the sender doesn't help resolve your issue, try contacting the company that facilitated the delivery, whether it be Australia Post, Amazon, or a third-party courier service. Here's how to contact the most common providers.

If your package was delivered by CouriersPlease, Star Track, Toll, FedEx, or another third-party courier company, visit their website and head to the customer service page for more information on how to report a missing parcel.