Feb 15, 2026
While Marc and Sandra Schlesinger slept inside their Miramar home, a bandana-clad porch pirate made off with their deliveries.
Video footage didn’t capture the thief’s face, but it showed him driving to Schlesinger’s property, picking up boxes and loading them in his truck before taking off.
Advertisement
The parcels totalled $1,000 in value, but the Schlesingers have no idea why anyone would want them. Instead of high-ticket electronics or designer shoes, the boxes contained items like dog food, tiles, and a hose reel.
Since Marc Schlesinger’s leg amputation limited his mobility, he’s become more reliant on deliveries for essentials and carefully tracks each week’s expenses when shopping online.
Speaking to CBS News Miami about the theft, Marc said he knows he sounds “very naïve,” but “it just goes beyond me how you could screw somebody over (1).”
By sharing the video with news outlets and the Miramar Police Department, the Schlesingers hope they can make this porch pirate pay his penalty.
Snatched from the steps
With an estimated 250,000 packages stolen every day, porch pirates are a massive issue in the era of e-commerce (2).
According to the most recent SafeWise Package Theft Report, porch piracy is the most common crime in the U.S. The three states most at risk of porch pirates include California, New York, and Texas, with over $1 billion in losses in 2025.
The United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General estimates roughly one-quarter of Americans have been victims of porch pirates at some point (3).
Advertisement
The rapid growth in online shopping created this low-risk, high-reward opportunity for criminals. According to Capital One, U.S. e-commerce sales reached $1.47 trillion in 2025, up 9.78% from 2024 (4). If these trends persist, more packages will sit unattended for hours, creating easy targets.
Although many states recognize porch piracy as a mail theft or trespassing, it’s often treated as a misdemeanor with low dollar thresholds (6).
Even with video evidence like the Schlesingers’ case, there’s often not enough for law enforcement to identify and charge suspects. Data from ValuePenguin suggests criminals know this, as 60% of victims had a camera on their property (7). ValuePenguin also found that many victims shrug their shoulders rather than report a theft to the police. Just 17% contacted local authorities. Instead, most register claims with online retailers.
SafeWise pointed out one positive trend: the total number of packages stolen dipped from 120 million in 2023 to 104 million between 2024 and 2025.
Still, the numbers remain high and anyone using e-commerce must take steps to minimize the risk.
Must Read
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Robert Kiyosaki begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’ — says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year
- Vanguard reveals what could be coming for U.S. stocks, and it’s raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Prioritize protection for your parcels
Not all hope is lost for compensation in cases like the Schlesingers’, but the best advice is to stay vigilant when ordering online. Always opt to receive updated tracking notifications and schedule packages to arrive when someone will be at home.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that nearly half of all porch pirate thefts happen between 12 PM and 6 PM, according to ADT (8).
Advertisement
If you can sacrifice some convenience, alternative delivery options can reduce risk. For example, Amazon Lockers let you choose a secure pickup location so packages are never left unattended.
The USPS also offers Smart Lockers and Gopost parcel lockers at select locations, where packages are delivered to an electronic locker you access with a QR code or access card (9). Alternatively, you could choose a public delivery option, such as a workplace or a retail pickup point like a UPS Access Point.
The aftermath
For those who’ve already experienced theft, acting quickly can improve your chances of compensation. First, report the theft to the retailers ASAP to avoid falling outside of any time limits on claims. For high-value items, contact your local police department to file a complete report.
The more video surveillance cameras you have, the more evidence you likely have to build your case and recover damages.
Next, check for purchase protections on your credit card, as you may be able to dispute charges for undelivered goods. There’s no single legal requirement for carriers or sellers to reimburse customers, so outcomes often hinge on a retailer's goodwill, insurance coverage and individual claim outcomes.
But if you document evidence such as tracking screenshots, photos and videos and act quickly through multiple avenues, you can increase the odds of recovering at least some of your losses.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBS News Miami (1); Safewise (2); USPS Office of the Inspector General (3, 6); Capital One (4); Value Penguin (7); ADT (8); USPS (9); UPS (10); Federal Trade Commission (11).
You May Also Like
- Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people don’t realize they’re actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast
- This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she’s getting slammed for it. Which option would you pick?
- Warren Buffett used these 8 repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)
- Here are 5 easy ways to own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyoncé. You can start with $10 (and no, you don’t have to manage a single thing)
Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise with an interest in financial markets, investing, and trading. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found on financial publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk. When not researching the latest stock market trends, Eric enjoys biking, walking his dog, and spending time with family in Central Florida. Eric holds a BA in English from Quinnipiac University.
