Safe shopping, safer communities

Black Friday to Christmas: how to protect your parcels and purchases during the busy shopping season.

The UK's busiest online shopping period is almost here. From Black Friday and Cyber Monday through to Christmas shopping and January sales, millions of parcels will be delivered to homes across the country over the coming months.

For many households, these deliveries contain gifts, electronics, clothing and other high-value purchases. But the surge in online shopping also creates opportunities for opportunistic thieves targeting unattended parcels left on doorsteps, driveways and communal entrances.

This autumn, Crimestoppers and Ring are encouraging people to think about parcel security as part of their wider approach to staying safe at home. Our partnership is focused on helping communities feel safer, sharing practical advice and reducing opportunities for crime. 

Parcel theft can be more than a financial inconvenience. For many people, deliveries contain important items, gifts for loved ones, medication or purchases that have been carefully saved for.

Take the case of Amy, from Birmingham:

After ordering several Christmas presents during Black Friday sales, Amy returned from work to discover a delivery had disappeared from her doorstep.

"The cost was frustrating, but it was the feeling that someone had come onto my property and taken something that really stayed with me," she says.

Following the incident, Amy arranged for parcels to be delivered to a secure collection point when she wasn't home, asked neighbours to accept deliveries and installed a video doorbell to help her keep track of visitors.

Whilst fictional, Amy's experience reflects concerns many households share during the festive shopping season.

Simple steps to help prevent parcel theft

• Use delivery tracking tools and estimated arrival notifications.
• Arrange delivery to a workplace, trusted neighbour or collection point when possible.
• Avoid leaving parcels visible on doorsteps for long periods.
• Consider using smart doorbells or cameras to monitor deliveries remotely.
• Store gifts and high-value purchases out of sight once they arrive.
• Be cautious of fake delivery messages and holiday shopping scams. 

Community awareness also matters. Neighbours looking out for neighbours can help deter opportunistic offending and create a stronger sense of security across a street. This is a key message at the heart of partnership work, promoting practical community action to help make neighbourhoods safer. 

The excitement of seasonal shopping should be about finding the perfect gift, not worrying about whether it will arrive safely. By taking a few simple precautions, households can reduce risk and enjoy the festive season with greater peace of mind.

Anyone with information about theft, criminal activity or repeat offending in their area can contact Crimestoppers anonymously, online here on our website or by calling 0800 555 111. 

1 November 2026