Advertisement

Survey finds a ‘surprising’ number of Canadians have been targeted by porch pirates

Click to play video: 'Survey shows a surprising number of Canadians have been targets of porch pirates'
Survey shows a surprising number of Canadians have been targets of porch pirates
WATCH: A new survey by FedEx Canada shows a lot of Canadians have had their packages stolen off their porch or step. Global’s Tomasia DaSilva has the exclusive results of the nationwide survey and what’s being done about the problem – Nov 21, 2019

A new survey has found the theft of packages from doorsteps or porches is a bigger problem than many Canadians believe or even know about.

Federal Express Canada Corporation (FedEx) commissioned an independent, online survey of 1,500 Canadians in September of this year and shared some of the results with Global News ahead of the survey’s release.

FedEx Canada’s senior communications specialist James Anderson said they knew there was a problem with porch pirates, but not to this extent.

The survey found out of the 1,500 Canadians asked, one in four had had a package stolen.

Click to play video: 'Calgary family fed up after being hit multiple times by so-called porch pirates'
Calgary family fed up after being hit multiple times by so-called porch pirates

In Alberta, that number was even higher at one in three.

Story continues below advertisement

FedEx also found 70 per cent of respondents who shop online worry about package theft. And one in 10 of those surveyed said they don’t shop online for that very reason.

“We were well aware that it does exist but when you see [these numbers], it did take us a bit aback,” Anderson said.

Calgarian Tim Huggins recently became one of the statistics.

“I came home to check to see if [the packages] were on the porch and there was only one box there and there was supposed to be three,” Huggins added. “So we checked our cameras and we noticed a guy who came and grabbed the packages off our deck.”
Story continues below advertisement
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

While his delivery was not made by FedEx, the largest express delivery company in the world said its drivers are well aware of the problem.

“Our couriers are always keeping a close eye to see if they’re being followed,” Anderson said. “They will report suspicious activity — either if it involves them or if they’re noticing other suspicious activity in the neighbourhood.”

Staff at the Calgary FedEx hub gear up for a busy holiday season. Tomasia DaSilva

Anderson said at the end of the day, drivers will follow the customers’ direction on where to leave packages while still being vigilant.

“If a customer tells us to leave a package on the doorstep, we’re not going to paint a big flag for the porch pirate to say: ‘Come here — take me.'”

Story continues below advertisement
FedEx trucks get ready to hit the road in Calgary. Tomasia DaSilva

FedEx pointed to a number of other delivery options, including signing for a package or having it delivered to a workplace or retail location, to prevent it from being taken. FedEx recently partnered with Staples to have packages delivered and picked up at their store locations. That’s a popular option in the survey, with 70 per cent of respondents stating they would want a package directed to a delivery location.

If a package is taken from your front step, FedEx advised you call police right away.

“My advice is immediately call the police and then call your merchant or call FedEx,” Anderson added. “And then we will all work together.”

Story continues below advertisement

Huggins said he called police and the retailer and got a full refund for his stolen items, adding he will not have packages sent to his home in the future.

“I think they almost should all just go to the post office or something and people can pick them up from there,” he said.

The full results of the survey are expected to be released on Nov. 25.

Sponsored content

AdChoices