Crime & Safety
Delaware Package Theft Alert as Thanksgiving, Christmas Near in Newark, Middletown
Wilmington, DE – With Thanksgiving approaching and Christmas shopping already underway, Delaware re…
By Audrey Sloan · 2026-11-10T20:31:24.494Z
Wilmington, DE – With Thanksgiving approaching and Christmas shopping already underway, Delaware residents are being reminded to keep a closer eye on their front porches as holiday package deliveries begin increasing. From Wilmington and Dover to Newark, Middletown and surrounding communities, the seasonal surge in online shopping can create opportunities for package thieves, commonly known as "porch pirates."
According to general package theft prevention guidance from law enforcement and major delivery services, unattended packages can become attractive targets for thieves, particularly when boxes remain outside homes for extended periods.
As Thanksgiving and Christmas draw closer, delivery companies including Amazon, UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service are entering one of their busiest shipping periods of the year, bringing more packages to neighborhoods throughout Delaware.
Holiday Shopping Raises Package Theft Concerns
Residents in Wilmington, Dover, Newark and other Delaware communities are encouraged to take extra precautions as holiday deliveries increase throughout November and December.
Monitoring delivery notifications, retrieving packages promptly and arranging for shipments when someone is home can reduce the time boxes remain unattended.
Additional precautions include using secure delivery locations, requesting signature confirmation when available and asking a trusted neighbor to collect packages during extended absences.
Doorbell cameras and home security systems may also help residents monitor activity around their front entrances and provide useful footage if a theft occurs.
Misdelivered Packages Bring Additional Concerns
Along with potential porch pirate activity, the holiday shipping rush can result in packages being delivered to incorrect addresses.
Residents who receive someone else's package should make reasonable efforts to ensure it reaches the intended recipient.
If the package belongs to a nearby neighbor, it may be taken to the correct address. Otherwise, contacting the delivery company can help arrange proper retrieval or redelivery.
Knowingly keeping a package intended for someone else could also carry legal consequences, depending on the circumstances.
With Thanksgiving approaching on Nov. 26 and Christmas following Dec. 25, Delaware residents are encouraged to remain alert, watch for suspicious activity and report suspected package theft to local law enforcement.
A few simple precautions could help prevent stolen gifts and delivery headaches during the busy holiday shopping season.