Porch Pirates Push Oregon Into the Top 10 States With the Highest Rate of Home Thefts

Online shopping, with its advantage of front-door deliveries, has created a new genre of thieves. Known as porch pirates, this category of theft has pushed Oregon into the Top 10 States with the highest rate of home thefts.

Research undertaken by Nevada-based personal injury lawyers H&P Law analyzed data for thefts from buildings. The information was gleaned from the FBI Crime Data Explorer database for each state from 2019 to 2023. Average theft rates were calculated based on every 100,000 residents to identify where Americans are most at risk of experiencing home theft.

Oregon is Ranked #8

Oregon is in the eighth position, averaging 152 thefts for every 100,000 of its 4.24 million population. This is 52% more than the national average of 99.8 thefts.

The average number of thefts annually in Oregon is 6,439.2, with 2019 the worst year when 7,174 thefts were reported.

According to a spokesperson for H&P Law, industry experts believe that the rise of porch pirates is a significant factor contributing to home thefts.

Home Deliveries Blamed for Porch Piracy

“The surge in online shopping in recent years has unfortunately created more opportunities for package theft from porches and doorsteps.”

Researchers believe that high rates of home theft not only result in financial losses to residents but also create a sense of violation and insecurity in communities.

H&P suggests that residents invest in security cameras, package lock boxes, or arrange deliveries when someone is at home to reduce porch piracy. Other measures, such as community watch programs and coordinated efforts with local law enforcement, can help mitigate the theft rates.

The highest home theft rate was recorded in Delaware, with an average of 367.8 for every 100,000 residents. Ranked at the bottom of the Top 10 is Oklahoma with an average of 147.2.