The Grinch may have stolen Christmas that one time, but year after year, more brazen baddies have started terrorizing neighborhoods during the holidays.
And as more folks buy online instead of going to the store, their precious presents fall prey to porch pirates if not properly and quickly picked up.
Depending on where you live, though, you’re more susceptible to bah-hum burglars than others. But if you do live in a place where those on Santa’s naughty list are on the prowl, experts have some tips on ways to keep your gifts safe.
Alabama leads the nation in holiday burglary increases, study finds
Americans love shopping online, and this year will end with more than $250 billion in online holiday sales.
An estimated 37 million packages are projected to be stolen in America in 2025, according to Security.org. Valued at an average of $222 each, this represents over $8.2 billion in stolen merchandise.
New research shows that Alabama has had the largest spike in burglaries during the holiday season in recent years, putting residents at a heightened risk of having their gifts stolen. The analysis, conducted by accident and injury lawyers at Bana Law, found that Alabama saw a 12.5% increase in burglaries from November to December in the past five years, based on FBI data spanning 2019 through 2023.
The study examined burglary rates per 100,000 residents across all 50 states to identify where homes are most vulnerable during the festive season.
Following Alabama, California and New York experienced the next-highest increases, with rises of 8.8% and 8.4%, respectively. Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin rounded out the top six states most at risk, with increases between 6.7% and 7.8%.
Other states seeing notable rises include West Virginia (6.5%), Virginia (6.2%), Texas (5.8%), and Rhode Island (5.2%).
The safest states include Delaware, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Maine, and Montana, which all saw double-digit decreases in burglaries over the past five years. But coming in on top as the safest state is Vermont, which saw a 29.8% decrease in burglaries during the holiday season during the same time period.
Why burglaries spike during the holidays
The research indicates that the rise in holiday burglaries is not just coincidental.
For starters, more packages are delivered to homes from October through December than any other time of the year. The Security.org survey found an average of 25 parcels are delivered per residency during that time, which is double that of any other three-month period.
Given that, thieves are aware that homes are likely to receive new, valuable items during this period, and many households are empty while residents travel for family gatherings or are out shopping.
Moreover, packages can be delivered at many hours of the day, so while you’re at work, criminals are scoping out potential targets with desirable packages.
How to prevent holiday burglaries
Gene Petrino, lead adviser for Security.org, retired SWAT commander, and a hands-on security practitioner with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement and private security, recommends the best way to thwart porch pirates is with a “layered approach.”
“No single device stops every theft, but combining visibility, lighting, and secure delivery options makes your home far less appealing to thieves,” he tells Realtor.com®. “Porch pirates want the fastest, lowest-risk grab possible. Anything that slows them down pushes them toward an easier target.”
For starters, make the front entry of your home as visible as possible.
“Trim shrubs, improve lighting, and remove anything that blocks the view from the street,” Petrino says. “Thieves avoid homes where neighbors can see them.”
The most vulnerable locations are single-family homes with secluded porches or long walkways that give thieves cover and large apartment complexes with packages left in common areas or unsecured mail rooms.
To that end, Petrino suggests delivery solutions like Amazon lockers, UPS Access Points, and in-store pickup eliminate the risk altogether.
“A lockable parcel box on your porch is another good option,” he suggests.
Aside from porch pirates, break-ins are also something to be wary of around the holidays.
“As the holiday season gets into full swing, thieves see this time as a prime opportunity for break-ins, especially if they know there will be valuable gifts inside,” the Bana Law team explained.
Homeowners should also ensure all security systems—alarms, cameras, and lighting—are functioning correctly. Regularly checking and maintaining these systems at the start of the holiday season can act as an effective deterrent.
Meanwhile, landlords have a legal duty to provide adequate security for their tenants. This includes proper locks, secure entryways, functioning lighting, and other security measures. If these precautions are not in place and a tenant is harmed during a burglary, landlords may face premises liability claims.
“Given the frequency of holiday burglaries, it’s crucial landlords conduct thorough security checks to protect both their tenants and themselves from liability,” Bana Law added in its report.