LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A new analysis reveals that Delaware is experiencing the highest rate of holiday-season theft-from-building incidents per capita across the U.S., a trend largely attributed to increased porch-piracy activity during the Christmas package-delivery surge.
The research, conducted by personal injury law firm Simmrin Law Group, analyzed theft-from-building reports from 2020 to 2024 for the month of December using the FBI Crime Data Explorer. The study measured and ranked each state by the average number of December theft-from-building incidents per 100,000 residents to determine where households face the greatest risks during the holiday shipping season.
Delaware leads the ranking with an annual average December theft-from-building rate of 29.86 per 100,000 residents, which is 253.2% higher than the national average of 8.45. The First State reported an average of 304 cases out of a population of 1,019,490. The highest December theft reports occurred in 2021 with 326 incidents, while the lowest were in 2024 with 275.
Tennessee ranks second with an annual average December theft-from-building rate of 17.27 per 100,000 residents, which is 104.4% higher than the national average of 8.45. The Volunteer State reported an average of 1,220 cases out of a population of 7,061,377. The highest December theft reports occurred in 2021 with 1,387 incidents, while the lowest were in 2024 with 1,013.
New Hampshire ranks third with an annual average December theft-from-building rate of 14.71 per 100,000 residents, which is 74.1% higher than the national average of 8.45. The Granite State reported an average of 205 cases out of a population of 1,394,802. The highest December theft reports occurred in 2020 with 230 incidents, while the lowest were in 2024 with 182.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from Simmrin Law Group commented,
“According to the study, states like Delaware, Tennessee, and New Hampshire reported some of the highest holiday-season theft-from-building rates nationwide.
“The study highlights concerning patterns in property crime across the country. High incident rates in both small and large states show that porch piracy and building thefts can impact households everywhere.
“These findings emphasize using porch cameras, choosing delivery times when someone is home, and opting for secure pickup points to help prevent holiday package theft.”
Kansas ranks fourth with an annual average December theft-from-building rate of 13.65 per 100,000 residents, which is 61.5% higher than the national average of 8.45. The Sunflower State reported an average of 402 cases out of a population of 2,944,202. The highest December theft reports occurred in 2022, with 448 incidents, while the lowest were in 2024, with 246.
Missouri ranks fifth with an annual average December theft-from-building rate of 13.56 per 100,000 residents, which is 60.4% higher than the national average of 8.45. The Show-Me State reported an average of 839 cases out of a population of 6,188,438. The highest December theft reports occurred in 2021 with 971 incidents, while the lowest were in 2024 with 651.
Oklahoma ranks sixth with a rate of 12.78 per 100,000 residents, followed by Colorado in seventh with 12.72. Arkansas ranks eighth with 12.30, Oregon ninth with 11.95, and Iowa, in the tenth spot, reports 11.64 cases per 100,000 residents.
((INSERT PHOTO…PORCH PIRATES…HERE))
The study was conducted by Simmrin Law Group, an experienced personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting clients’ rights and maximizing claim value.
Methodology
The study analyzed pocket-picking reports from December 2020 to December 2024 using the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. The study measured and ranked each state by the average number of December pocket-picking incidents per million residents to determine where holiday travelers and shoppers face the greatest risks.
Data Sources
- Crime data: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend
- Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bpFlGtd0Bj-xoX9iuRc7KxmXshvCfuVcrpNx6mDUzLY/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Study by: www.simmrinlawgroup.com