To file a police report for a stolen package, call your local police department’s non-emergency line or use their online reporting portal, give them your order details and tracking information, and keep the case number they issue. The report itself takes only a few minutes. Its real value is the case number, which becomes evidence for refunds from the retailer, a credit card dispute, a carrier claim, or a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance claim.
What to Gather Before You File
Pull together the paperwork first. You want the order confirmation or digital receipt showing what you bought and what you paid, plus the tracking record from the carrier, especially the entry marking the package as delivered.
Write a clear description of what was in the package: brand, model, color, quantity, and any serial numbers. Note the dollar value. Police use that number to classify the severity of the theft, and retailers and insurers weigh it when deciding how closely to look at your claim.
If you have doorbell or security camera footage, save the files now. Most cloud systems overwrite recordings after a limited window, and video of the theft is the single most useful piece of evidence you can hand over.
How to File the Report
You have two realistic options: the non-emergency number for your local department, or an online report through the department’s website. Do not call 911 for a stolen package.
Most departments now accept online reports for non-violent property crimes like porch theft. The portals let you type in the details and upload digital evidence such as a receipt screenshot or a video file. Online filing is often faster because the information goes straight into the system instead of through a dispatcher.
Either way, you will walk away with a case number. That number is the official identifier for your report, and you will use it almost everywhere else: with the retailer, the carrier, the card issuer, and your insurer. Online filings sometimes give you a temporary number first, with a permanent case number issued once an officer approves the report. If no confirmation arrives within about a week, call the department and follow up.
Getting a Copy of the Report
A case number is enough for some purposes, but retailers and insurers may ask for an actual copy of the report. Processing times vary. Some departments produce same-day copies if you walk in; others take a week or longer, and certified copies usually carry a small administrative fee. Call the records division to confirm the process and cost before you drive over.
When the Package Was Shipped Through USPS
If the package came through the U.S. Postal Service, file a second report with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Stealing mail or packages from the postal system is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 18 – 1708 Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail Matter Generally That is a separate and more serious charge than state-level theft, and it puts the case within federal jurisdiction.
You can file a mail theft report online through USPIS or by calling 1-877-876-2455.2United States Postal Inspection Service. Report a Crime This does not replace the local police report. File both. The local report supports your refund and insurance claims; the federal report feeds data that USPIS uses to spot patterns on routes and in neighborhoods.
USPS also runs a separate missing mail search. If a tracked package has not arrived, you can submit a search request starting seven days after the mailing date. If the package was insured, you have 60 days from the mailing date to file an insurance claim.3United States Postal Service. Missing Mail and Lost Packages
What the Police Will Actually Do
Be realistic. For a single package worth $50 or $100, departments almost never run an active investigation. The volume is too high and the resources too thin. Your report gets logged, and that is usually the end of it.
A few things shift the odds. A high-value item, a cluster of thefts in the same area that suggests someone is working the neighborhood, or clear video of the suspect’s face or vehicle can prompt follow-up. Even when no one is arrested, departments use aggregated report data to identify hotspots, adjust patrols, and issue alerts, so your filing still contributes to the broader picture.
The line between misdemeanor and felony theft depends on the state, but many draw it somewhere between $500 and $1,000 in stolen property value. Felony-level thefts tend to draw more attention, so if your package held expensive electronics or similar goods, make sure the report reflects the full replacement cost.
Using the Report to Get Your Money Back
The Shipping Carrier
Contact the carrier directly, and watch the deadlines. Insured shipments are often where people recover fastest.
- USPS: insurance claims within 60 days of the mailing date, with tracking number, proof of value, and proof of insurance.3United States Postal Service. Missing Mail and Lost Packages
- FedEx: within 60 calendar days of the shipment date for damaged or missing contents on domestic packages; nine months for packages that never arrived at all.4FedEx. File a Claim
- UPS: within 90 calendar days of the delivery date, with a 48-hour window for jewelry.5UPS. What Do I Need to File a Claim on UPS
The case number helps because it shows you are not asking for a free replacement for a package that actually showed up. Some carriers require it for higher-value claims.
The Retailer
Start with the seller’s customer service. Large retailers often have dedicated processes for stolen packages and will issue a refund or send a replacement without much friction, especially on a first claim. Mentioning that you have filed a police report, and offering the case number, usually moves things along. For high-value orders some retailers require the report before issuing a refund, both to confirm the loss and to flag fraud patterns on their end.
Credit Card Disputes
If the retailer refuses, dispute the charge with your card issuer. Federal law gives you 60 days from the date the billing statement was sent to notify the issuer in writing of a billing error, which includes charges for goods that never arrived.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 15 – 1666 Correction of Billing Errors Most issuers also let you open the dispute online or by phone, but the written notice is what the statute requires.
The police report supports the dispute by showing the issue is theft rather than a delivery mix-up. The issuer must investigate and cannot try to collect the disputed amount while the investigation is pending. Many cards also carry separate purchase protection benefits that cover theft within a set number of days after purchase, so read your card’s terms for that extra layer.
Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance
For expensive losses, your homeowner’s or renter’s policy may cover the theft under personal property provisions. The insurer will almost certainly want a copy of the police report. Check the deductible before you file. Homeowner’s deductibles typically run $1,000 or more, and renter’s deductibles usually run $500 to $1,000. If the package was worth less than the deductible, filing gains you nothing and may affect your premium at renewal. Insurance makes sense when the loss clearly exceeds the deductible.
Stolen Packages and Your Taxes
A stolen package is not a tax write-off for most people. Since 2018, individual theft losses are deductible only if the theft resulted from a federally declared disaster.7Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 515, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Losses A package taken from your porch does not qualify. The only exception is a loss tied to a business or a transaction entered into for profit, such as inventory bought for resale.
Do Not Overstate the Claim
Filing a false police report is a crime in every state, typically a misdemeanor that can carry jail time, fines, and a criminal record. If you claim a package was stolen when it actually arrived, or inflate what was inside, the exposure does not stop at the false report charge. Using that report for a refund, chargeback, or insurance payout can also pull in insurance fraud or credit card fraud. Adjusters and fraud teams see inflated claims every day, and the consequences escalate fast once fraud enters the picture.