Parcel thefts are in high season
Parcels that have been ordered and paid for are increasingly failing to arrive: AXA figures show a tripling of parcel thefts between 2019 and 2023, with an increase of around 20% year-on-year for the current year. A particularly high number of parcel thefts occur in November and December. However, if you follow a few tips, you can protect yourself from thieves.
"Parcel delivered" appears on the smartphone, followed by a sobering look in the letterbox: no parcel there. As AXA's statistics show, this happens again and again and more and more frequently. "We recorded three times more parcel thefts in 2023 than in 2019," says Stefan Müller, Head of Property Damage Insurance at AXA. He adds that the majority of these crimes are reported to AXA in November and December due to the discount days and Christmas sales. However, the average loss has remained the same over the years. AXA pays out an average of around 300 francs per case.
Further increase foreseeable
On the one hand, AXA's claims statistics showed a significant increase of 30% in the number of stolen parcels in 2020. Due to the pandemic, purchases were shifted to the internet at the time. On the other hand, crimes increased significantly again in 2022 and 2023, in each case by around 50%. An increase of around 20% compared to the previous year is expected for 2024. "Since the end of the pandemic and the return of mobility, we have seen a general increase in theft," explains Stefan Müller. "In addition, shopping online has become a matter of course. As a result, there are a lot of parcels in circulation," adds the expert. Compared to other theft losses, however, the number of stolen parcels is low. They only account for around two percent of the thefts insured by AXA.
Who is liable and when
If you are a victim, you must report the theft to the police before you can report it to the insurance company. It is important to know that household contents insurance covers cases in which a parcel is proven to have been stolen after delivery. Parcels that have not been delivered are not insured. "In these cases, we advise our customers to make representations to the supplier or carrier," says Stefan Müller.
If a parcel is not delivered correctly, it is necessary to check whether the forwarding company is liable. But when is a delivery incorrect? This is set out in the contractual delivery conditions. At Swiss Post, it is regulated that the carrier may deposit a parcel on site if it is too large for the milk crate and no one is at home to receive it in person. However, this only applies if the location is protected from the weather and safe or if this has been agreed with the sender or recipient. Otherwise, the carrier must issue a collection bill and take the parcel back.
Tips for secure delivery
Whether insured or not, it's annoying either way when ordered goods go missing. It is therefore worth taking precautions. "Fortunately, Swiss Post and other delivery services now offer appropriate solutions. People also seem to have become more aware of the need for a secure delivery process," says Stefan Müller. He recommends receiving the parcel directly if possible. To make this possible, you can select the delivery day in advance. If you can't find a suitable day, you can specify an alternative delivery address instead, for example that of a neighbor or family member, or collect the parcel from a pick-up point.
Source: AXA
