Parcel theft costs UK customers £320m

By Sam Pither

20 October 2022

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Eight million parcels were lost or stolen in the UK, between May 2021 and April 2022, costing customers £320 million in missing goods.

That's according to research by Hastings-based steel manufacturer, Penn Elcom, who completed the first global report on parcel theft. Produced by YouGov, the Penn Elcom Global Parcel Theft Report 2022 found a significant increase in the number of parcels going missing since the pandemic.

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Because of these thefts, 10 per cent of people across the globe say they are now reluctant to shop online, with more than a third (36 per cent) saying they are concerned about sending and receiving packages.

This number is similar to the 32 per cent of people surveyed in the UK who reported having had a package lost or stolen, totalling 21.5 million parcels. People working full-time are most likely to be affected.

The phenomenon has been documented on social media sites like TikTok.

@gelielicious
When your parcel is delivered by hermes... ano na??! #nightmare #hermescourier #viral #trending #UK #COURIER #THIEF
♬ original sound - gelie

Although this user is implying the Hermes driver was responsible, it should be noted the person taking the package is wearing a different hat.

Featured image: iStock

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.