Study: GR 9th worst metro area for package theft

Meghan Bunchman
·2 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A recent study ranked the Grand Rapids-Kentwood area as the ninth worst in the nation for package theft.

SafeWise analyzed Google Trends and FBI data to rank the 10 worst metro areas for 2023, with Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranked as the worst and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro coming in 10th.

According to the study, 55% of the Michigan population is worried about future theft, with 70% using a deterrent such as a porch camera or verified delivery for security.

“It might be for some people where their neighbors can get a clear view of the package, the fact that it’s been dropped off,” said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. “But the number one thing you can do is pay attention to when you’re going to get deliveries and pull it in.”

Her department arrested three men days before Christmas last year after they allegedly hit a Cannon Township neighborhood multiple times. LaJoye-Young said if it wasn’t for a neighbor who called in suspicious behavior, the suspected repeat offenders may not have been caught.

Deputies warn residents after ‘porch pirates’ arrested for stealing packages

“That case was resolved by neighbors calling it in and saying this is going on,” she said. “We were able to identify a suspect in that case, which then led us to the fact that they’ve been doing it over and over again.”

That case is still pending.

According to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office, from 2021 to 2022, larceny and retail fraud increased from 819 to 1,183 incidents.

While many incidents are crimes of opportunity, the public can take measures to reduce potential thefts. These measures include asking the delivery service to drop the package at a side door, a back door or even a neighbor’s house; tracking the package itself; and, if there is a case of theft, reporting it to police. If people don’t report stolen items, deputies and police officers aren’t able to track trends in the area.

“One, we don’t know how many then have been victimized, so we can’t apply resources to it. And two, there’s no hope of it being caught and they’re going to continue to do it until they get caught,” LaJoye-Young said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.