Package Theft in Hawaii: Prevention, Reporting, and Recovery
Package theft (also called porch piracy) is one of the most common community-reported incidents in Hawaii. Stolen Stuff Hawaii has tracked hundreds of porch-piracy reports across Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai since 2014. This guide explains how to prevent package theft, what to do if a package is stolen, how to report it to police, and how to alert the SSH community so neighbors can watch for the suspect.
How common is package theft in Hawaii
Package theft in Hawaii surges around the holiday season (November through January) and during major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. Tourist-area neighborhoods on Oahu (especially Waikiki, Kakaako, and Kapolei) and Maui (Kihei, Wailuku) see higher rates because of dense apartment buildings and unattended-package delivery patterns.
Hawaii residents do not generally face the same package-theft volume as mainland US cities, but the islands have specific patterns: organized crews following Amazon and FedEx trucks, repeat hitters in low-income housing complexes, and opportunistic theft from short-term-rental properties.
How to prevent package theft
Install a video doorbell (Ring, Nest, Wyze, or similar). Visible cameras deter most opportunistic thieves and capture footage of those who are not deterred.
Use Amazon Hub Lockers, FedEx Hold at Location, or USPS Hold for Pickup for high-value items. These options are free and remove the package from your doorstep entirely.
Require signature on delivery for expensive items. Most carriers offer this for a small fee.
Schedule deliveries for times when you are home, or ask a neighbor to retrieve packages right after the delivery driver leaves.
Install motion-sensor lights and trim shrubs near your entrance to remove hiding spots.
Use an AirTag inside high-value packages so you can track the package if it is taken. Apple AirTags work island-wide; police reports backed by AirTag location data have led to recoveries.
What to do if your package was stolen in Hawaii
Step 1: Check with neighbors and household members first. About a third of "stolen" packages were actually picked up by someone else in the home or accidentally delivered next door.
Step 2: Contact the carrier (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, USPS) to report the package as missing. Most carriers will refund or replace once you file a missing-package claim.
Step 3: File a police report with your county police department. Honolulu Police Department non-emergency: (808) 529-3111. Maui Police: (808) 244-6400. Hawaii County Police: (808) 935-3311. Kauai Police: (808) 241-1711. You will need a police report number for most insurance claims and Amazon refunds over $100.
Step 4: Pull your camera footage if you have it. Save the file locally and upload a copy to police via the online report system.
Step 5: Post the incident to Stolen Stuff Hawaii with the time, location, and any suspect description. Neighbors may have seen the same person or vehicle nearby. Include camera footage if you can.
Recovering a stolen package
Most stolen packages are not physically recovered. The exception is when AirTag or other GPS tracking is inside the package, or when SSH community posts surface the suspect within hours of the theft and police follow up. Insurance claims through your carrier or homeowner/renter insurance are usually the fastest path to financial recovery.
Reporting to the SSH community
Submit a report at reportssh.com or post directly to the Stolen Stuff Hawaii Facebook Group. Include: date and time of theft, exact address or nearest intersection, description of what was stolen, suspect description if visible on camera, and camera footage if available. Reports are reviewed by SSH volunteers and published to the public search database where neighbors can find them.
Frequently asked questions
How common is package theft in Hawaii?
Package theft is one of the most frequently reported incident types in the Stolen Stuff Hawaii database. Reports spike during the November-January holiday season and around major shopping events. Tourist areas on Oahu and Maui see higher rates than rural neighborhoods.
What should I do if my package is stolen in Hawaii?
First check with household members and neighbors. Then file a missing-package claim with the carrier (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, USPS). File a police report with your county police department for any package valued over $100. Save and submit camera footage. Post the incident to Stolen Stuff Hawaii so neighbors can watch for the suspect.
Can you track a stolen package?
Carriers can track packages only up to the delivery scan. Once a package is marked delivered, the carrier has no further tracking. If you put an Apple AirTag or similar GPS tracker inside the package, you can locate it after theft, but you should report the location to police rather than confronting the thief yourself.
Will Amazon refund a stolen package?
Yes, in most cases. Report the missing package through your Amazon account within 30 days of delivery. Amazon typically refunds or replaces without requiring a police report for orders under $100. For higher-value items, Amazon may request the police report number.
Does homeowner insurance cover stolen packages in Hawaii?
Most homeowner and renter insurance policies cover package theft as personal-property loss, subject to your deductible. The deductible (often $500-$1,000) makes claims uneconomical for smaller packages. Check your specific policy for off-premises theft coverage.
Where can I report package theft in Honolulu?
Honolulu Police Department non-emergency line: (808) 529-3111. Online reports can be filed at honolulupd.org. Also post the incident to the Stolen Stuff Hawaii community for neighbor awareness.
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