Parcel theft 655/2026

FOI Reference: 655/2026

Request:

In previous years, we have submitted Freedom of Information requests to police forces across the UK relating to parcel theft. While many forces have been able to provide the data requested others (like your force) have advised they were unable to provide the requested data because parcel theft is not recorded as a standalone offence category or searchable field within their crime recording systems.

Before proceeding, we would be grateful if you could confirm whether this position has changed.

Q1. Is your force now able to identify reports of parcel theft (i.e. parcels stolen from somebody's doorstep, communal area, designated safe place, or through impersonation of a delivery driver or homeowner) without conducting a manual review of individual crime reports?

Yes

No

Partially (please provide details)

If the answer is yes, please let us know and we will submit our standard parcel theft information request.

If the answer is no, please answer the following questions instead.

Q2. Does your force record parcel theft as:

A standalone offence category

A searchable incident type

A marker or flag attached to offences

None of the above

Q3. Has your force made any changes within the last three years to how parcel theft incidents are recorded, categorised, monitored or analysed?

If yes, please provide details.

Q4. Has your force issued any crime prevention advice, public awareness campaigns, social media messaging, press releases or community communications relating specifically to parcel theft within the last three years?

If yes, please provide copies, links or summaries where available.

Q5. Has your force identified any emerging trends relating to parcel theft during the last three years?

For example:

Increasing reports

Repeat victimisation

Organised criminal activity

Thefts from apartment blocks or communal areas

Seasonal spikes

Use of online marketplaces to resell stolen goods

Please provide any commentary available.

Q6. Has your force undertaken any operational activity, enforcement initiative, partnership programme or crime prevention project aimed at reducing parcel theft within the last three years?

If yes, please provide details.

Q7. Does your force currently provide specific guidance to residents on how to reduce the risk of parcel theft?

If yes, please provide copies, links or summaries.

Q8. Does your force work with retailers, delivery companies, local authorities, housing associations, parcel locker companies or other organisations on parcel theft prevention initiatives?

If yes, please provide details.

If answering the above questions is not possible, could you please advise what relevant information may be attainable, or where it may already exist in the public domain.

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Yes, there is a “42 Theft of Mail” offence we can filter by.

However, a manual review of these offences would need to be conducted to identify type of parcel theft ie. parcels stolen from somebody's doorstep, communal area, designated safe place, or through impersonation of a delivery driver or homeowner.

Depending on the volume, this may exceed 18 hours of working.

This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 23/07/2026.