City Councilor Sharon Durkan filed a hearing order at last week’s Council Meeting with Councilors Ed Flynn and Henry Santana to examine the scope of package theft in Boston and bring city officials together to discuss how to address this persistent quality-of-life issue.
“All residents should be able to enjoy the convenience of at-home package delivery. Stealing someone’s property is punishable as a criminal offense, but enforcement and prosecution can be an ongoing challenge. That’s why I think it’s so important that we better understand the scope of this problem, evaluate how we can improve enforcement, and explore strategies like secure public lockers or 311 reporting to better track incidents and reduce package theft,” said Councilor Durkan.
Residents should report package theft to the Boston Police Department (BPD), but many do not due to a lack of awareness, the perceived hassle of filing a police report, or the feeling that it is not worth the department’s time. More comprehensive data could help the City better understand where and when package theft is occurring and identify areas where additional resources or interventions may be needed. The hearing will bring BPD and relevant City officials together to discuss ways to improve reporting, strengthen enforcement, and explore additional strategies to prevent package theft.
Councilor Durkan identified that package theft is a challenge across Boston but can be particularly difficult in District 8 neighborhoods like Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and Fenway, where many multi-unit buildings lack designated space for package deliveries and packages are often left on the street. The hearing will also explore the potential for a public locker pilot to give residents a secure and convenient place to receive their packages.
“For our seniors and neighbors living with disabilities, a stolen package can mean missed medication, delayed equipment, or lost daily essentials. Package theft touches almost every neighborhood in our city, directly threatening the health, safety, and independence of those who rely on home deliveries. We must take proactive, practical action to protect our neighborhoods and safeguard our most vulnerable residents,” said Councilor Santana.
“Residents don’t always report to BPD because they don’t think it’s an important issue, but package theft is high priority. When packages are stolen, it impacts public safety and quality of life. Let’s come together as a Council to support our neighbors and our community,” said Councilor Flynn.
The docket has been assigned to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.