PARCEL thefts are more common in Essex than in any other police area in the UK, according to a study carried out by an international courier service.

Essex residents have reported a total of 1,888 parcel thefts to Essex Police between 2019 and the first quarter of 2022, with a total of 102 mail thefts recorded per 100,000 people.

According to the data from Pack and Send, the number of thefts has increased significantly over the last three years – and more worryingly, Essex Police has had a higher proportion of stolen packages reported per head than any other police force, including the Metropolitan Police, Kent Police, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

The Covid-19 lockdown has been cited as one reason behind the increase in crimes of this nature, with more and more consumers turning to online shopping whilst retailers closed during the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

With 11,000 incidents of mail theft having been recorded in the past three years UK-wide, it means the number of parcel thefts recorded in Essex accounts for 17 per cent of the overall national figure.

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When contacted by the Gazette, Essex Police said video doorbells and security lights are the most effective way of reducing chances of parcel thefts.

A spokesman said: “Essex Police are committed to preventing and investigating all forms of theft, including parcel thefts.

“To avoid falling victim, the public could install a video doorbell or a security light – in addition, we encourage people to track your parcel in order to ensure that someone can be at home for the delivery.”

Nationally, parcel thefts since 2019 have more than doubled.

Despite this, however Surrey Police and Sussex Police recorded some of the lowest number of mail thefts per capita, with data showing Surrey had four mail thefts per 100,000 and Sussex eight per 100,000.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland recorded only one mail theft per 100,000 people.

An Essex Police spokesman added: “We advise the public to take measures to prevent themselves from becoming a victim and to report thefts to us by using our online reporting service.”