How do I protect my shipment against theft?
5min read
06/11/2020
As an e-shop operator, you’ve undoubtedly experienced it: your parcel was stolen on the way to the customer. And there you are: you have to deliver a brand new shipment AND you have to deal with a dissatisfied customer. Could you easily have avoided that negative review? Perhaps with a different type of packaging that is less tempting to theft… Think of two factors: discretion and an appropriate closure. So time to pull out your safest packaging.
Three packages that package thieves look for
A US study1 found that some 36% of online shoppers have already experienced a stolen order. 56% of those surveyed even knew someone who has been a victim of such a theft before. So what makes a parcel so attractive to a thief? Shorr Packaging2 put this question to about 1,000 consumers. Their answers can be found below.3 Three factors in particular we put under further scrutiny: branded packaging, messages on the parcel (e.g. Fragile, Fragile) and the size of the package.
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[1] Branded packaging: a ‘branded’ package is one where the brand name or colour is clearly visible. You can therefore make a good guess from a distance as to what will be inside the box. Quite tempting for someone with bad intentions… The solution: go for discreet packaging. We will explain how best to do this in a moment.
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[2] Messages on the package: a warning message on a box can already be a good hint of what is inside. Large labels or printing with FRAGILE or BREAKABLE can indicate that your parcel contains a fragile (and precious) product. Think electronics or crystal. A more subtle statement of this kind of information is often sufficient too.
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[3] Package size: e-commerce orders are still too often sent in boxes that are far too big. In the mind of a package thief, the bigger a package is, the greater the chance of a nice haul. Larger boxes are also easier to spot from a distance. The solution is obvious: go for a smaller package by wrapping your package as tightly as possible around your product. The easiest way to create a compact package is with a variable-height box or a shipping bag.
How to avoid theft of e-shop packages?
Eliminating theft 100% is probably going to be very difficult. But you can take some measures to make package thieves less salivating. For example, opt for discreet packaging, preferably with a customised closure. Of course, how far you want to go with this depends on the value of your product. The more expensive and exclusive your product, the more attention you will have to pay to ‘anti-theft packaging’.
► Discreet packaging
‘Discreet’ means that the packaging is neutral (brown or white) and completely opaque. So it contains no mention of a brand or its colours. Only the best fortune teller can still guess what’s inside! Examples include a plain brown box, an opaque shipping bag or black wrapping film (which can be used to hide the contents of a pallet). Discreet packaging comes in especially handy when:
- The order is a gift or surprise. It is best if the recipient does not know which e-shop you bought it from;
- The parcel cannot be picked up in person;
- The parcel cannot be delivered to your home but to a collection point or workplace.
So depending on the product you sell (medicines, jewellery, electronics), you may do well to work with discreet shipping materials. However, this does not mean that you have to keep the inside of your parcel discreet either. You can go for a print or a personal message on a card. That way, you can still make the unboxing experience unique.
► Adapted closures
Finally, as long as your parcel is still in transit, customised tapes or closures are a perfect way to discourage parcel theft. And fingered thieves will not be able to turn up their tricks. You can choose from the following solutions:
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Security tape: This tape leaves a message on the box as soon as you remove it. You will then see the word ‘opened’, for example. The tape is very difficult to replace after opening, so theft attempts never go unnoticed.
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Gummed adhesive tape: After application, the adhesive tape penetrates deeply into the cardboard of your box and ‘melts’ into a whole. When removing, you will inevitably damage the cardboard. This makes it one of the best closures with tape. Read more about the benefits of gummed adhesive tape here.
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Drive-on seal: is used for closing crates, courier boxes, truck doors, etc., among other things.
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Container seal: works on the same principle as a drive-on seal but is much more robust. Suitable for container doors. Can only be removed with bolt pliers.
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Postal box with reinforced closure: this type of box has locking tongues or locking tabs that make the box stay closed better.
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Untearable mailing bag: Once closed, your products are very securely packed and also protected from water and dirt.
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Cross-wrap packaging: The large flaps folded over each other make it more difficult to open the box and reach the contents.
Sources:
1 www.crresearch.com/blog/2019-package-theft-statistics-report
2 www.shorr.com/packaging-news/2017-05/2017-package-theft-report-porch-pirates-purchase-habits-and-privacy
3 “ THE 2017 PACKAGE THEFT REPORT: PORCH PIRATES, PURCHASE HABITS, AND PRIVACY.” The 2017 Package Theft Report: Porch Pirates, Purchase Habits, and Privacy | Shorr Packaging Corporation, 2017, www.shorr.com/packaging-news/2017-05/2017-package-theft-report-porch-pirates-purchase-habits-and-privacy.
