Dorset has been declared a mail-theft 'hotspot', according to research.

Pack and Send, an international courier company, has analysed the latest available data from 33 police forces across the UK to reveal which residents are most (or least) likely to have their mail stolen from their front door.

Dorset placed sixth on the list with a total of 311 mail thefts between 2019 and March 2022 - at a rate of 40 thefts per 100,000 people.

Overall, residents across the UK have reported over 11,000 incidents of mail theft since 2019.

A spokesperson for Pack and Send issued "practical advice" to help consumers reduce the risk of being impacted by porch piracy.

Their tips were as follows:

  • Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery. If you’re not going to be home, arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour or if possible, rearrange the delivery date to when it best suits you
  • Select a shipping service which requires a signature
  • Install a video doorbell, this can be connected to your mobile, so you’re notified immediately of any delivery
  • Install a lockable package box
  • Use an off-site locker for frequent deliveries or for more expensive items, have them delivered to store