'Porch pirates' steal £666m of parcels from doorsteps

MORE than £666million worth of parcels were pinched by “porch pirates” in the past year, research has revealed.

- BY GRAHAM HISCOTT

A survey found 17% of households have had at least one item stolen from their doorstep in the past 12 months - nearly a third higher overall than the previous year.

That would suggest a national figure of around 4.8 million households have fallen prey to the thieves.

Yet the research, by technology company Quadient, indicates it is a hugely under-reported crime.