It's more common than ever to have your online purchases delivered to your door. Because of that, it's also more common to hear about packages being stolen off porches before you can get to them.
But will your home insurance provider cover the cost of those stolen items? The answer is the same as many questions about insurance claims: it depends.
Unfortunately, many basic home and tenant insurance plans do not include coverage for stolen packages. If they do, you still might have to pay a deductible, which can sometimes be costlier than the stolen item itself. In many cases, home insurance will only be a viable option for a package if it is of high value.
Here are some other avenues you can explore to regain the cost of a stolen package, or to try and prevent it in the future.
Install a home monitoring system
Installing a surveillance system could help stop the problem by deterring thieves in the first place. Many criminals go for the easiest target, so a good home surveillance system could discourage them from trying to stealing from your property in the first place.
In the case that you still have a package stolen, the footage will help with filing a police report.
Check if your credit card covers your purchase
Many credit card plans include purchase protection and could cover the cost of stolen packages. It's worth checking if your credit card will cover the loss before checking with your home insurance, as it could be a simple and cost-effective alternative.
There are some exceptions though, and some credit cards may not cover extremely expensive items through their purchase protection plan.
File a claim with the shipping company
If the retailer or your credit card company is unwilling to help you out, turn your attention to the shipping company to see if they'll cover the loss in any form. Some companies will have an online process to start your claim.
If none of the above works, then your last option is to contact your home insurance provider to see if they'll cover the loss. If you have a basic home insurance plan though, or if your coverage includes a large deductible fee, you may be out of luck.
Online shopping is becoming increasingly effortless. If you plan on buying more things on the web, it's a good idea to take preventative measures like buying a home monitoring system. You can also compare insurance plans to see whether they cover stolen packages.
