FOI 0362-2025/26- Parcel theft
Request:
Q1 How many instances of parcel theft (i.e. parcels stolen from somebody's doorstep, or other cases where thieves steal a package, for example by impersonating a delivery person or homeowner) were reported between 01/08/2024 and 31/07/2025?
Q2 If possible, please can you provide a monthly break down of the number of reported instances of parcel theft (i.e. parcels stolen from somebody's doorstep, or other cases where thieves steal a package, for example by impersonating a delivery person or homeowner) within the date range provided in question one. Or, if this is not possible, any data that would make it possible to calculate this?
Q3 If possible, please can you share either the total reported value of stolen parcels for the date ranges provided in question one or, if this is not possible, any data that would make it possible to calculate this?
Q4 If possible, please can you share the most common time of day when parcels were stolen (using the date ranges provided in question one) in the following format, or, if not possible, any data that would make it possible to calculate this?
- A - 09.01 - 17.00
- B - 17.01 - 22.00
- C - 22.01 - 09.00
Q5 If possible, please can you share the most common age of the people reporting theft (for the date ranges provided in question one) in the following format, or any data that would make it possible to calculate this?
- A - 21 and under
- B - 22-34
- C - 35-44
- D - 45-54
- E - 55-64
- F - 65 and over
Q6 If possible, please can you estimate how long (hours per month) in total that the force spent on any work relating to reported theft of parcels?
Q7 If possible, please can you share the number of reports you received split by type of dwelling/address where the reported incident took place?
- Detatched house or bungalow
- Semi-detatched or terraced house
- Apartment/flat
- Office/business
- Any other
Response:
Extent of Searches to Locate Information
Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police to locate relevant information.
Decision
I am not obliged to provide you with a response to your request pursuant to Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please note that when one part of your request falls under Section 12, we are not obliged to review the rest of the questions and the whole request is therefore exempt.
Section 12(1) applies to your request as the cost of complying with your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of identifying and retrieving any relevant information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
Due to the nature of our recording systems the information requested, if held, is not in an easily retrievable format. Our information retrieval process generally relies on a computer ran report which captures any information recorded upon the surface of a record or within specified fields. Where relevant information is held deeper in the record, or outside of a specified field, a manual assessment is required to retrieve that information.
As there is no specific crime of parcel theft, in order to retrieve the requested information, it would be necessary to manually review all burglary crimes (both residential and business/community) in the specified timeframe, to determine the number relevant to your request which would exceed the time limit allowed under the Act. In the period 1 August 2024 and 17 July 2025 there have been 2098 burglary crimes recorded. At an estimated 5 minutes per record, this exercise would take more than 170 hours, significantly exceeding the time allowed under the Act.
Pursuant to Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice.
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act I am required to offer you advice and assistance with regarding to refining your request to within the ‘appropriate limit’ (time/cost limit). However, due to the information provided above I am unable to suggest how you may refine your request and still receive the information within the cost threshold. If you wish to discuss this please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.