Police Are Warning Americans to Stop Throwing Away Delivery Boxes Like This and the Reason Is Genuinely Terrifying
Online shopping has left millions of delivery boxes on American porches each week, especially during the holiday shipping rush. In Texas and other states, police are now warning residents not to throw out Amazon and other delivery boxes with shipping labels still visible.
Police departments say labels can expose names, addresses, and purchase details
Police agencies in multiple states used social media in December 2024 to remind residents to remove or destroy shipping labels before putting boxes at the curb. The Tomball Police Department in Texas stated on December 18 that labels on Amazon and other delivery boxes can reveal a resident’s full name, home address, and tracking information.
Other departments, including local police in Ohio and Pennsylvania, have issued similar reminders during past holiday seasons, according to their public safety posts. The warning is not tied to a single national retailer recall or a federal law enforcement bulletin, but it has been repeated often enough by local agencies to become a regular seasonal message.
Officers said the concern is straightforward. A discarded box can confirm that a specific person lives at a specific address and may also show what retailer was used, when a package arrived, and in some cases what kind of item was delivered.
The warning is especially relevant in Texas, where porch theft reports rise during holiday deliveries
In Texas, the Tomball Police Department’s December 18 message is one of the clearest recent examples of the warning. The department told residents to tear off labels, black out personal information, or break down boxes before disposal.
What is confirmed is that police want identifying details removed before trash pickup. What is not publicly known is how many identity theft or burglary cases in Texas have been directly tied to labels left on boxes, and law enforcement agencies have not released a statewide count connecting those incidents to package waste alone.
The issue comes up most often during November and December, when package volume jumps nationwide. Retail and shipping companies have not released a comprehensive state-by-state breakdown showing how many theft reports begin with information taken from discarded delivery packaging.
Police say the risk includes identity theft, scams, and burglaries aimed at recent shoppers
Law enforcement warnings focus on three risks: identity theft, scam targeting, and theft. A visible label can give criminals a verified name-and-address match, which the Federal Trade Commission has long described as useful personal information in fraud schemes, even when it does not include a Social Security number or bank account.
Police also note that branded boxes can suggest the type or value of a recent purchase. A box from Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, or Walmart may tell a thief that electronics or other resale items were recently delivered, even if the item is no longer inside.
For residents, the practical takeaway is limited and specific. Police departments have said to remove labels, shred them if possible, and avoid leaving intact boxes with personal details in open view on collection day; the holiday warning is expected to remain part of routine local safety messaging as online deliveries continue to grow in 2025.
