Boston Council Voted to Study Package Theft Solutions

Council members are exploring new security measures to protect residents from recurring delivery thefts.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a simplified geometric brick apartment entrance, evoking urban residential security policy. — The Boston City Council has launched a formal study into methods to mitigate package theft, an issue disproportionately affecting residents in multi-unit buildings. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government invest in public secure lockers to prevent package theft in your area?

The Boston City Council has officially agreed to study potential methods for curbing package theft throughout the city. The initiative aims to address concerns regarding the security of residential deliveries.

Why it matters

Residents in multi-unit buildings often lack secure areas for deliveries, leading to the theft of essential items like medications and medical devices. This study seeks to mitigate losses for elderly and disabled citizens who rely on these regular shipments.

The council has committed to a formal study of package theft trends to determine the feasibility of installing secure public delivery lockers. Officials are currently evaluating data to compare local theft rates against established models in other cities.

The players

Sharon Durkan

She is a Boston City Councilor who requested the formal hearing to address rising package theft.

Henry Santana

He is a Boston City Councilor who co-sponsored the hearing request to study delivery security.

Ed Flynn

He is a Boston City Councilor who proposed increased arrests and the use of substance-abuse programs for offenders.

The details

Councilor Sharon Durkan requested a formal hearing to examine the issue, which was co-sponsored by Councilor Henry Santana. Councilor Ed Flynn additionally proposed that local police increase arrests for package thieves while connecting offenders with substance-abuse programs.

September 23, 2026: The Boston City Council approved the formal study regarding package theft solutions.

Legal Context

Boston is looking to replicate the success of New York, which currently maintains a network of 70 public delivery locker locations. This legislative move marks a shift toward public infrastructure as a primary deterrent for urban package theft.

Residents may see increased police patrols or new security configurations in residential areas as the council explores intervention strategies. The proposal to connect offenders with substance-abuse programs could also shift how the city processes property crime arrests.

The takeaway

The move signals a growing emphasis on protecting residential delivery logistics as an essential public safety issue. Officials are balancing the need for increased enforcement against the potential for social support services to address underlying causes of theft.