Parcel Theft in Apartment Buildings: What Committees Can Do

“Parcels keep disappearing from our lobby. Residents are angry, and the committee is getting the complaints. What can we actually do?” Parcel theft in apartment buildings happens because parcels are left where many people can reach them. The fixes range from free changes to residents’ delivery instructions, through CCTV and an access-controlled parcel room, to parcel lockers with individual codes. Lockers are one option, not the only one, and many buildings get most of the benefit by combining two or three cheaper measures first. This page sets out all of them honestly.

Why parcels go missing

Cause	How it happens
Open foyers and mailrooms	Couriers leave parcels where anyone entering can take them
Shared fobs	Every resident, cleaner and contractor can open the parcel room
Tailgating	Non-residents follow someone through a secure door
Wrong parcel taken	Similar boxes, no record of who took what
Parcels left for days	The longer a parcel sits, the more likely it goes
Outside apartment doors	Couriers who get in leave parcels at doors in corridors

What to tell residents now: a sample notice

Committees can act this week with a short notice to residents:

Parcels in our building. Parcels left in the foyer or mailroom can be taken by anyone with access. Until we agree a long-term fix, please (1) add delivery instructions asking couriers not to leave parcels in common areas, (2) use a parcel collection point or locker address for valuable items, and (3) collect anything delivered to the building on the same day. If a parcel goes missing, report it to the sender or retailer first, and let the committee know so we can track the problem.

Tracking reports for a month gives the committee the evidence it needs to choose between the options below.

The options, cheapest first

1. Delivery instructions (free)

Ask residents to set delivery instructions: “Do not leave in foyer”, or to use a public collection point. Australia Post Parcel Lockers are free for collection with a MyPost account (Australia Post), and other networks exist (companies guide).

2. A building rule on where parcels go (free)

Agree where couriers may and may not leave parcels, put a sign at the entry, and tell residents. It reduces disputes even if it does not stop theft.

3. CCTV over the parcel area (low to moderate cost)

Cameras deter and help resolve disputes. They do not stop a determined thief, and footage review takes someone’s time. Check your scheme’s privacy obligations for common-area cameras.

4. An access-controlled parcel room (moderate cost)

Converting an open parcel area into a room on a restricted fob group cuts casual theft. Weakness: everyone with access can still take any parcel, and there is no record of who took what.

5. Parcel lockers (capital cost)

Each parcel is behind its own door, opened by a one-time code sent to the resident, and every delivery and collection is logged. Weaknesses: parcels that do not fit, couriers who still leave parcels elsewhere, and the cost.

Comparing the options

Option	Cost	Stops casual theft	Record of who took it	Works after hours
Delivery instructions	Free	Partly	No	Yes
Building rule and signage	Free	Partly	No	Yes
CCTV	Low–moderate	Deters	Footage only	Yes
Access-controlled parcel room	Moderate	Mostly	No	Yes
Parcel lockers	Capital	Yes, for parcels inside	Yes	Yes

A sensible sequence for committees

1. Survey residents: how many parcels go missing, and when?
2. Introduce delivery instructions and a building rule now.
3. If the problem continues, compare a parcel room with lockers for your building and budget.
4. Put the chosen option to a general meeting with a quote (strata guide).

If you go with lockers

A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand dollars, roughly A$3,000–7,000 ex GST. A building system of 50–100 cells is roughly A$12,000–30,000 ex GST. On top of that there is a flat monthly software fee of around A$150 per building, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Delivery and installation are quoted per site, and your quote fixes the price.

Where lockers are the wrong answer

• Theft is rare and delivery instructions have fixed it.
• The parcels going missing are mostly oversize, which no cell fits.
• The problem is couriers leaving parcels outside apartment doors after being let in. That is an access-control and courier-instruction issue first.

Related situations

• Small strata parcel lockers
• Unattended buildings
• Retrofitting a parcel room
• Community housing parcel lockers

Frequently asked questions

Why do parcels go missing in apartment buildings?

Usually because they are left in a place many people can reach: an open foyer, a mailroom on a shared fob, or outside the front door. Couriers leave parcels where they can when no one answers. Tailgating through secure doors, residents taking the wrong parcel, and parcels left for days all add to the problem.

What can a strata committee do about parcel theft?

Options range from free to capital works: tell residents to use delivery instructions and public collection points, stop couriers leaving parcels in open areas, put CCTV over the parcel area, convert an open parcel space into an access-controlled parcel room, or install parcel lockers with individual codes and a log. Most buildings combine two or three.

Is the owners corporation responsible for parcels stolen from the lobby?

Liability depends on the facts and your state’s law, and this page is not legal advice. In practice, a parcel left in a common area is often a dispute between the resident, the sender and the courier. Committees reduce disputes by making clear, in writing, where parcels should and should not be left.

Do parcel lockers stop parcel theft completely?

They stop theft from the locker itself, because each cell opens only with its own code and every opening is logged. They do not help with parcels that couriers leave elsewhere, or that do not fit a cell. Combine lockers with clear delivery instructions.