New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer has proposed the "Porch Pirates Act", a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down on package theft, particularly from private carriers such as Amazon and FedEx. The legislation seeks to close loopholes in prosecuting package theft, bringing the same penalties for individuals who tamper with deliveries from private carriers.
Currently, it's only federal mail delivered by the US Postal Service that comes under prosecution for package theft. However, Gottheimer's bill would extend this protection to all packages, regardless of whether they're sent through a private carrier or not. The increased penalties and time behind bars will likely deter individuals who have previously taken advantage of these lax regulations.
According to Safewise, a home safety research group, nearly half of Americans report having had a package stolen in the past year, with over 100 million deliveries snatched during this time period alone. Gottheimer pointed out that New Jersey saw an alarming 190,000 parcel thefts over a three-month period last year.
While package theft appears to be on the decline overall – down 13% from 2023 – it still causes significant financial losses, with the average stolen package in New Jersey costing up to 87% more than in other states. Gottheimer emphasized that this issue affects not just holiday gifts but also prescription medication and personal items.
The new bill's passage would allow federal agencies such as the Justice Department and FBI to coordinate with local law enforcement on tackling the problem, making it more difficult for package thieves to operate undetected. As Gottheimer noted, "it's literally a Grinch that tears through neighborhoods stealing away Christmas presents," and his legislation aims to put an end to this scourge.
Currently, it's only federal mail delivered by the US Postal Service that comes under prosecution for package theft. However, Gottheimer's bill would extend this protection to all packages, regardless of whether they're sent through a private carrier or not. The increased penalties and time behind bars will likely deter individuals who have previously taken advantage of these lax regulations.
According to Safewise, a home safety research group, nearly half of Americans report having had a package stolen in the past year, with over 100 million deliveries snatched during this time period alone. Gottheimer pointed out that New Jersey saw an alarming 190,000 parcel thefts over a three-month period last year.
While package theft appears to be on the decline overall – down 13% from 2023 – it still causes significant financial losses, with the average stolen package in New Jersey costing up to 87% more than in other states. Gottheimer emphasized that this issue affects not just holiday gifts but also prescription medication and personal items.
The new bill's passage would allow federal agencies such as the Justice Department and FBI to coordinate with local law enforcement on tackling the problem, making it more difficult for package thieves to operate undetected. As Gottheimer noted, "it's literally a Grinch that tears through neighborhoods stealing away Christmas presents," and his legislation aims to put an end to this scourge.
I'm so over these Porch Pirates 
! I mean, who does that? Stealing packages right off your doorstep is just not cool, you know? 
And it's not just the holiday gifts and stuff that people buy online, it's also prescription meds and personal items... it's just a big mess. 
. It's about time we started taking package theft seriously. I mean, 190,000 parcel thefts in one state alone last year? That's wild 
. And the fact that it's still happening at a lower rate than before just shows how much of an issue it is. 
. It's time we make package theft a priority and start protecting people's stuff 
. Bring on the "Porch Pirates Act" and let's get those thieves off our streets once and for all 
! 
! I mean, who doesnt mind their packages being stolen? Its a bummer when u have holiday gifts ruined or worse, ur prescription meds go missing 
. Gottheimer's bill sounds like a good start tho - i hope it gets passed and those package thieves get caught in the act 
. Im all for coordination between federal agencies and local law enforcement, that way they can share info and catch these sneaky thieves faster 
. Its not just about Christmas presents, its about protecting people's personal stuff too 
.
... like I always do on Fridays. Anyway package theft is getting out of hand, right? And it's not just Amazon or FedEx, anyone can get a package stolen from their porch. But you know what's even crazier than 100 million deliveries being snatched in the past year? The fact that some people still think it's okay to steal packages... I mean, come on! 
. Gottheimer needs to get this bill passed ASAP - it's the least we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones. 
. But at the same time, I get why Gottheimer wants to crack down on this issue. I mean, 190,000 parcel thefts in New Jersey last year? That's just crazy 
. If this bill passes, it'll be great to see more accountability for people who do this stuff. And the fact that it'll make it harder for package thieves to operate undetected? That's just a bonus 
.
I mean, who doesn't love the feeling of having their package yanked from their porch? It's like, what even is the point of having a front door anymore? And yeah, let's all just take a collective deep breath and appreciate the thrill of possibly having our stuff stolen by some mystery stranger. 
.
. Its just frustrating when people feel like they're not secure enough in their own neighborhoods 
. Maybe with this bill, we can all feel safer and less vulnerable to porch pirates 
.
at least now the justice department and FBI are on board to help local law enforcement catch these package thieves. fingers crossed it passes and we can finally start seeing some real change 
. Gottheimer's bill might be a good starting point to crack down on this nonsense... 
. Gottheimer is onto something with his bill, though. It's time to crack down on these thieves who are literally ruining holidays and leaving people high and low 
. I feel bad for people who get their prescription medication or personal items stolen too... that's just heartbreaking 
.
. Like, what about the poor dude who just can't afford to pay for a package tracking service? 
...
. It's crazy how many people are stealing from individuals who just want their stuff delivered safely at home. I mean, can you imagine if someone took your packages when they came to your doorstep? The thought alone gives me chills 
. As someone who's had a few packages stolen in the past (which is super annoying), it'd be amazing to see this bill pass and get some real change made 
.
. It's not just about holiday gifts; it's also about prescription medication and personal items, which are essential for people's well-being. I think the bipartisan bill has merit, especially with the proposed increased penalties. The coordination between federal agencies and local law enforcement could be a game-changer in tackling this issue.