Is Being A Porch Pirate Illegal?

As long as the explosive charge is not strong enough to injure or kill a person using fake packages as “bait” for porch pirates is legal. But be careful, If you injure someone with your package fake bomb you could be sued by the pirate. If you left a package that could injure someone in any form, you could be liable.

Is porch pirate illegal?

California lawmaker introduces ‘porch piracy’ bill to make package theft a felony.Current law provides that a theft of a package from the porch or entryway of someone’s home is considered a misdemeanor.

Is being a porch pirate a felony?

Stealing mail from other people’s doorsteps and mailboxes, or “porch piracy” has long been a crime, but June marks the second anniversary of the signing of House Bill 37, which enhances the criminal charges for mail theft from a misdemeanor to a felony under certain circumstances.

Is it legal to set traps for porch Pirates?

Booby Traps are Illegal
Perhaps the most important reason to avoid an attempt to trap a burglar is the fact that it is illegal.In essence, if you set-up such a trap to protect your property from intruders, you will be liable for any injury or death even to an unwanted intruder such as a burglar.

Do porch Pirates ever get caught?

Porch pirates are hard to catch.
Though more and more homeowners are catching their package theft on camera, this doesn’t do a lot to protect your packages from being stolen. One source claims that police make arrests in less than 10% of reported theft cases.

What can I do about porch Pirates?

What to do if a package is stolen from your porch

1. Step 1: Track the package.
2. Step 2: Check if your neighbors saw it or held onto it for you.
3. Step 3: Contact the seller or retailer.
4. Step 4: File a claim with the shipping company.
5. Step 5: Use the purchase protection features on your credit card.

What is the charge for stealing a package?

In California, mail theft is a public offense punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and a fine to be determined by the court judge. You may be required to pay victim restitution in an amount equal to or higher than the value of the stolen items, as well.

Is stealing a package a felony Georgia?

ATLANTA — Porch pirates can now be charged with a felony in the state of Georgia. HB 94 states it is now a felony in the Peach State with prison time of up to five years for someone who is convicted theft by possession of stolen mail.

Is stealing packages a felony in California?

What Does California’s Current Theft Law Say About Stolen Packages? Under California’s current law, package theft is merely a misdemeanor crime, like shoplifting. This is true no matter how many prior criminal convictions are on the defendant’s criminal record.

Can you pepper spray a porch pirate?

In fact, one recent study found 59% of respondents received at least one package per week in 2020. And now as we inch closer to the holiday season, you’re likely expecting several USPS or Amazon packages to arrive on your own front steps.

Is it legal to booby trap packages?

Are booby traps illegal? The short version is: the law does not approve of booby traps. If you set one and someone gets hurt or killed by it, you will likely be held criminally and/or civilly liable.

What does porch pirate mean?

What Is a Porch Pirate? The term porch pirate is used to refer to people who steal packages from other people’s homes.Some people might simply have a compulsion towards theft that drives them to seek out the thrill of stealing.

How common is porch piracy?

When looking by generation, 22% of the millennials surveyed said they were victims of porch pirates. And compared to all other generations, 41% of millennials say they had a package stolen in the last 12 months. Millennials also had the highest average value on items stolen coming in at $185.97.

How does Amazon deal with porch Pirates?

If you are now entirely sure that your Amazon package got stolen from the porch, you can directly contact Amazon. Chat with customer service to let them know the details of the issue. Amazon retailers should be able to send out new packages or can issue refunds to the customer.

Who is liable for porch Pirates?

The key parties involved in getting a package to a consumer are the Seller, the Delivery Company, and the Buyer. Unfortunately, if the package cannot be retrieved, there are no clear laws that put the onus on any one party.

Why do people become porch Pirates?

When someone does something they know is wrong, their heart rate will rise. Their blood pressure will spike. They will feel an adrenaline rush which can lead to a feeling that is very similar to a “high.” Because of this, many porch pirates steal purely for the thrill.

What is the penalty for porch Pirates?

Brian Jones, R-Santee, a person suspected of porch piracy, with two or more convictions of misdemeanor package theft within a three-year period, could be charged with a felony. That’s not the case today. Stealing a package is punishable by a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.

How do you stop porch Pirates?

Guard Your Gifts: 7 Effective Strategies for Defeating Porch Pirates This Holiday Season

1. Use a Video Doorbell To Deter Thieves.
2. Use a Smart Delivery Box.
3. Set Up Outdoor Security Cameras.
4. Install Motion-Activated Lights.
5. Provide Specific Delivery Instructions (or Pick a Set Delivery Time)
6. Give Amazon Locker a Try.

Is package stealing a crime?

Package theft is often considered a minor crime that is not worthy of investigation by police. In most circumstances, once a package is delivered the resident would be considered the victim of a theft, but delivery companies and retailers often provide refunds or replacements; which impacts the entire supply chain.

Is stealing a package a felony?

Stealing packages had been a misdemeanor. By making it a Class D felony, it can put people who are convicted behind bars for up to six years, KTHV reported.Taking them from a driveway, garage or even a delivery truck can be considered a felony, KATV reported earlier this year.

What type of crime is package stealing?

A violation of California Penal Code Section 530.5(e) is a misdemeanor offense (as opposed to an infraction or a felony). The crime is punishable by: custody in county jail for up to one year, and/or. a maximum fine of $1,000.