Do porch Pirates go to jail?

You can face federal charges for stealing mail from a person's porch or private mailbox, a collection box, a postal worker, or a mail truck. Federal mail theft is a felony. Sentencing can include: A maximum of five years in federal prison.

Do porch pirates get prosecuted?

In February, Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) introduced the Porch Pirates Act of 2022. Federal law already treats the theft of mail and packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service as a felony. The new legislation would expand the statute to include private carriers like UPS, DHL, and Amazon.

How long can porch pirates go to jail for?

Dubbed the Porch Piracy Act, the bill made the crime a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail, a $500 fine, or both. But anyone caught committing the act three times in a 60-day period can be charged with a felony, which can mean two to five years in prison plus a fine up to $5,000, or both.

Is porch piracy a crime?

The Porch Piracy Act, which as of early August had 70 legislative co-sponsors, is designed to bring uniformity to the punishment meted out to so-called porch pirates. Under federal law, stealing a package delivered by the Postal Service is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

What to do if you catch a porch pirate?

California Senator new bill could send porch pirates to jail for a year

Should I report porch pirates?

File a police report

If you seriously suspect you've been hit by a porch pirate, and something was stolen from your stoop, call the police and file a police report for the stolen package. Without witnesses, they won't be able to do much, but they'll take note of the incident.

How does Amazon deal with porch pirates?

If you are now entirely sure that your Amazon package was stolen from the porch, you can contact Amazon directly. 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.

Can piracy put you in jail?

A civil lawsuit could hold you responsible for thousands of dollars in damages. Criminal charges may leave you with a felony record, accompanied by up to five years of jail time and fines up to $250,000.

Do package thieves ever get caught?

Unfortunately, package thieves often get away with it. In an interview with IndyStar, Sean Stoops, a Police Chief from Indiana, reported that “typically the items that are successfully stolen from the porches do not get recovered.” Another source claims that less than 10% of porch piracy cases lead to police arrests.

Can pirating games get you in jail?

Finally, it's important to remember that using pirated gaming content is illegal. Depending on the jurisdiction in which you live, it could lead to fines or even jail time, if use of cracked software can be traced back.

Is stealing Amazon packages a felony?

Most people know that mail theft is a federal crime. In fact, it's a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This applies whether a letter or package is sent via UPS, USPS or FedEx.

Can you stop a porch pirate?

Require a Signature for Delivery

Another way to thwart porch pirates is to ask that someone sign for a package when it's delivered, such as a person at your home or a next-door neighbor. “Requiring a signature for delivery means that the carrier won't just drop it on your porch.

How are pirates punished?

Gibbeting as Punishment

Gibbeting was often used as a the death penalty for pirates. This was accomplished by leaving a pirate inside a gibbet which was hung in the sea, or a tidal section of the river. The body would generally be left until it had been submerged three times and would then be removed.

What happens to pirates when they are caught?

The ultimate form of punishment for captured and convicted pirates was to be hanged. They were often executed by hanging on a gibbet erected close to the low-water mark by the sea or a tidal section of a river. Their bodies would be left dangling until they had been submerged by the tide three times.

Is stealing FedEx packages a federal crime?

Most people know that mail theft is a federal crime. In fact, it's a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This applies whether a letter or package is sent via UPS, USPS or FedEx.

Who went to jail for piracy?

Nathan Peterson, of Antelope Acres, Calif., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. and ordered to pay $5.4 million in restitution, according to the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), a software and digital content trade group based in Washington.

Do cops care about stolen packages?

If there have been package thefts in your neighborhood recently, there is a higher likelihood that the cops will investigate the situation. If you're planning on making an insurance claim regarding the missing delivery, a police report can be helpful documentation to have.

How do porch pirates get caught?

The best way to catch a porch pirate is with a camera that recognizes packages and people. You can see our favorite doorbell cameras and outdoor cameras.

How common is porch pirating?

Porch pirates stole from 49 million Americans over the past year.

Does the FBI deal with piracy?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates criminal counterfeiting, piracy, and other federal crimes.

Does the FBI investigate piracy?

Intellectual Property Theft/Piracy

The FBI's intellectual property investigations focus on the theft of trade secrets and copyright infringement on products that can impact people's health and safety, like counterfeit parts for cars and electronics.

Is piracy still punishable by death?

The punishment for piracy under the 1819 statute was death. In 1897, the penalty was changed to life imprisonment at hard labor. In 1909, the penalty was changed to life imprisonment. The piracy law enacted in 1909 has not been changed since.

Does Amazon care about stolen packages?

If a customer hasn't received their goods, they'll receive a refund for the cost by submitting an Amazon Stolen Package Claim. This guarantee also applies to damaged or inferior products received as well.

Will Amazon refund you if your package was stolen?

Amazon will make a decision. If the claim is approved, you will be refunded. According to Amazon, your claim might be denied if: The item received was the same as described by the third-party seller.

Can Amazon track stolen packages?

Under “Your Orders” on Amazon, you can find additional information to help you track down a stolen or missing package that appears on your account as delivered, according to Weisman.