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How To Catch A Porch Pirate

How do you outsmart porch Pirates?

Get Amazon Locker Amazon offers a second option for thwarting porch pirates: an authorized Amazon Locker. Use the online zip code locator to find a locker near you, and use that as your delivery address. It’s free to use—and if you’re a Prime member, you’re entitled to free two-day shipping.

Do porch pirates get caught?

Porch pirates are hard to catch. One source claims that police make arrests in less than 10% of reported theft cases. More often than not, law enforcement will suggest that you simply get a refund for your package instead of embarking on a wild goose chase.

What can I do against porch Pirates?

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

What can I do about package thieves?

What to Do If Your Package Is Stolen Contact the retailer. Retailers have different policies on how to handle theft of packages. Contact the shipping company. Shippers often require the sender, not the recipient, to initiate a claim. Check your credit card benefits. Check your insurance. Consider involving the police.

How many Amazon packages are stolen each day?

The number has grown by 7 percent since 2019. That means that potentially two out of five home deliveries are taken from the delivery point. Some of the latest reports state that 1.7 million packages are stolen every day.

Do porch Pirates go to jail?

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. Stealing a package is punishable by a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.

What are the charges for porch Pirates?

Current law provides that a theft of a package from the porch or entryway of someone’s home is considered a misdemeanor. SB 358 would allow prosecutors to charge a “porch pirate” with a misdemeanor or with a felony in the third or subsequent conviction during a 36-month period.

Do package thieves get caught?

Despite the copious video evidence, package thieves consistently evade capture. Out of the 2,786 instances of package theft reported so far this year, police located a suspect only 51 times and made 25 arrests, according to LAPD data.

Is stealing Amazon packages a felony?

However, you face significantly severe penalties and consequences if you stole from multiple addresses or from the same address more than once. In this case, you could find yourself facing class C felony of mail theft charges. If you are convicted, you could face up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Do cameras deter porch Pirates?

Domestic violence also increases around the holidays, he said. To prevent porch piracy, Holt recommended doorbell cameras, which deter thieves and record information if a package is stolen.

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.

How do you keep packages safe from porch Pirates?

Creative ways to keep your packages safe from porch thieves: Use a storage locker. Buy a package locker. Have packages delivered in a hideaway. Send packages to the office. Amazon Key. Work with your neighbors. Have your packages held. Request signature confirmation.

How many packages are stolen by Porch Pirates?

However, experts warn gift recipients to remain extra vigilant this Christmas: A recent survey found that a staggering 210 million packages vanished from porches across the US over the past 12 months.

Does Amazon refund stolen packages?

Amazon reassures shoppers with its A-to-z Guarantee Protection, which covers the majority of stolen packages. You can file a claim for a refund with Amazon if you’re having trouble getting your money back with an Amazon seller.

Why are porches Pirates?

The Thrill of Stealing 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.

How many packages get lost a year?

A staggering three billion packages are lost and damaged every year. Don’t fall victim to routing errors, package theft, or package damage. Online shipping insurance can be the difference between a broken product and a happy customer.

Can someone get in trouble for stealing my 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.

Do porch Pirates follow delivery trucks?

Thieves now shadow delivery trucks in hopes of driving off with your packages.

What is the charge for package theft?

Package Theft May Constitute Burglary or Federal Charges A person could also face federal charges for stealing a package from someone’s property. Mail theft is in violation of 18 U.S. Code § 1708, and this offense carries harsh penalties, including up to five years’ imprisonment for each offense.

What are police doing about porch Pirates?

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) – With some holiday gifts still in transit, some law enforcement agencies stepped up their game against thieves. Police targeted porch pirates by leaving packages with tracking devices in front of houses. “We’re going to a prearranged residence with the homeowner’s consent.

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.