U.S. Rep. Phillips Reintroduces Bill To Create Harsher Penalties for Porch Pirates
U.S. Rep Dean Phillips has reintroduced a bill to create harsher penalties for porch pirates.
The Porch Pirates Act seeks to create the same federal penalties for stealing packages delivered by private carriers as those for the theft of United State Postal Service mail.
“Porch pirates target packages delivered by private carriers like UPS, Amazon, and FedEx because they know online shoppers have little recourse to recoup losses under current law,” said Phillips in a press release. “That’s why it’s time to make porch piracy a federal crime, just as it already is for USPS deliveries, and hold thieves accountable for their crimes.”
Studies show that one in five Americans report having items stolen from their door step. The crime is estimated to cost Americans millions of dollars in stolen goods every year.
The bill reintroduced by Phillips has gathered bipartisan support in Congress.
Phillips represents Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, which includes Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove and Plymouth.
