Porch pirates beware stiffer penalties and longer prison terms are now law in Pennsylvania
State Senator Frank Farry’s (R-Bucks) legislation to combat porch pirating was signed into law this week by Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro.
Senate Bill 527, now ACT 41 of 2023, sponsored implements specific penalties for theft of mail, which includes a package, bag or letter. In Pennsylvania, theft of mail is currently charged under other theft offenses based solely on the value of the item taken. This bill focuses on repeat offenders by using a grading system that would increase the penalties if the thief had prior convictions for theft of mail.
State Rep’s KC Tomlinson (R-Bucks) and Kristin Marcel (R-Bucks) sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives, House Bill 696.
“This problem is growing and has a tremendous cost as Americans spent $1.7 trillion shopping online since 2020 and nearly eight in 10 Americans have had a package stolen in 2022. Here in the Commonwealth, package theft has impacted almost 2 million Pennsylvanians. When you consider the median value of stolen packages are valued at $50, you can see this crime leaves a sizable financial toll on families and businesses, not to mention the emotional distress of having your personal property violated,” Farry said in a release.
“The increasing penalties within this bill will serve as a deterrent in a way the current law does not. My hope is that the new law will reduce the occurrence of these crimes and will lead to a safer community,” Farry added.
Lower Bucks County Democrat state Senator Steve Santarsiero voted yes to approve the measure in committee and in a full Senate vote.
