Gottheimer Unveils Bipartisan “Porch Pirates Act” to Make Package Theft a Federal Crime

On Cyber Monday, NJ Congressman Takes Aim at Thieves Who Stole 104 Million Packages Nationwide This Year

photos courtesy of Congressman Gottheimer

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, as online holiday shopping hits record highs, the threat of “Porch Pirates” is escalating. This Cyber Monday, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Porch Pirates Act, a major legislative push to crack down on package theft by making it a federal crime regardless of the carrier.¹

With over 104 million packages stolen nationwide this year—and New Jersey victims losing some of the steepest amounts per household—the need for tougher, uniform protection is critical.²

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The Current Loophole: Why Thieves Prefer Private Carriers

The core problem, according to Gottheimer, is a massive federal loophole. Currently, only mail and packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are subject to rigorous federal penalties.³ Packages delivered by private carriers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx are typically only prosecuted under varying state laws, often resulting in less severe penalties and limited investigative resources.⁴

This creates a high-reward, low-risk scenario for thieves.

Congressman Gottheimer: “It shouldn’t matter who delivers your package. If you paid for it, you should receive it and get help when you don’t.”

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The Porch Pirates Act: What It Changes

The bipartisan legislation aims to create a uniform, national baseline to combat package theft, bringing the law into the 21st century’s e-commerce reality.⁵

Feature	Current Law (Private Carriers)	The Porch Pirates Act
Criminal Status	State theft/misdemeanor charges	Federal Crime
Penalties	Varies by state (often lesser)	Federal penalties: Fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years (depending on circumstances)
Investigation Authority	Primarily local police	Full authority for FBI, DOJ, and federal task forces
Interstate Protection	Primarily covers packages in transit	Extends protection all the way to the final delivery point (the front porch)

The bill is designed to empower federal agencies to investigate porch theft with the same resources currently reserved for mail theft, ensuring a tougher response across the board.

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The Sobering Statistics Behind the Legislation

The scale of the “porch pirate” problem is staggering, particularly in New Jersey:

• National Loss: Shoppers lost an estimated $16 billion in stolen goods last year.⁷

• NJ Impact: A report found that over 190,000 people in New Jersey had a package stolen in just a three-month period last year.⁸

• No Refund: A staggering 25% of porch pirate victims are currently unable to receive a refund or replacement for their stolen items, compounding the financial loss.

An Appeal to Retailers

Beyond legislative action, Gottheimer is calling on the private sector to step up.⁹ He is officially reaching out to the Package Shippers Association, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and national retail associations to demand collaboration.¹⁰ He also specifically urged retailers to address the unacceptably high rate of families who are currently denied refunds for stolen packages.

The announcement was made in Ridgewood, NJ, and supported by local law enforcement, including Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton and Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons, emphasizing that protecting consumers is a shared “Jersey Value.”¹¹

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