Depending on the item, a stolen package could result in either a misdemeanor or felony theft charge and a jail or prison sentence in Florida, along with other consequences such as fines and restitution.

What happens if you get caught stealing someone's package?

A prosecutor can charge a wobbler as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanor grand theft is punishable by up to one year in jail. Felony grand theft is punishable by up to three years in state prison.

Do package thieves 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.

Is it a crime to steal Amazon packages?

Stealing a porch package is considered mail theft and believe it or not, you can face either federal or state charges. If you are charged with a federal crime, you could face up to five years in jail. Fortunately, the majority of offenders will face only criminal state charges.

Is stealing an Amazon package a felony?

Senate Bill 23 makes stealing packages from private carriers like Amazon, Fedex, and UPS off someone's doorstep a felony.

Package Thief caught on Camera by the Ring.

What happens if you steal from UPS?

It is likely to be a misdemeanor if the two items combined are less than $950. However, the bigger problem is that this crime may be filed in Federal Jurisdiction which imposed a heavier punishment. Theft of UPS packages are under the category of mail fraud.

Is it a crime to open someone else's Fedex package?

Opening UPS and Fedex packages is not covered by the same laws that cover USPS packages. From what you describe, this likely was simply an error. Assuming you received your items intact, it would not appear you have there is any...

Do Police Investigate parcel theft?

When you are reporting a stolen the package from the apartment building, doorstep, or mailbox, the police will consider two situations: The building has surveillance cameras. If the building has cameras, this will ease the process, and the police will be able to identify the thief, and hopefully, return your parcel.

How common is package theft?

How Common is Package Theft? According to C+R Research in 2020: 43% of Americans had a package stolen, up 7% from the previous year. 64% of package theft victims have had a package stolen more than once.

What happens if you take someone's package?

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.

How often do Package thieves 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 percentage of porch pirates get caught?

According to surveys: The average value of a stolen package is $140, which could make it worth the risk for an eager thief. Only around 11 percent of package thieves have been caught, according to survey respondents who were victims of the crime.

What can you do if your neighbor steals your package?

What to do if a package is stolen from your porch

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

What happens if someone steals your USPS package?

Visit Once you've either created or signed into your account, all you need to do is fill out the necessary information and USPS will process your claim, and if they decide it's appropriate, refund both the value of your package and the shipping.

What are the penalties for opening someone's mail?

Intentionally Opening Someone's Mail

You could be looking at charges of mail theft or “obstruction of correspondence” if you're caught doing any of these things. Both crimes carry fines of up to $250,000 and five years in a federal prison.

Where does package theft happen the most?

According to Google Trends, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose is the leading US Metro area with the most search interest per capita in the last year for the phrase “stolen package”.

Why are so many people stealing packages?

Porch pirates likely hope that small packages contain expensive items that can be resold, such as phones, video game systems, sound systems, or computers. Some people might simply have a compulsion towards theft that drives them to seek out the thrill of stealing.

Do people steal Amazon boxes?

For Amazon lost packages, an average of 51 packages a year got reported missing or stolen. Porch pirates have taken advantage of the rise of e-commerce due to the pandemic to steal from others, and stolen Amazon packages are among the most frequent.

Will the police do anything about a stolen package?

Once you have reported your stolen package, the police will contact you if they need more information. Unfortunately, law enforcement only catches a relatively small number of package thieves.

Is stealing a parcel a crime?

Package theft is often considered a minor crime that is not worthy of investigation by police. In most circumstances, once a package is delivered the resident would be considered the victim of a theft, but delivery companies and retailers often provide refunds or replacements; which impacts the entire supply chain.

What do porch pirates do with packages?

This Frisbee-like device is a virtual security guard. Connect it to your WiFi and position it on your doorstep, instructing delivery people to place packages on top of it. If a would-be porch pirate attempts to steal the package or the Package Guard device itself, a loud internal siren will be activated.

Is it illegal to keep a Fedex package accidentally delivered to you?

As long as the merchandise is addressed to you, you may keep it. If it is addressed to someone else, then you are obligated to make reasonable efforts to either return it or deliver it to the intended recipient.

Is it illegal to open a package not addressed to you?

It is a federal crime to open or destroy mail that is not intended for you. The law provides that you can not "destroy, hide, open, or embezzle" mail that is not addressed to you. If you intentionally open or destroy someone else's mail, you are committing obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.

What can I do if someone opened my package?

If you unintentionally open an envelope that is not addressed to you, it is best to write “return to sender” or “delivered to wrong address” by the person's name who the envelope should be delivered to. By taking this action, the USPS will recognize the mistake and redeliver the letter to the correct person's address.

How long do UPS investigations take?

UPS claims tend to take about ten days to investigate and process completely, at which point you could receive a full refund should your claim prove successful. The shipper, receiver, or a third party can file a claim.