San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
All across the country, packages are stolen from doorsteps and porches at an alarming rate—particularly around the holidays. But with cheap, easy access to home security available to homeowners these days, more than a few porch pirates have been caught skulking around where they don’t belong, which has led to more arrests for thefts. If you have been caught up in this kind of scenario, you may be in the market for an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Porch Pirating Facts
Package thieves–nicknamed porch pirates in reference to their penchant for plundering from unsuspecting online consumers—swipe packages from yards, porches, and doorways to the tune of billions of dollars, which is more than a little problematic and maddening to the public and to the police charged with addressing local crime. Some noteworthy facts on the issue include:
- $12 billion in merchandise was stolen from porches and yards last year.
- One out of every four citizens– 58 million people—were victims of porch piracy and lost packages in 2023.
- Apartments dwellers are twice as likely to be hit by porch pirates than those who live in houses.
Precautions That Help
With the rise of porch pirates, many have started to take steps to protect their purchase, including:
- Installing motion-detector lighting;
- Installing doorbell cameras and other security cameras;
- Having neighbors keep an eye out for deliveries and/or strangers.
California Law
California law punishes individuals for stealing packages and selling stolen merchandise. The penalties depend on the value of the merchandise taken. Thieves could face time behind bars, as well as fines.
Defending Charges
If you have been charged with stealing packages from others, there are a number of possible defenses worth considering:
- It was a misunderstanding: The package was in a public area and you thought it was intended for you;
- It was a case of mistaken identity: They got the wrong person;
- There was no criminal intent: You did take the package but legitimately thought it was yours (more likely in an apartment scenario);
- The arrest involved a violation of your rights: Perhaps there was an improper search and seizure, or you were not read Miranda rights.