PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania state Senate Judiciary Committee recently advanced legislation that would stiffen penalties for "porch pirates," people who target and steal packages off front porches or steps.
With an increasing number of deliveries and delivery services, Republican state Sen. Frank Farry of Bucks County says it's now very easy for criminals to drive down the street, see a package on the front porch, jump out, run and grab it.
“In some cases, these are actually organized groups that are patrolling through neighborhoods stealing these packages.”
He says stolen packages are often of lesser value, so when people do get caught and prosecuted, it’s usually just a summary offense, which is similar to a traffic ticket.
But, as Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta of Greene and Washington counties explains, sometimes, a stolen package can be more than just an inconvenience.
“These instances don't all only include just knick knacks that people have ordered just for fun,” she said. “Medications now for people, as well as our pets, are being delivered to our front porches.”
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“... Sometimes – a life and death situation if it's a medication and the person can't drive out to pick anything up.”
Farry says this legislation would increase penalties for repeat offenders and the organized thieves who patrol neighborhoods looking for easy targets.
The bill passed the state Senate Judiciary Committee on a 12-1 vote. Philadelphia Democrat Nikil Saval was the lone “no” vote. It will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
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