Charged With Being a Porch Pirate?
All across the country, packages are stolen from doorsteps and porches at an alarming rate—particularly around the holidays. With the advent of cheap, easy access to home security obtainable these days, more than a few porch pirates have been caught prowling around where they don’t belong, picking up packages, and skittering away. All of the cameras out there have led to more arrests for these thefts. If you’ve been caught up in this kind of scenario, you may be in the market for an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Porch Pirating Facts
Porch pirates—so called in reference to their inclination for theft from unsuspecting online consumers—swipe packages from yards, porches, and doorways to the tune of billions of dollars. This is more than a little problematic and enraging to the public and to law enforcement that is charged with addressing local crime. Some noteworthy facts on the issue include:
- $12 billion in merchandise was taken from porches and yards just last year.
- A quarter of US citizens– 58 million people—were victims of porch piracy in 2023 and lost packages.
- Those living in apartments are twice as likely to be hit by porch pirates as those who live in houses.
- White people are half as likely as Black and brown people to be victimized in this way.
Precautions That Help
With the rise of porch pirates, many have taken steps to protect their online purchases, including:
- The installation of motion-detector lights;
- The mounting of doorbell cameras and other security cameras;
- The coordination between neighbors who keep an eye out for deliveries and/or strangers.
Florida Law
Just this year the governor signed a law into effect that will result in stiffer penalties for porch pirates. Stolen items valued under $40 will result in a misdemeanor charge, while items taken that are worth more than $40 will lead to felony charges. That could mean significant time behind bars with a guilty verdict.
Defending Charges
If you’ve been charged with stealing packages from others, there are a few possible defenses worth contemplating:
- There was a violation of your rights before, during, or after your arrest: that could have been there an improper search and seizure or a failure to read Miranda rights;
- There was a misunderstanding: The package was in a public area and you mistakenly thought it was intended for you;
- It was a case of mistaken identity: They got you mixed up with the real culprit;
- There was no criminal intent: (You did take the package, but legitimately thought it was yours (more likely in an apartment scenario).
A Vigorous Defense
At Salazar & Kelly Law Group, our Kissimmee criminal defense attorneys fight for and secure the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.
Source:
security.org/package-theft/annual-report/#:~:text=Porch%20pirates%20stole%20at%20least,billion%20over%20the%20past%20year.&text=Online%20purchases%20generate%20about%2022,all%20reach%20their%20intended%20destination.
