NJ Rep. Gottheimer unveils bill to toughen penalties for package theft

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer has unveiled a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down on package theft, dubbed the "Porch Pirates Act". The proposal seeks to close loopholes in prosecuting such crimes, ensuring that perpetrators face similar penalties regardless of whether the mail or parcel was delivered by a private carrier like Amazon or FedEx, or the US Postal Service.

The legislation would increase punishments for package thieves and allow federal agencies, including the Justice Department and FBI, to coordinate with local law enforcement on tackling the issue. Gottheimer drew parallels between package theft and the classic tale of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", highlighting the widespread nature of the problem - nearly half of all Americans have had a package stolen in recent years.

According to Safewise, more than 100 million deliveries were snatched over the past year alone, with over 190,000 people in New Jersey falling victim to parcel theft during a three-month period. The cost of average packages stolen is also significantly higher in New Jersey compared to other states, amounting to an 87% premium.

Retailers have faced criticism for not providing refunds to customers whose packages were stolen, with about a quarter of Americans reporting this issue. Gottheimer hopes the Porch Pirates Act will help retailers take responsibility and ensure that those who steal packages are held accountable.

I'm so frustrated with package theft ! I mean, it's not like anyone can just walk up to your porch and snatch your mail or parcel without getting caught. But apparently, it happens all the time. 100 million deliveries were stolen last year alone? That's crazy! And the cost of those stolen packages is ridiculous too - an 87% premium in New Jersey?! It's not fair that retailers aren't taking responsibility for this and not providing refunds to customers. I mean, can you blame them for being upset when someone steals their stuff? But at the same time, it's like, what are we going to do about it? Increase security measures on every porch in the country?! That's just not feasible. I guess the bipartisan bill is a good start, but it's gonna be tough to tackle this problem head-on. Hopefully, it'll make a difference and people will stop thinking it's funny or something .

I'm thinking, with package thefts being so common, it's time for something to be done . I mean, 100 million deliveries snatched in just one year? That's wild! And the fact that over 190k people in NJ got scammed during a three-month period is crazy . It's like, what's going on?

I totally get where Rep. Gottheimer is coming from, though. Retailers need to step up and take responsibility for their customers' packages. Like, who wants to pay for something that gets stolen anyway? And the fact that some retailers aren't even offering refunds is just shady .

The "Porch Pirates Act" seems like a good starting point, but I'm not sure if it's enough . Maybe we need more strict penalties or better tracking systems for packages . Whatever it is, I hope something changes soon...

Package thieves are getting away with it and our homes are becoming like big ol' free-for-alls out there - I mean, can you imagine walking up to your doorstep just to find some stranger has swiped all your Amazon goodies? It's literally like something from a bad sci-fi movie! The Porch Pirates Act is about time, though. We need some accountability on these porch thieves and retailers need to step up their game too, not just leave customers hanging with no refunds or anything... it's just common decency, you know?

Package thieves got no chill . 100 million deliveries gone in one year? That's wild! I mean, I've had my share of package theft too... like when I ordered something online and it just disappears off my porch . But this is crazy. If they're gonna make punishments harsher, maybe retailers will start giving refunds or something. It's a decent idea from Rep. Gottheimer, but I wish we could focus on the tech part of this too... like how to prevent these thefts in the first place?

I'm telling you, package theft is getting outta control ! I mean, nearly half of Americans have had their stuff swiped in recent years? That's crazy! And it's not just the cost, it's the emotional toll too. I've seen so many posts on social media where people are literally crying because some thief stole their package right off their porch .

And yeah, retailers need to step up and take responsibility for this. They're making a killing (pun intended) off these packages, but they don't care about the customers who are getting ripped off. The Porch Pirates Act is a great idea – it's time we hold these thieves accountable and make sure retailers start caring about their customers' stuff too .

I'm all for increased punishments for package thieves, let's send a message that this isn't just some minor infraction. And coordination between federal agencies and local law enforcement? That's a game-changer . We need to crack down on these Porch Pirates and make sure they don't think they can get away with stealing from our neighborhoods .

I'm telling you, it's all about control ... they're not just cracking down on package theft, they're trying to dictate how we buy and sell stuff online. The fact that the Porch Pirates Act is a bipartisan bill? That's suspicious in itself... who's getting paid off to make this happen? And what's with the Justice Department and FBI getting involved? They could be using it as an excuse to snoop around on people's private deliveries . Plus, have you seen the stats on New Jersey being the worst for package theft? That just sounds like a setup... I mean, why else would one state be disproportionately affected? This bill is probably just a way to give big corporations more power over us... just saying

I think its crazy how package theft is becoming a bigger issue every year ... Like, over 100 million deliveries were stolen last year alone? That's insane! And the fact that some people are still not getting refunds from retailers who can't be bothered to help them out is just wrong. The "Porch Pirates Act" seems like a good start to crack down on these thieves and get retailers to take responsibility, but we need more awareness about this issue too Maybe someone should make a viral video about package theft and how it's not just a minor annoyance... that'd really help bring attention to this problem

I'm like " Package theft is getting out of hand ". I mean, 100 million deliveries got stolen last year? That's crazy! It's not just the money that's lost, it's also the inconvenience and stress for people who have had their packages stolen. And retailers are still not doing enough to help customers get refunds - that's just not right .

I think this "Porch Pirates Act" is a good start, though. Cracking down on package theft and making sure perpetrators face similar penalties is a step in the right direction. It's about time we take this issue seriously and hold people accountable for their actions . I hope more states get on board with this legislation and make it harder for package thieves to get away with it .

I'm thinking package theft is kinda like the ultimate symbol of our times - we're so used to dealing with one problem, another pops up! But seriously, I get it, Gottheimer's bill is a good idea, we need to make sure people are held accountable for their actions. The fact that nearly half of Americans have had a package stolen in recent years is just wild . And the financial loss is huge - who knew package theft could be so costly? Maybe this bill will encourage retailers to take responsibility and start offering refunds more often, that's something we can all get behind .

I mean, great idea, Rep. Gottheimer ... like we didn't already have enough to deal with on our doorsteps. Package theft has become a real thing now? I guess it's good that someone is taking the lead on this one - who knew porch pirates were going to be the downfall of society? Anyway, it's about time some accountability was put on those thieves... and retailers too, for not covering their customers' losses. It's like they're just sitting there thinking, "Oh noes, someone stole my package! What a tragedy!"

I mean, package theft is getting outta hand ! It's like, I get it, we all love our online shopping deals, but come on! A quarter of Americans can't even trust the mailman to deliver their stuff without someone swiping it? It's like they say, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"... but in reality, it's just a bunch of thieves making off with our packages . Gottheimer's Porch Pirates Act is about time, though - I mean, who wants to be treated like some low-level thief just 'cause Amazon or FedEx was involved? The stats are crazy, 100 million+ deliveries stolen last year? That's just insane! And NJ is the worst, I've got a friend from there and she said it's like package theft is just expected now... like, "Oh, yeah, that package will probably get stolen"... no way! Retailers gotta take responsibility for this too - refunds are basically non-existent, which is just rip-off central.

Package theft is getting outta control I mean, 100 million deliveries snatched in just one year? That's crazy! And NJ is like, the worst . I don't get why retailers aren't making it easier for customers to get refunds when their stuff gets stolen. It's not that hard to set up a system where if your package is stolen, you automatically get a refund. Anyway, this Porch Pirates Act might be a good start... but what about the cost of all these packages being stolen? Is that just gonna get passed on to consumers or something?

Ugh, package theft is getting out of hand ! I mean, I get it, people make mistakes or have bad intentions, but shouldn't we just have better security measures in place? Like, can't our carriers just use GPS tracking and whatnot to prevent these thefts? And why do retailers have to wait around for customers to report stolen packages before they even issue a refund? It's like they're trying to make it hard on the victims . This Porch Pirates Act sounds like a good start, but I hope it goes beyond just punishing thieves – let's also work on giving people some actual protection and support when their packages get swiped

Package thieves are getting away with it, just like the Grinch ! I mean, have you seen how many people have had their stuff stolen? It's crazy! In my day, we didn't even get our mail delivered to our doors, so this is just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the fines and punishments for these porch pirates - 87% premium on average packages stolen in NJ? That's wild! I've seen people in their 50s, 60s even, getting away with it, no hassle at all... or at least that's what they're telling the cops. Retailers need to step up and give those customers a break, you know? It's like, package theft is one thing, but when people get hurt or can't afford their medicine because of it... that's just wrong

omg u gotta be kiddin me 100 mil deliveries got swiped last yr alone? thats insane! i mean i get it package theft is a thing but like retailers r supposed to protect their customers property not the other way around...its like they dont care bout people losin money on these stupid stolen packages lol. gotta feel for Josh Gottheimer tryin 2 tackle this issue he's got my back

Package theft is like a Wild West situation in NJ - lawless and unchecked! Gotthisimer's Porch Pirates Act is a step in the right direction, but we gotta ask ourselves, what took them so long? I mean, over 100 million deliveries snatched last year? That's straight outta Matrix territory. We need to take responsibility for our package security like Amazon does with their Prime Now - that's some top-notch protection! Retailers need to step up and start offering refunds for stolen packages, it's not just a matter of 'take the loss', people are losing their livelihoods here. Gotthisimer's got the right idea, but we gotta push him to go further - let's make this Porch Pirates Act go federal!

I'm so down for this new bill! Package theft is like, super annoying, especially when you're expecting a delivery and it just disappears . I mean, can you imagine if someone stole your laptop or gaming console? That's what's happening to people with packages all the time, and it's not fair . The fact that more than 100 million deliveries were stolen last year is crazy! And the cost of those stolen packages is ridiculous - an 87% premium in NJ is insane .

I'm loving the idea of retailers taking responsibility for refunds when packages get stolen. It's about time they stepped up their game and made it harder for porch pirates to get away with it . This bill could really make a difference, especially if it helps local law enforcement coordinate with federal agencies to tackle the issue . Let's hope it passes soon!

I think it's kinda harsh on retailers to expect them to give refunds when someone steals their package . I mean, they already have to deal with all the hassle of getting the package delivered in the first place, so adding a refund to the mix is just too much extra work for them, you know? It might be better if we were to focus on finding ways to secure those packages in the first place instead of blaming retailers for something that's not really their fault .

Omg I'm so done with these Porch Pirates ! It's crazy to think over 100 million deliveries got stolen last year alone... like what even is the point of buying stuff if it's just gonna get swiped? Anyway, I'm all for this bill getting passed - it's about time retailers start taking responsibility and giving customers their money back when packages get stolen. And yeah, the stats are wild, nearly half of Americans have had a package stolen... that's straight up terrifying!