VIDEO: AG Moody Offers Tips to Protect Packages from Porch Pirates

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Release Date
Dec 9, 2024
Contact
Chase Sizemore
Phone
(850) 245-0150

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—As holiday packages continue to pile up on doorsteps, Attorney General Ashley Moody is sharing tips with consumers to help protect packages from porch pirates. In 2023, thieves stole $12 billion worth of packages from the doorsteps of consumers nationwide. This past legislative session, Attorney General Moody fought for a bill that strengthened penalties against porch piracy. While law enforcement continues to combat this crime, Attorney General Moody is sharing information to help Floridians protect holiday gift deliveries. 

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Leading up to Christmas last year, we saw an astonishing number of emboldened porch pirates snatching packages from doorsteps nationwide. To get ahead of this trend, I worked with lawmakers to strengthen state laws against porch piracy. But even with stronger laws in place to deter these crimes, Floridians need to take extra precautions to protect home deliveries.” 

To help Floridians protect their packages, Attorney General Moody is offering the following tips: 

  • Do not leave packages unattended. Schedule deliveries at a time when someone will be home or ask a neighbor to take the item inside; 
  • If purchasing online from a retailer with a physical location nearby, consider shipping it there instead. Retailers will require proof of purchase or identification before releasing packages to an individual;
  • Install security cameras and signs alerting potential porch pirates that the property is under surveillance to deter thieves from stealing; and
  • Opt in to tracking details with delivery services to monitor packages and receive alerts as soon as the item arrives. 

Earlier this year, Attorney General Moody fought for HB 549, enhancing the penalties for porch piracy. The new law classifies stealing an item worth more than $40 from a structure as a third-degree felony. To learn more, click here. 

To learn more about other holiday-related scams, check out Attorney General Moody’s 2024 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide here. 

Victims of porch piracy should call local law enforcement immediately.

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