Is it bad to steal packages?

Theft of U.S. Mail can qualify as a federal offense. This can result in a federal prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.00.

What happens if I steal a package?

Because the post is handled by the federal government, mail theft cases can be heard in federal courts; stealing mail can get a person up to five years in jail.

How bad is package theft?

Severity of crime

Package theft is often considered a minor crime that is not worthy of investigation by police.

Is it common for people to steal packages?

According to a study commissioned by ValuePenguin, package theft has affected more than 40% of American at some point. In the past 12 months, more than 5 in 10 shoppers reported having more than one package stolen, for an average loss of $106 per household.

Why do some people steal packages?

Porch pirates likely hope that small packages contain expensive items that can be resold, such as phones, video game systems, sound systems, or computers. Some people might simply have a compulsion towards theft that drives them to seek out the thrill of stealing.

What happens if your delivered packages are stolen?

Do cops actually do anything about stolen packages?

If there have been package thefts in your neighborhood recently, there is a higher likelihood that the cops will investigate the situation. If you're planning on making an insurance claim regarding the missing delivery, a police report can be helpful documentation to have.

Where do most packages get stolen?

What do you call people who steal packages?

[ pawrch-pahy-ruht ] SHOW IPA. / ˈpɔrtʃ ˌpaɪ rət / PHONETIC RESPELLING. 📙 Middle School Level. noun Slang. a thief who takes packages left outside doors by couriers: In some communities, police are baiting packages with tracking devices to capture and deter porch pirates.

Who pays for stolen packages?

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursement.

Can you call the police on people stealing packages?

File a police report

If you seriously suspect you've been hit by a porch pirate, and something was stolen from your stoop, call the police and file a police report for the stolen package. Without witnesses, they won't be able to do much, but they'll take note of the incident.

How many packages go missing a day?

How to Prevent Package Theft. Every day 1.7 million packages are stolen or lost in the US, costing businesses $25 million daily.

Do thieves go to jail?

A prosecutor can opt to charge grand theft as either a misdemeanor or a felony. As a misdemeanor, grand theft is punishable by up to a year in county jail. If charged with a grand theft penalty, you can expect to serve a jail sentence of 16 months, two years or three years.

How much money is lost to package theft?

Average Stolen Package Valued at $50

While it's tricky to know the value of what's inside a box until it's opened, thieves in some states are getting luckier than those snatching packages in regions. Overall, the median value of stolen packages nationwide was $50.

What does Amazon do if package stolen?

If a customer hasn't received their goods, they'll receive a refund for the cost by submitting an Amazon Stolen Package Claim. This guarantee also applies to damaged or inferior products received as well.

How long does a UPS investigation take?

Depending on the country, the process to investigate a damaged or lost package generally takes 8 to 15 business day. Extenuating circumstances such as insufficient merchandise description or waiting times to receive additional supporting documentation (photos or sales receipts) can extend these time frames.

What happens in a UPS investigation?

Package searches can take up to 10 business days. If the package is not located, a Damage/Loss claim letter will be sent to you, the shipper, via email, fax, or post. If the package is found, UPS will not approve the claim and will route the package on to the recipient.

Does USPS take photos of delivery?

How does Informed Delivery work? As mailpieces travel through the USPS^® network, they go through high-speed sorting machines, which take a picture of the front (the side with the address). Informed Delivery shows you grayscale images of those mailpieces arriving soon to your address.

What happens if someone steals a package off your porch?

Report it to the delivery company.

Whether your package was delivered by Amazon, FedEx, UPS, or USPS, it's worth contacting the delivery company to see if they'll give you a refund or resend the package. You may need to fill out a lost package claim.

Do porch pirates come back?

3. Porch piracy is a repeat offense. Apparently, porch pirates do strike the same place twice. Nearly 45% of theft victims have reported having packages stolen more than once, and approximately 1 in 10 have reported experiencing five or more package thefts.

What does USPS do with stolen packages?

USPS will process your claim, and if they decide it's appropriate, refund both the value of your package and the shipping. This process could take up to a month.

Do people steal heavy packages?

Package theft is more common than ever before because of one simple reason – more packages are delivered now than ever before. With the majority of people engaging in online shopping at least from time to time, delivery companies are busy distributing millions of packages all across the country.

How much money is lost in porch piracy?

Package theft frequency and cost

Over half porch pirate victims have had multiple packages stolen in the past 12 months. 40% of all packages stolen are valued between $50–$100—that's an estimated loss of $19.5 billion.

Can you go to jail for lying about not receiving a package?

Is it illegal to say an item wasn't received when actually it was? Yes, it is illegal. You are committing theft and/or fraud. The local laws and the value of the item will determine the punishment, which can include jail or prison, fines and restitution.

Will Walmart refund for stolen packages?

Contact Walmart

If your package still doesn't show up after all of this, it's time to contact Walmart customer service, which you can do by following the following link and clicking on “Customer Service.” You can then use Walmart's automated chatbot to request a refund for your stolen package.

Will UPS refund for stolen package?

Generally, UPS will not reimburse a consumer if the package was delivered to a residence and then stolen. It will work with both the sender and the purchaser, as well as, law enforcement for a given claim. However, UPS will not issue a refund unless there's proof that it was responsible.