New California bill would enforce harsher punishment for repeat porch pirates

Friday, February 14, 2020
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A California lawmaker introduced a bill that would enforce harsher punishments for repeat porch pirates.

Sen. Brian Jones wants to make repeat offenses punishable with more prison time.
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Current law makes package theft a misdemeanor, punishable with imprisonment in a county jail for no more than one year.

RELATED: Delivery driver allegedly steals package he delivered; Police call Amazon uncooperative

Senate Bill 979 would make the act of entering the curtilage of a person's property, with the intent to steal, a crime. It would also make the third and subsequent offenses within a three-year period a misdemeanor or a felony charge.

Offenders could serve up to three years in prison under the proposed bill.
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Package thefts have spiked in California over the last few years, especially during the holiday season.

RELATED: DoorDash delivery driver caught stealing packages in Northern California: VIDEO

One woman in Southern California caught a man porch pirating from a neighbor's home, and stopped him from taking the package. The incident was captured on camera by her son.



Other cases have involved thieves posing as delivery servicemembers or food delivery employees.
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