TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation to crack down on “front porch hacking” crimes and toughen penalties for package theft.
Theft of a delivered package is now a statewide 3rd degree felony, punishable by 3-5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000.
Previously, the crime was treated as a misdemeanor since most of the stolen packages were worth less than $500, according to one of the measure’s sponsors, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-Middlesex.
“Package theft is a growing problem for online consumers,” Karabinchak said in a written statement. “Unfortunately, as online shopping has grown in popularity, so has the act of stealing those deliveries from homes before residents retrieve them.”
“Package delivery is made easier for many seniors and disabled residents who cannot leave their homes to go to the store or pharmacy,” Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, said in the same joint statement.
“Having packages stolen from your front step could mean waiting a long time for the medications you depend on.”
About 14% of Americans in a recent Finder survey said they were victims of package theft in the past 12 months.
That equates to about 35.5 million Americans, with an average value of $157 reported stolen in each.
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