Pappas calls for harsher penalties for porch pirates

MANCHESTER, N.H. —Porch pirates continue to strike in New Hampshire and across the country, and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, is calling for increased penalties for package thieves.

Pappas said the issue is about more than Christmas presents getting stolen from doorsteps. He said the thefts can have a negative impact on small businesses, and people can be hurt when their medications are stolen.

Pappas is sponsoring a bill that would make the penalty for stealing a package delivered by private carrier the same as if it were delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

tealing something delivered by USPS is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison. If the stolen package was delivered by a private carrier, such as FedEx or UPS, it's not a federal offense.

"This is going to be a service we increasingly rely on," Pappas said. "We have to make sure we are going after those bad actors that are taking advantage of people in New Hampshire and across the country."

According to Forbes, porch pirates last year stole about $9 billion in goods.

Pappas said the bill has bipartisan support, and he hopes to see movement on it in the next Congress.