Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NJ Rep. Gottheimer unveils bill to toughen penalties for package theft
By
Paige Oamek
Published Dec 2, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images
By
Paige Oamek
Published Dec 2, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
U.S. consumers spent billions online this Cyber Monday — and a new proposal aims to ensure those packages make it into shoppers’ hands.
New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer on Monday announced the bipartisan “Porch Pirates Act," which he says would close loopholes in prosecuting package theft.
Currently, it's a federal crime to interfere with mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Gottheimer's legislation would apply the same punishment for packages delivered by private carriers, including Amazon, FedEx and UPS.
The bill would also increase penalties and time behind bars for package thieves and allow federal agencies, such as the Justice Department and FBI, to coordinate with local law enforcement on the issue.
“There's literally a Grinch that tears through neighborhoods stealing away Christmas presents,” Gottheimer told Gothamist on Monday. “He doesn't just do it on Christmas, but he's doing it all year round.”
Nearly half of all Americans report they've had a package stolen — with more than 100 million deliveries snatched over the past 12 months, according to Safewise, a home safety research group. According to Gottheimer, more than 190,000 people in New Jersey had a parcel stolen from them during a three-month period last year.
Package theft appears to be on the decline overall — down 13% from 2023, according to Safewise — but still costs billions of dollars each year. Gottheimer noted at a Monday press conference that the cost of the average package stolen in New Jersey is up to 87% higher than in other states.
About a quarter of Americans say a retailer hasn’t refunded them when their package has been stolen. Gottheimer said he hopes the Porch Pirates Act will help hold retailers accountable.
“It's not just gifts on Christmas [that are being stolen], it's also people's prescription drugs,” he said. “ This is really hurting a lot of people.”
Tagged
Josh Gottheimer
Politics
deliveries
economy
new jersey
public safety
Paige Oamek
Paige Oamek is a reporter on Gothamist & WNYC's day-of general assignment desk.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: There's finally stuff inside the Times Square tower where the ball drops
Because it used to sit vacant for most of the year, here are your early links: Rangers goalie scored, "It's a Wonderful Life" coming to Broadway, there's dignity in scaffolding and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 9:20 a.m. ET
NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe
The man dragged to death by a subway train in Brooklyn earlier this week put riders across the city on edge.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe
The man dragged to death by a subway train in Brooklyn earlier this week put riders across the city on edge.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
We were the victim': Brooklyn shelter's new CEO speaks after corruption scandal
By
Ryan Kost
Badly burned body found in a trashed and abandoned Jamaica Queens lot, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Brooklyn DA brings back warrant-clearing event as quality-of-life tickets surge
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .