Porch Pirates Act of 2025

Summary

Makes it a federal crime to steal, embezzle, or fraudulently take packages that have been delivered by private or commercial interstate carriers but not yet taken into physical possession by the addressee or the addressee's agent. It also states, nonbindingly, that Congress has authority to extend to private and commercial interstate carriers the same protections that apply to items carried as interstate or foreign commerce.

• Creates a federal crime for stealing or fraudulently taking packages delivered by private or commercial interstate carriers before the recipient or their agent physically possesses them.
• Expands the scope of existing federal theft law (18 U.S.C. § 659) beyond traditional mail and interstate commerce items to include private carrier deliveries.
• Includes a nonbinding congressional statement asserting authority to extend federal protections to private/commercial interstate carriers.
• Targets theft occurring after delivery but before recipient possession—closing a gap often described as 'porch piracy.'
• Does not include new funding or administrative programs; enforcement would rely on existing law enforcement and judicial resources.
• May increase federal prosecutions in cases involving interstate carriers, but state theft laws continue to apply.
• Could prompt carriers to change delivery, proof-of-delivery, or pickup procedures to reduce theft risk and federal exposure.
• Simple, narrowly targeted change limited to criminal liability rather than regulatory or civil provisions.