Bill > A5166

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a separate crime of residential package theft, also known as "porch piracy," as a distinct crime, separate from the consolidated theft statute, N.J.S.2C:20-2. Under the bill, residential package theft is a crime of the third degree if the amount involved is less than $75,000 or is undetermined, and is a crime of the second degree if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, the court may impose a fine not to exceed $250,000 or five times the retail value of the contents of the package stolen from the residence seized at the time of the arrest, whichever is greater. Also, under the bill, in addition to the ordinary penalties for crimes of the third or second degree, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a person convicted of a first offense of a crime of the third degree would not apply. Further, a person convicted of a second or subsequent offense is required to serve a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which time the defendant shall not be eligible for parole. The bill also provides that a person may be charged with residential package theft in addition to, or in combination with, any other crime such as home invasion burglary, residential burglary, or trespass, as applicable. Additionally, the bill establishes the "Porch Theft Task Force" to be led by the Attorney General, and involving State and local law enforcement and delivery companies. The task force is required to track and reduce residential package thefts, centralize data collection concerning residential package thefts, and coordinate law enforcement efforts. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a public awareness campaign to educate residents on how to prevent residential package theft. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety such funds as are necessary to implement the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Reginald Atkins (D)*,  Linda Carter (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Julio Marenco (D),  Barbara McCann Stamato (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/14/2025)

Official Document