AL’s New Porch Piracy Law Turns Package Theft Into Felony

This Christmas season marks a major shift in how Alabama handles package theft. A recently passed State law now treats stealing delivered items—commonly called “porch piracy”—as a felony offense, punishable with lengthy prison time and steep fines.

State Senator April Weaver (R-Briarfield), championed the measure during the 2025 regular legislative session. Lawmakers approved the bill, and it took effect on Oct. 1, 2025, placing Alabama among a growing number of States criminalizing package theft more harshly.

Weaver highlighted the spirit and seriousness of the change: “The Grinch may have stolen Christmas in Whoville, but if he does it in Alabama, he’ll have plenty of time in State prison for his heart to grow three sizes,” she said. “And if anyone accepts a stolen package from a porch pirate under our new law, both of them will get to wear a festive pair of shiny handcuffs during Christmas.”

Under Act 2025-428, prosecutors now have clear guidelines for charging porch piracy as a more serious crime. The statute breaks penalties into several categories based on the scope of the theft:

• Class A misdemeanor — Taking deliveries from 1 to 9 addresses, or knowingly receiving stolen packages. Punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $6,000.
• Class D felony — Theft from 10 to 29 addresses. Carries 1–5 years in prison and fines up to $7,500.
• Class C felony — Theft from 30 or more addresses. Carries 1–10 years in prison and fines up to $7,500.
• Felony upcharge — Stealing mail or packages with intent to steal personal information or commit fraud. Punishable as a higher-level felony with 2–20 years in prison and fines up to $30,000. [Full statutory text available in Act 2025-428]

Lawmakers say the stepped penalties give prosecutors and judges more tools to punish serial thieves—and should cause thieves to think twice before striking.

Porch piracy remains a widespread issue across the United States. According to a recent national study by SafeWise, more than 104 million packages were stolen nationwide in the past year, which amounts to roughly 250,000 stolen packages every day. These thefts together cost consumers an estimated $15 billion in losses.

The report also found the average value of a stolen package was about $143, and that major carriers like Amazon, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service were most often targeted.

In addition to consumer losses, businesses and retailers absorb around $22 billion annually from refunds, reshipments and customer service costs tied to stolen packages.

Alabama is now the twelfth State to adopt laws targeting porch piracy—joining Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas in strengthening penalties for package theft.

Supporters of the law say harsher penalties will deter thieves and protect residents’ property during a season when deliveries surge. Law enforcement and prosecutors now have a statute that specifically addresses the theft of delivered items—something lawmakers say was needed to keep up with modern crime trends.

With the law now in effect, police can pursue felony charges against individuals who take packages from doorsteps, especially in cases involving repeated thefts or clear intent to commit broader fraud. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant, report thefts promptly, and use delivery tracking and home surveillance tools to help law enforcement.