The drastic rise in online shopping gave rise to a new brand of criminal: the porch pirate.
Alliteration created a catchy name, but the moniker refers to any sort of package thief that trawls drop-off points—including porches, front stoops, doorways, and communal package rooms found in apartment complexes—looking for booty.
That's the pirate treasure kind of booty, not the other kind.
A victim of a porch pirate turned to the "Am I The A**hole" (AITA) subReddit for feedback over what to do in the aftermath of the theft, asking a hypothetical "Would I Be The A**hole" (WIBTA) question.
SVANlab-13 asked:
"WIBTA to press charges for a stolen package?"
The original poster (OP) explained:
"I live in a very nice apartment complex with a secure room for package delivery. An hour after a marked package was delivered from a desirable retailer, another resident stole it."
"Management was able to identify the resident and she was confronted with a demand to return the package. She had opened and disposed of the outside packaging, the internal packaging from items individually wrapped, and the packing slip."
"It’s obvious she tried on the clothing as some were inside out in the plastic grocery bag she turned into the office. Management has given her a formal warning notice."
"I filed a police report and have the option to press charges. Value of the clothing was $225."
"WIBTA to press charges?"
"It was stupid for her to steal and I am mad. I lean towards pressing charges, but is that taking it too far?"
"Someone I spoke to seemed to think that she has been scared and/or embarrassed enough by being confronted and having to return the items."
"I was asked by the police if I would like to press charges and was advised what I would need to do if I did want to press charges."
The OP summed up why they might be the a**hole in their situation.
"If I press charges, I might be causing excessive harm to the person who stole my package."
Redditors weighed in by declaring:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- NAH - No A**holes Here
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
- INFO - more information needed
Redditors decided the OP would definitely not be the a**hole (NTA/WNBTA).
"NTA. If anything, you’d be wrong not to. People like that keep going until something stops them." ~ The_Bunny_Brat
"If you don’t press charges, she’ll just be trying harder not to get caught the next time, figuring there are no repercussions." ~ HairyPairatestes
"She knew the package was not hers. She just didn't plan on getting caught. This was not an accident, nor a mistake. Press charges. For only $225 value she may just get community service, but it will teach her that you won't sit down while someone steals from you." ~ GeminiAtl
"NTA, she went out of her way to steal from someone she knows is her neighbor. The fact you got the stuff back, slightly used, doesn't alter the fact that dirtbag stole it to begin with."
"Nobody steals as comfortably as she did for the first time. She chose to sh*t where she eats, and who knows how many things she's gotten away with stealing because she wasn't caught."
"Press charges, and let her dirtbag decision follow her for the next decade or so. Let it cost her some job opportunities and potentially some housing opportunities."
"She didn't give it back out of the goodness of her heart---she gave it back because she got caught and was forced to." ~ NotThatValleyGirl
"YWNBTA. People need to stop caring more about others than they do you. She’s a thief and criminal and deserves charges, not a slap on the wrist."
"She didn’t care that you would be out that money or that it would inconvenience you, so why do you care at all about her?" ~ Loud-Rhubarb-1561
"NTA. She committed a crime, being charged with that crime is the direct consequence of her actions. People like this don't stop until they're made to stop." ~ TheMaStif
"NTA. Consequences are a great method of correcting antisocial behavior. Press charges." ~ kindofanasshole17
"She’s an adult, she knows what she did. Pressing charges can seem extreme but is within your rights. NTA." ~ Any_Cauliflower_539
"NTA - How long has she been doing this to others? Is this just the first time she's been caught?" ~ GoddessofMadness
"NTA. Stealing is wrong. People need to stop normalizing it! Press charges." ~ Lanky-Jello-1801
"YWNBTA. This would probably be a misdemeanor, and it would go on her record, but she would probably only have to pay court costs, possibly a fine. She would likely plead 'no contest' and she might have to pay you restitution, but it sounds like the goods were recovered."
"The real reason to do it would be to put it on her record. Because repeat offenses can get 'enhancements' in sentencing. If she stole your package, she may have stolen other packages or shoplifted in the past."
"If she never gets charged, then every time she's caught is like the first time." ~ 1962Michael
"NTA. She knew it was wrong and did it anyway because she thought she could get away with it. Don't let her." ~ witchspoon
"NTA. She knew what she was doing, any consequences she faces are on her. And honestly, some people just don’t learn until they actually have to pay for what they did." ~ Swirlyflurry
"She could already have a documented track record of stealing. People who steal sometimes do it habitually. Which is all the more reason to report it and hope she faces consequences." ~ pillsburied
"Exactly. 'Pressing charges' in most US jurisdictions just means confirming to police that you’d be a cooperative witness for prosecution and that that’s what you’d like to see happen. But it doesn’t actually force criminal charges, because that’s entirely the prosecutor’s discretion."
"Usually cases like this aren’t worth the resources required to investigate, but OP’s case may be considered a low enough investigative burden to green light."
"OP if you decide to go this route, just keep your expectations low, and know that it’s a good thing that you’ve already made an official record of it. You never know when your single report is adding the data point that actually establishes a pattern of behavior, or hits some threshold that moves the needle on further action against someone." ~ MavisBeacons_Tape
As the responses show, there's no love lost between the public and porch pirates.
According to published crime reports as of 2025, package thieves steal over 104 million packages annually—roughly 250,000 every single day—in the United States, costing Americans an estimated $15 billion in direct consumer losses.
The total economic impact (including retail replacements) exceeds $37 billion. Law enforcement reports only a 10% arrest rate due largely to lack of evidence to identify the culprits.
A widespread issue, it affects approximately 45% of shoppers, with urban areas and high-volume delivery periods like the lead up to Christmas experiencing the highest incident rates.
Residents of apartments and multi-family units are twice as likely to have a package stolen as people living in single-family homes. Suburban dwellers are more likely to be robbed than rural shoppers, who often live farther from their neighbors and their town center.
Home surveillance cameras and alarms have become a booming industry, thanks in part to package thieves. And clever revenge against them has become a popular subject of videos on YouTube and TikTok.
Among the most famous porch pirate pranksters is former NASA engineer Mark Rober, whose ever more elaborate creations have rewarded thieves with showers of glitter and noxious odors.
You can watch the fourth iteration of his porch pirate revenge here:
The FBI states the best method to prevent porch piracy is to require all deliveries to require a signature, meaning no packages will be left unattended at your home or drop point.
However, the United States Postal Service also offers many of its post offices as secure drop-off points for deliveries from other carriers, such as UPS and FedEx, for a fee.
Or you could go the glittery stink bomb route.
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