Kansas may soon start cracking down on “Porch Pirates.” Governor Laura Kelly’s signature on a Bill would increase the penalty for stealing multiple packages. A Bill to do just that is sitting on her desk. The increased popularity of online purchases means more packages are sitting on people’s porches unattended. Police say theft is becoming more common in Kansas and elsewhere. The Bill makes it a felony to steal three packages within 72 hours. The goal is to crack down on repeat offenders. Rep. Boog Highberger voted in favor of the Bill, but he is concerned it’s too harsh if the packages have little value. “A crime that would otherwise be a misdemeanor makes it a felony. Under this Bill, somebody could take three $20.00 packages off three different porches. That is now a felony. That was my major concern” he said. Under current law, stealing multiple packages would be a misdemeanor unless the items had a significant dollar value.
