Porch pirates continue to strike in New Hampshire and across the country

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Porch pirates continue to strike in New Hampshire and across the country, and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, is calling for increased penalties for package thieves. Pappas said the issue is about more than Christmas presents getting stolen from doorsteps. He said the thefts can have a negative impact on small businesses, and people can be hurt when their medications are stolen. Pappas is sponsoring a bill that would make the penalty for stealing a package delivered by private carrier the same as if it were delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Stealing something delivered by USPS is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison. If the stolen package was delivered by a private carrier, such as FedEx or UPS, it’s not a federal offense.