Authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings examining the protection of Philadelphia residents against "porch pirates" in the era of online shopping.

WHEREAS, A porch pirate is a person who trespasses on the property of another with the intent to steal packages from their porch or front door area, before the packages have been secured by the rightful owner; and

WHEREAS, Porch piracy is a practice that is on the rise in suburban and urban settings, such as Philadelphia, with the growth of online shopping and delivery; and

WHEREAS, Some porch pirates go as far as following UPS and other delivery trucks to quickly steal packages that have just been delivered; and

WHEREAS, Porch piracy is especially prevalent during the holidays. According to statistics from Consumer Affairs, 23 million Americans will have their packages stolen this year. During the 2017 holiday season, UPS delivered upwards of 750 million packages to homes across the country; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, there have been a string of recent package thefts in the Manayunk area, which have been under police surveillance. However, the practice is widespread and taking place all throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, Many citizens resort to home surveillance and set up cameras to catch thieves, but most Philadelphia residents cannot afford to do so. Therefore, the City must examine what practices can be put in place in order to protect residents against these predatory thefts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the City Council Committee on Public safety to hold hearings examining the protection of Philadelphia residents against “porch pirates” in the era of online shopping.

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