The Irvine Police Department posted a surveillance video of a suspect dressed in black and wearing a Raiders cap, as he stole a package and drove off in a black vehicle.
The suspect appears to be a heavyset Asian male.
The IPD is confident that their audience will recognize this package thief quicker than they could film an unboxing video.
If you recognize the Raider fan, please email: BNoelle@cityofirvine.org.
In California, stealing a delivered package—often called porch piracy—is treated as a theft offense. The exact penalty depends on how the package was shipped and its value:
1. If the package was sent via USPS (U.S. Mail)
- It falls under California Penal Code §530.5(e) (mail theft).
- Penalty: Misdemeanor, punishable by:
- Up to 1 year in county jail, and/or
- A fine of up to $1,000.
- Federal law also applies for USPS mail theft, which can carry up to 5 years in federal prison, but most cases are prosecuted at the state level unless it’s a large-scale operation.
2. If the package was delivered by a private carrier (Amazon, UPS, FedEx)
- It’s charged as petty theft or grand theft under California law:
- Petty theft: If value ≤ $950 → misdemeanor, up to 6 months in jail and fines.
- Grand theft: If value > $950 → can be a felony, punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
- Repeat offenders can face harsher penalties under California’s Three Strikes Law.
3. Recent Legislative Updates
- California has considered bills (like SB 358) to make porch piracy penalties tougher. Currently, first offenses remain misdemeanors, but repeat offenses within 3 years can be charged as felonies, increasing jail time to up to 3 years.
Other Possible Charges
- If stolen mail contains personal information, the suspect could also face identity theft charges, which can be a felony and add years to the sentence.