TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office is warning about porch pirates this holiday season.
In a Facebook post, TCSO said deputies arrested Jimmy Stephens and Pamela Sheets for stealing mail and packages from neighborhoods near 86th North and Sheridan. The sheriff’s office said more people shopping online this year due to the pandemic creates more opportunities to steal from your porch.
There are ways to prevent that from happening.
Know when a package is being delivered or reroute it to a delivery hub until you are ready for it. It's also a good idea to ask a neighbor to look out for the package. You can also mail it to a P.O. Box, a secure locker or have the retailer hold on to it. It’s also a good idea to have a security camera on your porch to watch for your packages.
There are serious consequences for porch piracy.
Just this year, Oklahoma lawmakers created a new law making it possible for someone to be charged with a felony for stealing mail and packages. A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $500 fine. If someone commits porch piracy more than three times in 60 days, they can be charged with a felony, serve two to five years in prison and be fined up to $5,000 dollars.
If something is stolen, you can also file a police report.
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