videos against “balcony pirates” go viral in the USA. Is it a crime?

In recent weeks, videos have gone viral on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram of package thieves in the United States being surprised by explosions of these packages, which release generous amounts of glitter, colored powder and even paint, in what would be a shameful punishment for criminals. But authorities and experts are warning people: Don’t do it or you (not the robber) could be criminally charged with assault.

The practice of stealing packages from doorsteps is called “porch piracy” by Americans and there are even some state laws providing specific penalties for this type of theft. Even though it is considered a non-violent assault, it can result in a sentence of at least 3 years in prison, depending on the location.

Security firm Safewise estimates that porch pirates cost Americans around $15 billion in losses between November 2024 and November 2025, with more than 104 million packages stolen nationwide. This amounts to around 250,000 stolen packages per day.

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According to data collected by ZFLO Technologies, the cost to retailers exceeded US$22 billion in the same period. In other words, the overall economic impact of stolen packages totaled at least US$37 billion in the year, calculated the company specializing in loss prevention in e-commerce. But there is a caveat that the retail number only reflects packages that were replaced or refunded, not including cases where consumers fully absorbed the loss. In other words, they may be a conservative estimate.

In Safewise’s annual ranking, Chicago surpassed New York as the city with the highest losses, estimated at US$254.28 million in the period researched. In the top 5, there are also Miami, Houston and Baltimore. In state terms, California leads, followed by New York and Texas.

Safewise’s research also found that 1 in 6 victims of package theft did not have deterrent mechanisms, such as cameras installed on their porch. On the other hand, 83% of people who experienced package theft added at least one deterrent after the theft.

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Revenge or crime?

With a problem of this magnitude and the proliferation of cameras on the balconies of houses, it became common for images to be released showing even the faces of thieves, who were little intimidated by the fact that the act was considered a minor crime. And some technology experts started making video tutorials on how to prank these people, using explosive devices with paint and powder similar to those applied to bags of money stolen from banks.

Although much of this content that goes viral on social media was created using artificial intelligence, this type of revenge went viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But despite these “instant karma” clips racking up millions of views, US officials warn against encouraging traps because they could amount to a crime.

“This is not a legitimate way to stop people from stealing your stuff,” Ryan Winderweedle of the Gwinnett Police Department in Georgia told CBS News. “There can be civil liability and criminal liability.”

In other cases, the reaction was more extreme. Rakim Bradford found two teenagers on the front porch of his Atlanta home and suspected they were stealing packages near his front door. He opened fire and injured the two young men, one of them seriously. Although his defense tried to justify the action based on defense of property laws, prosecutors brought charges of aggravated assault that could carry a sentence of 20 years in prison.

In another case, a USPS driver in Florida is now facing criminal charges for trying to run over a 10-year-old child after he saw the boy riding a scooter with a package he had just delivered. But the child was taking the package to a friend because the delivery had been made by mistake.

But how can someone try to prevent their packages from being taken or tampered with? With the help of Simplisafe, the company Safewise made a list of tips:

1. Plan deliveries strategically: Whenever possible, schedule deliveries for times when you or a family member are at home. Many large carriers now offer alternative delivery times or allow rescheduling if plans change.

2. Enable delivery notifications: Sign up for alerts from your carrier so you can track packages in real time. This helps you coordinate deliveries or pick up items quickly after delivery.

3. Provide clear delivery instructions: During checkout, please include specific delivery instructions. For example, ask the driver to leave packages at a side or back door, or in a designated delivery box, out of sight from the street. You can also require a signature upon delivery for added security.

4. Find a trusted neighbor: If you are traveling or not at home, ask a friend or nearby neighbor to pick up your packages and store them safely until your return.

5. Keep the balcony visible and well lit: Porch pirates tend to target houses with poor visibility. Remove clutter that could hide deliveries and install motion-activated lighting to make your main entrance more visible at night.

6. Install home security cameras: Video doorbells and outdoor cameras can deter thieves and help monitor your deliveries. If a theft occurs, recorded footage can provide crucial evidence.

7. Harness the power of AI and proactive home monitoring: While video doorbells and outdoor cameras are excellent tools for collecting evidence after a crime, the most effective strategy is to invest in a security system that offers proactive, professional monitoring. Modern home security systems do much more than just sound alarms. While it may seem like science fiction, recent advances in AI help home security companies protect your home’s perimeter to stop crimes before they happen.