TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis held another bill signing Tuesday, this time to enact a new law to further punish porch pirates and retail theft rings.
DeSantis signed HB 549, which would increase penalties on both those who operate retail theft rings and porch pirates.
"We will raise penalties on people who steal packages from your front porch," the governor said.
According to the governor's office, the bill would create the following felony charges:
- A third-degree felony, punishable up to 5 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals.
- A second-degree felony, punishable up to 15 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals and use social media to solicit others to participate in the theft.
- A first-degree felony, punishable up to 30 years in prison, if a criminal commits retail theft with a firearm or with two or more prior convictions of retail theft.
- The ability to charge a felony for multiple retail thefts occurring in the span of 120 days, which is an increase from 30 days.
The bill also makes porch piracy a first-degree misdemeanor if the property that is stolen is less than $40, but any subsequent violation would then be charged as a third-degree felony.
If a porch pirate steals an item that is worth more than $40 from someone's home, they would also be charged with a third-degree felony.
"If you order something and they leave it at your front door, you come home from work or bring your kids home from school, package is gonna be there, and if it's not, someone's gonna have hell to pay for stealing it," DeSantis said.
With the governor signing the bill, the law will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.