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Virginia lawmakers are advancing legislation that would make stealing packages, checks and other delivered mail a Class 6 felony under state law.
Del. Vivian Watts, D-14, and Sen. Saddam Salim, D-37, sponsored nearly identical bills after constituents expressed frustration over growing mail and package theft. Both measures passed their respective chambers with near-unanimous bipartisan support.
The bills were expected to be combined and considered by the full General Assembly later in the month before heading to the governor’s desk.
The legislation would add mail theft to Virginia Code §18.2-110.1. Its broad definition of mail includes any letter, postal card, parcel, package, bag or other material and its contents, covering checks as well as online orders and direct retail deliveries left at homes or in apartment lobbies.
Watts said she was especially concerned about stolen checks. According to her, more than half of altered checks are rewritten for amounts exceeding $14,000. Bank account and routing numbers can also be sold to criminal groups for identity theft.
Federal law already treats stealing or receiving stolen mail as a serious crime. Under 18 U.S.C. §1708, a conviction can bring fines of up to $250,000, imprisonment for as long as five years, or both.
Watts said creating a state offense would allow local and state law enforcement agencies to pursue cases without relying primarily on a limited number of federal officers.
Package theft has become increasingly visible alongside the growth of e-commerce. Thieves may target neighborhoods with frequent deliveries or follow delivery trucks to reach parcels before residents do. Consumers and delivery companies have responded with doorbell cameras, package lockers, alternate delivery addresses and scheduled drop-offs when someone is available.
Under the proposed Virginia law, fraudulent interference with mail would be a Class 6 felony—the same felony classification cited for receiving a stolen firearm. By comparison, participation in an organized retail theft ring is a Class 3 felony. Virginia classifies felonies from Class 1, the most serious, through Class 6, while misdemeanors range from Class 1 through Class 4.