CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Police have said the chances of your online packages never making it into your hands is high because thieves are ripping them off after they're delivered.
A couple living in Corpus Christi's southside was recently targeted by thieves. They caught the culprit on video.
It's not uncommon, and Texas legislators in Austin are working to beef up the current laws with stiffer penalties.
"This is February the 9th. She walks right up to the door. She got a bag in her hand. She's got a cup of coffee in her hand," victim Gene Torbush said.
Torbush and his wife thought nothing of the video until they saw a woman walk up.
"She sort of bends down, got the package, puts it under her coat and walks off just like nothing happened," Torbush said.
The couple couldn't believe their eyes, watching the video a few times to make sure it was real.
"Okay, here's the video of the postman coming up and dropping it off," Torbush said. "But when he walked away, in about 45 minutes later, the lady shows up and picks the package up."
According to Torbush, there's only one way to describe the entire incident.
"You feel violated when someone comes on your porch and gets something off your porch," Torbush said.
"Unfortunately society is different today," State Rep. Todd Hunter said.
According to Hunter, it's a statewide problem. Thieves often follow delivery trucks and watch packages being dropped off, making for easy targets.
"Now it's just easy to let me grab the package off your porch," Hunter said. "Also, that's stealing. It's wrong."
Hunter said state legislation is now being drawn up to be considered in the current session.
"There's legislation filed in the state legislature to increase the penalties and to try to stop this sort of theft from happening," Hunter said. "I sit on the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Not sure yet but this is the type of law that may come to me for review in committee and hearings."
Victims of package theft crimes should reach out to Hunter and other lawmakers and insist that laws be enhanced.
Currently, package theft under $2,500 is considered a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $4,000 and year in jail. Theft of an item valued at more than $2,500 results in a felony charge.
Nueces County First Assistant District Attorney Matt Manning recommends consumers keep itemized proof such as sales receipts and documents to prove the value inside packages.