Local lawyers warn against the act of revenge against porch pirates – INFORUM

FARGO In the season of porch pirates, we often hear about people putting dog poop or glitter bombs in decoy boxes to get revenge. But what is legal to when deterring these thieves?

Around the country, vigilante mail recipients are taking matters in their own hands and posting about it online. There is the common practice of putting dog poop in a decoy box, using glitter bombs, and even going as far as rigging shotgun blanks to scare off patio patrons.

"You put blanks in there and it blows someone's hand off potentially, we might not be talking defense of property," explained Luke Heck, a criminal defense attorney with Vogel Law Firm in Fargo.

While North Dakotans and Minnesotans do have the right to defend their property with force, Heck believes putting blanks and explosives in boxes will invite litigation. If your the decoy is less hardcore, then you are probably not breaking the law.

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"They didn't have the lawful authority to take the package, whether it was a dummy package or an actual package in the first place," Heck said. "So there's a pretty weak argument to where there could be criminal charges for a glitter bomb type situation."

"Open up a box and it takes someone's eye out with glitter, you could be opened up to other types of liability and different areas of the law there too," Heck added.

So what should you do to fend off porch pirates?

Law enforcement officials recommend tracking your package, require a signature or request in-store pickup, be home during delivery or ask a neighbor to bring packages inside.

Call the police if you become a porch pirate victim.

"First and foremost, call the police if something is being stolen from you," Heck urged. "Engaging in self help oftentimes causes more problems than it solves."

A Fargo police spokesperson says their officers are not seeing an increase in package thefts this year.

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Local lawyers warn against the act of revenge against porch pirates - INFORUM