Porch pirate shooting in Atlanta highlights growing package theft problem

A recent attempted porch theft in Atlanta nearly turned deadly.

(NBC)- Atlanta police say two teenagers who admitted they were trying to steal freshly delivered packages were shot by a homeowner as they approached the house. Emergency calls captured the chaos, with one caller telling dispatchers, “I think it’s two people that have been shot.”

Both teens are expected to survive. The homeowner has since been charged with aggravated assault and another felony.

The incident comes as police across the country continue to investigate a surge in porch piracy cases. In Fort Worth, surveillance video shows a thief arriving just seconds after an Amazon delivery driver leaves, snatching a package less than 10 seconds later. In Kentucky, another suspect was caught on camera looking around before stuffing stolen items into a pizza box.

A recent report estimates 104 million packages were stolen in the past year — roughly 250,000 packages every single day — costing Americans an estimated $15 billion.

The cities hit hardest include Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston, and Baltimore.

Experts say homeowners can reduce the risk by providing specific delivery instructions that keep packages out of sight and by using home security cameras equipped with lights or sirens.

Tuesday’s  shooting in Atlanta serves as a stark reminder: while porch piracy may seem like a low-level crime, the consequences can escalate quickly — and cost far more than just a package.