The US Federal Prosecutor’s Office for the District of New Jersey arrested thirteen individuals in February 2025, accusing them of being part of a sprawling gang that combined cyberattacks, corruption, and physical theft. The criminal organisation managed to infiltrate the IT systems of logistics and telecommunications companies, allowing them to access details on package contents and track individual shipments, including their exact delivery times and locations. Armed with this information, the gang targeted the most valuable deliveries, particularly high-end electronics and smartphones.
Once the targets were identified through computer access, the thieves sprang into action, stealing the packages directly from the recipients' doorsteps—a method dubbed "porch piracy." To obtain this information, the gang had also bribed employees within telecommunications companies. While each theft involved small-scale incidents, the operation's large-scale execution resulted in significant profits. Investigators estimate that the criminal organisation earned several million dollars, although an exact figure has yet to be determined.
Authorities also uncovered a logistical hub for the stolen goods inside a Bronx residence in New York. Here, the stolen items were gathered and subsequently distributed for resale on the black market, facilitated by a nationwide network solely dedicated to this activity. The suspects now face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years for offences including data theft and larceny.
