TRENTON — Legislation to crack down on “porch pirate” crimes and stiffen penalties for package theft has been signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Theft of a delivered package is now a third-degree crime statewide, punishable by 3 to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000.

The crime previously was treated as a misdemeanor as a majority of stolen packages were valued at less than $500, according to one of the measure's sponsors, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-Middlesex.

“Package delivery is easier for many seniors and disabled residents who are unable to leave home to just run to the store or the pharmacy,” Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, said in the same joint statement.

“Having their packages stolen from their front step could mean waiting a long time for medicine they rely on."

Roughly 14% of Americans in a recent survey by Finder said they were victims of package theft within the past 12 months.

That equals about 35.5 million Americans, dealing with an average value of $157 reported stolen in each.