On one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, communities in both the United States and Canada are grappling with a surge in so-called "porch pirate" thefts, a crime that has left residents frustrated and businesses scrambling for solutions. In Rochester, Minnesota, and Ancaster, Ontario, the increase in online shopping has brought with it a troubling rise in package thefts, turning what should be a season of giving into one of loss and anxiety for many.
In early October 2025, Rochester police were called to a southeast neighborhood after a homeowner reported a package stolen from her front steps. The theft, caught on a home security camera, showed a middle-aged white woman walking up to the door, grabbing the parcel, and then pedaling away on a bicycle. Just hours later, officers responded to another report in the same area: someone on a bike, flashlight in hand, was seen peering into mailboxes. According to KROC-AM News, the officer who arrived on scene found 52-year-old Connie Lyn Ziemann on a bicycle, carrying a bag and a flashlight. Her explanation for her activities didn’t quite add up, and her route matched the locations of reported mail thefts from earlier that day.
When police searched Ziemann, they discovered numerous items linked to mail thefts from seven different victims in the area. She was subsequently charged with seven counts of felony mail theft. Through a plea agreement reached during the week of November 24-29, Ziemann admitted to two of those charges and is now scheduled to be sentenced in January 2026. Court records reveal that Ziemann is no stranger to the criminal justice system; she has prior felony convictions for mail theft and first-degree drug offenses, along with multiple misdemeanor theft and fraud crimes. Her case, which made headlines on November 29, 2025, is just one example of a persistent problem that is growing in scope and impact.
While Rochester residents deal with repeat offenders, Canadians in Ancaster, Ontario faced their own wave of porch thefts during the Black Friday shopping rush. On November 29, 2025, residents in one neighborhood became the latest victims. Alissa Gaiser, an Ancaster resident, was first alerted by her doorbell camera that her package had been delivered. But just two hours later, she received another notification—and watched in real time as someone walked away with her parcel. The aftermath was equally disheartening: a neighbor knocked on her door with the tattered remains of what would have been her father’s Christmas gift.
"I’ve been told it was about ten packages that were stolen," Gaiser told CHCH News. "If they’re doing this everywhere, there’s someone who just spent their last little bit of money on their best friend or their family member, whoever it is, and then their gift is gone. So it’s upsetting for everyone." The emotional toll of these crimes is hard to quantify, but the numbers tell a story of a worsening trend. Hamilton police reported 490 porch theft cases in 2025 to date—almost double the 247 cases the city saw just five years ago.
Authorities are urging residents to take precautions. "Given it’s the Christmas time of year, we expect a lot of packages to be delivered. We’re reminding the public – package safety. That means installing cameras. Not only just installing them but making sure they’re visible. That alone is a great deterrent for thieves. Also motion lights," said Constable Trevor McKenna of the Hamilton police. But as many have learned, even the best security measures aren’t foolproof. Thieves are adapting, often concealing their identities with hoodies and sunglasses, making it nearly impossible to identify them unless a license plate is captured on camera.
"That doesn’t seem to prevent it because the thieves cover their heads, they put hoodies on and sunglasses. You really can’t identify them unless you get a licence plate, and it’s very difficult to do that. They’re very brazen," said Jamie West, a neighbor in the affected Ancaster community. For some, the loss is mitigated by businesses willing to offer replacements, but that’s not always possible—especially for small, independent sellers.
"I ordered something from a small business owner, she’s in Ontario. She’s just like a one-person business. So this was in my mailbox, but if it’s something that’s on the porch, like, she’s just a one-person business so she’s not responsible for reimbursing me," explained Lindsay Smith, another concerned resident. For major retailers, replacing stolen goods might be written off as a cost of doing business, but for small entrepreneurs, every loss stings.
David Soberman, a marketing professor at the University of Toronto, told CHCH News that the risks of porch piracy are simply part of the landscape for anyone selling online. "That’s sort of the cost of doing business. If you want to play in this game, that’s one of the risks you have to take," Soberman said. And while some might hope for a return to more trusting times, the reality is that package theft is a modern problem with no easy fix. "What can you do? You just have to put your faith in people that they won’t steal. It used to be that you could do that. Unfortunately, these days, not so much," West added.
The rise in porch piracy is a symptom of the broader shift toward online shopping, particularly during high-volume periods like Black Friday and the holiday season. As more packages are left unattended on doorsteps, opportunistic thieves are finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Police and security experts recommend a combination of visible deterrents—such as cameras and motion-activated lights—and community vigilance. Some neighborhoods are turning to social media groups to alert each other about suspicious activity, while others are considering secure parcel drop boxes or requiring signature deliveries for high-value items.
Still, the underlying issue remains: the convenience of home delivery comes with risks that are not easily eliminated. For repeat offenders like Ziemann, the cycle of theft and prosecution continues, while communities like Ancaster are left to pick up the pieces after another wave of losses. The emotional impact, particularly during the holidays, lingers long after the packages are gone.
As law enforcement and residents search for better solutions, the message is clear: vigilance is essential, but so too is a sense of shared responsibility. Whether through neighborhood cooperation, technological upgrades, or changes in delivery practices, the fight against porch piracy is likely to remain a defining challenge for both retailers and consumers in the digital age.
