Porch pirates strike Ancaster homes as Black Friday shopping peaks

It’s one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year with Canadian shoppers expected to open up their wallets for Black Friday through to Cyber Monday. But the rise in online shopping also means a rise in parcel thefts.

Yesterday, residents in one Ancaster neighbourhood were the victims of porch pirates.

Ancaster resident Alissa Gaiser was alerted by her doorbell camera yesterday afternoon that her package was delivered. Two hours later she was alerted once again, and watched as someone walked away with her parcel.

Then a neighbour knocked on her door with the remnants of what would have been her father’s Christmas gift.

Gaiser says her home is one of several in the neighbourhood that was targeted by the porch pirates.

“I’ve been told it was about ten packages that were stolen,” said Gaiser. “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.”

WATCH MORE: Local businesses face tough competition ahead of Black Friday

According to Hamilton police, there have been a total of 490 reported cases of porch thefts this year to date — almost double the 247 cases the city saw five years ago.

“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 Const. Trevor McKenna with the Hamilton police.

But a security camera is not always enough for online shoppers to feel secure.

“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 neighbour Jamie West.

Fortunately for Gaiser, the business will send her a replacement for her stolen parcel.

But offering replacements is not an option all online sellers can afford.

“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,” said Lindsay Smith, another concerned resident.

There are measures sellers can take to minimize the cost of porch theft on their businesses, but an expert CHCH News spoke to says the options are limited.

“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,” said David Soberman, marketing professor at the University of Toronto.

“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,” said West.

READ MORE: Hamilton police arrest pair accused of trafficking $120K in stolen cellphones