Robert William Foster of Detroit has been detained on 17 counts of mail larceny in a case that underscores a community’s effort to fight the growing problem of porch piracy. The term refers to theft of packages from front porches, a crime that has become more common with the rise of online shopping.
ClickOnDetroit reported that the Birmingham Police Department began receiving reports of such thefts in December 2025. Foster was identified through photos and videos from residents and linked to multiple incidents. Detectives obtained a 17-count arrest warrant for mail larceny.
Foster's arrest was the result of a collaborative effort among various police departments, with contributions from Troy, Grosse Pointe, and Beverly Hills Public Safety. After being taken into custody without incident, Foster was arraigned at the 48th District Court on January 29. Downtown Publications detailed that his release followed the arrangement of a $25,000 personal bond, accompanied by a GPS tether.
Further stipulations of Foster's bond include a prohibition from future employment in door-to-door delivery services. Audacy adds that this condition serves to prevent the opportunity for repeating his alleged previous offenses. A coordinated approach and public involvement were essential in Foster's apprehension, as Audacy reported, "Detectives quickly realized these incidents were committed by the same individual," utilizing community-sourced doorbell camera footage to identify Foster.
The case is now moving towards a pretrial, scheduled for February 20, which will determine the course of legal action against Foster.
