A canvasser wearing a Stronger Maine shirt was filmed taking a package from a Woolwich homeowner’s porch; the theft was captured on Ring camera and shared on social media. The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office says the individual has been identified and charges are expected, though no arrest has been announced. Collins’ campaign says the man was never a campaign employee or volunteer; Stronger Maine says it fired him and offered reimbursement to the victim. The incident comes amid a tight Senate race between Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson.
Canvasser Wearing ‘Stronger Maine’ Shirt Filmed Snatching Porch Package, Sheriff Says
The man wore a shirt with Collins' name on the back. / Jill Margaret/Facebook
A man canvassing in a shirt bearing the name of Stronger Maine, a super PAC that supports Sen. Susan Collins, was filmed taking a delivered package from a Woolwich homeowner's porch during a campaign visit, according to local authorities and footage shared online.
The victim shared a photo of the package thief on Facebook. / Mare Cressey/Facebook
Video circulating on social media shows the individual grab a delivery from a doorstep and run from the scene. Woolwich resident Mare Cressey posted Ring camera footage of the theft to Facebook, saying the package arrived at about 2:30 p.m. and was taken around 4 p.m.
Susan Collins is facing a series of missteps in her campaign for a sixth term in the Senate. / CJ Gunther/Getty Images
The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday the "package thief/political campaigner" has been identified and that charges are expected, though officials have not released the suspect’s name. Sheriff Joel Merry told the Bangor Daily News the man had not yet been arrested and the investigation remains active.
Jackson is a fifth-generation logger and a former president of the Maine Senate. / Joe Raedle / Getty Images
"We’re making good progress," Sheriff Merry told the local outlet.
Several other residents reported that the same canvasser had visited their homes. The Daily Beast and other outlets contacted both Collins’ office and Stronger Maine for comment.
Donald Trump posts about Susan Collins on Truth Social. / screen grab
Collins campaign spokesperson Blake Kernen told the Bangor Daily News the man "is not and has never been an employee or a volunteer of the Collins for Senator campaign." A person familiar with Stronger Maine told the same outlet the PAC dismissed the canvasser immediately after learning of the incident and reached out to Cressey to offer reimbursement for the stolen package.
Political Context
The incident comes as Collins, a long-serving Republican senator from Maine, faces a competitive re-election contest against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate. Polling has shown a tight race: a recent Quantus Insights survey placed the two within a single percentage point.
Collins has at times clashed with former President Donald Trump, who earlier this year wrote on Truth Social, "Republicans, when in doubt, vote the exact opposite of Senator Susan Collins. Generally speaking, you can't go wrong."
The sheriff’s office and local prosecutors will determine next steps as the investigation continues. No additional charges or arrests have been announced publicly.
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