Doorstep parcel theft.....you or someone you know been a victim ?

[Dave7]

Parcel delivery companies are rapidly gaining a bad reputation for eg a) one knock/ring on the bell and they're off or
b) not even knocking.......they just leave it and go.
OK, I assumed it was a growing problem but on the news it was saying that these thefts have now reached HALF A £BILLION per year which staggers me.
Even drivers have been filmed dropping a parcel, taking the required photo then stealing the parcel.
So.....any victims on here ?

 

[classic33]

Caught a delivery driver making off with a parcel after taking the required photo of it being "delivered" on the doorstep.

He left with a sheepish look on his face and minus the parcel.

 

[Drago]

Not me personally. Dealt with loads in the dibble, even way back then.

Technically, if a human recipient hasn't received the parcel, its not been legally delivered and the vendor remains liable, and the vendor is hence the victim.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Diffiult to tell but we have had a couple of things "go missing" over the years

Rang the people who we ordered from and they just sent another one
whether it was delivered and then got nicked - or just got lost somewhere was unknown to me as the company had to sort that out themselves

I presume that the theft is at a financially manageable level, otherwise the companies would switch to otehr delivery companies

I have noticed an increase in the number of companies that insist on a photo of the parcel including the door number
AND a photo of someone holding it in front of an open door

which seems to imply there has been a problem and they have changed their procedures to deal with it

allthough a decent sized box was delivered last week and we only knew it was there because the bloke walked in front of our window to deliver something next door!!!
In hindsight I should have gone round there and checked it was not just left there like ours!

 

[PhotoNic69]

If any parcel goes missing then the seller is still responsible for the item until it is in your hands. Contact the seller not the courier. The courier has a contract with the seller to safely deliver the parcel to YOU. If they leave it in the garden and it is damaged or missing then they have failed in their contract. The seller must send you replacements and they can claim from the courier for any losses.

 

[ColinJ]

A courier once left a parcel containing a webcam costing £60 on my doorstep while I was at work. The step was directly onto the pavement, no front garden (think Coronation St). It was about 30 years ago, so more like £90 worth if it were now. Fortunately, it was still there when I got home about 8 hours later, but I was not impressed!

These days I get parcels delivered to local parcel shops or lockers. It means that I don't have to wait in for couriers, or worry about what they do with the parcels.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A courier once left a parcel containing a webcam costing £60 on my doorstep while I was at work. The step was directly onto the pavement, no front garden (think Coronation St). It was about 30 years ago, so more like £90 worth if it were now. Fortunately, it was still there when I got home about 8 hours later, but I was not impressed!

These days I get parcels delivered to local parcel shops or lockers. It means that I don't have to wait in for couriers, or worry about what they do with the parcels.

It would be £124 now

 

[ColinJ]

It would be £124 now

Have prices really more than doubled since then?

(Actually, they probably have - I was getting paid less than half what people would be paid in that job now!)

 

[Alex321]

Have prices really more than doubled since then?

(Actually, they probably have - I was getting paid less than half what people would be paid in that job now!)

Yep.

I assume that Ming got his figure from somewhere like this
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

Which indeed says that £60 in 1995 would be £124.53 in October 2025

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Yep.

I assume that Ming got his figure from somewhere like this
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

Which indeed says that £60 in 1995 would be £124.53 in October 2025

Exact source

 

[Dave7]

Not me personally. Dealt with loads in the dibble, even way back then.

Technically, if a human recipient hasn't received the parcel, its not been legally delivered and the vendor remains liable, and the vendor is hence the victim.

Apparently it's not so straight forward.
If you designate a secure place to leave it and it is stolen the you are responsible.
If you don't specify any particular place then that is a whole different ball game.

 

[wonderloaf]

Caught a delivery driver making off with a parcel after taking the required photo of it being "delivered" on the doorstep.

He left with a sheepish look on his face and minus the parcel.

Exactly the same happened to me, I was waiting for him and saw him walk down the drive, put the parcel down, take the photo then pick it back up start walking very quickly back to the van. Luckily I caught him in time and said a few choice words leaving him looking very embarrassed.
The parcel was a Samsung tablet so I guess they know what's probably inside through experience.

 

[DaveReading]

If I ever find out who coined the term "Porch Pirates" (being bandied around by the BBC this lunchtime) - I'll terminate them with extreme prejudice.

 

[Drago]

If you don't specify any particular place then that is a whole different ball game.

Its clearly not a safe place if a porch pirate can access it!

 

[Drago]

Exactly the same happened to me, I was waiting for him and saw him walk down the drive, put the parcel down, take the photo then pick it back up start walking very quickly back to the van. Luckily I caught him in time and said a few choice words leaving him looking very embarrassed.
The parcel was a Samsung tablet so I guess they know what's probably inside through experience.

I'd have let him go and sent the footage to the police and his employer.