The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Driver who stole man’s parcel given the sack
CCTV: Householder checked recording after being told delivery had been made
A delivery driver was sacked after being caught on CCTV stealing a parcel on his Fife round.
Footage shows the man dropping off a package and walking away with another which had already been delivered earlier.
UK Mail, a division of DHL, apologised and said the sub-contractor had been dismissed following an investigation.
Householder Matthew Burton, who was shocked to discover the theft when he checked his recording, shared the video on social media to warn others. He was also alarmed to see the delivery man walk round his home in the countryside near Largoward.
His suspicion was aroused when he received an email telling him riding boots he had ordered had been delivered but he returned home and they were nowhere to be seen.
It was initially claimed the driver thought the parcel was for collection, but its wrapping was found dumped in a nearby ditch.
A delivery driver was captured on CCTV stealing a parcel from a Fife doorstep.
The man can be seen arriving to drop off one parcel and leaving with another.
Matthew Burton, who lives in the countryside near Largoward, said he was outraged to see the recording when a pair of riding boots he was told had been delivered were missing.
He also said it was disturbing to see the man spend some time walking around his rural property, and that his dog had required vet treatment for stress as a result of the disturbance.
UK Mail, a division of DHL, said the subcontractor who committed the theft last Thursday had been sacked and police informed.
Initially the company told Matthew, 48, the driver thought the package was for collection, but its blue plastic wrapper was found dumped nearby.
The £25 boots, which Matthew needed for a riding trial the next day, were returned.
He said: “I got an email from Royal Mail saying the boots had been delivered but when I got home there was no sign of the boots.
“There had been a delivery from UK Mail and I saw the time and checked my CCTV.”
He was shocked to see a van pull up outside his gate and the driver walk in with a white parcel and leave with a blue one.
He said: “The guy goes to the back of the house and goes to the front door.
“He picks up the parcel and I can see him looking around then leaving with the blue box.”
Matthew reported the incident to the police and UK Mail.
He said his four-year-old Jack Russell Aisha was in at the time and was distressed by the stranger walking around.
UK Mail initially said they could not apologise or give details of the investigation process because of data protection.
But a UK Mail spokesperson said: “Last week Matthew Burton got in touch to let us know that his parcel had gone missing.
“A full investigation was launched and one of our subcontractors was found to have stolen the package. As a result, the driver has been dismissed and the police have been informed.
“We have now returned Matthew’s parcel and apologise for any distress caused.”
The police confirmed a report had been made but no further action was required as the item was returned. cpeebles@thecourier.co.uk