A frustrated shopper is at their wit’s end with their neighbour who continually steals their post and packages, as well as others around the neighbourhood, so now they’re planning drastic action in response.
Ordering products online like clothing, food, skincare and beauty supplies, gadgets, electricals, and more has become par for the course in recent years, with many people keen to take advantage of the convenience of having orders delivered directly to their homes.
Unfortunately, for some unlucky shoppers, their post doesn’t always make it to them. It can be incredibly frustrating, stressful and time-consuming trying to track down a missing parcel that’s been marked as “delivered”.
The Neighbour’s Theft
The situation feels even worse when it transpires a neighbour is resorting to the callous and cruel practice of theft. This is the case for one shopper whose neighbour is reportedly stealing “everyone’s packages”.
Taking to Reddit, they explained: “She has been doing it for years now. There is a ton of video proof with her full face.
“I've already printed out a flyer with her photo and her address and put it on her door with a [line] saying ‘local neighborhood thief’. It had her phone number on it and everything.”
But the thief was undeterred. The Redditor continued: “That still hasn’t stopped her, it just made her cover up more so you can’t see her face (you can still see her running home in the videos).
“She’s a grown a** adult that lives with her mom and son. Steals everything. She even steals umbrellas from people’s backyards, she’s actually awful. Police have been there for a stolen truck once even. What else can we do?”
The Planned Response
Fellow Reddit users shared a range of suggestions to hopefully teach the thief a lesson and put a stop to her crimes.
One person said: “Definitely shouldn't put fresh dog s*** in an Amazon package and tape it back up and/or carefully rig a loose bottle of fart spray to dump everywhere once the box has been opened.”
Which inspired the original poster. They replied: “I do have fart spray. It’s absolutely rancid, this is a great idea.”
Another proposed: “Try a box of fine glitter. In a small tight tin of what were shortbread. So long as it’s very small and not see through. Or [wrapped] as individual chocolates. That stuff, once loose, cannot be cleaned up. Sticks to everything. Will teach her.”
A third said: “Sounds like kleptomania. It may be easier to deliver packages to your workplace, PO Box, or UPS store. Or see if you can get a lock storage box for deliveries.”
Others advised the original poster to visit a registered postal service and send a package that would be tracked, so there’d be more proof of the neighbour’s crimes.
Is It a Crime to Take Someone Else’s Post?
Per the Postal Services Act 2000, it can be an offence to intentionally open a “postal packet” while it’s still “in transmission”, if there’s no reasonable excuse.
If the post was opened accidentally, it may not constitute a crime. Taking someone else’s packages is illegal in the UK and carries serious criminal penalties.
Depending on the specific circumstances, stealing a parcel may constitute theft under the Theft Act 1968, a postal offense under the Postal Services Act 2000, or fraud.
Stealing a package from a doorstep, safe place, or building would be classed as theft. The maximum penalty for theft in the UK is up to seven years in prison.
Under Section 84 of the Postal Services Act 2000, it’s a crime to intentionally delay, intercept, or open mail not addressed to you. Deliberately opening someone else’s package and “intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse” can lead to up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.
