To consider not shopping the thief

[pouffepants]

I'm a delivery driver, and the (big)company I work for seem remarkably lax on security. Obviously everything gets a bit hectic around christmas, but on a daily basis we have missing parcels that never get to our sub depot from the main depot, damaged parcels and obviously tampered parcels. These are embarrassing to deliver.

I didn't think it was a problem at our depot though, because lots seem damaged when they get to us. And I've often helped with the morning sort, so I know some are already missing.

They have found it impossible to recruit a subdepot manager, so in the end one of the courier's nephews took it on at age (just) 16. He's been great. In the run up to christmas it was too much for 1 person, so they paid for his 15 yo friend to help, even though he should have been at school.

Then there was a bit of fuss with the couriers arriving too early, so they started doing the sort with the shutters down. These teenagers literally have thousands upon thousands of pounds of parcels to handle, unchecked. But I never thought anything of it, the lads seem very nice and honest.

Without going into details I have discovered that at least one of them is stealing parcels. It's not really my problem, since I'm self-employed, but it's obviously not good either for the company, or the boys, since the longer they get away with it the more habitual they will get about thieving. So my instinct is to report my evidence.

But if i do, they will be sacked and they probably won't be able to find anyone to man the depot again, which will mean it will close. That would mean that we would have to have the parcels delivered to our homes addresses by lorry, and because I live on a peninsula I would always be the last drop. When this happened before I sometimes didn't get the parcels by 2pm. I only worked part-time then, but I now often do 8-10 hour days, and am the main earner in our family. I can't possibly start work at 2pm, so I would be out of work effectively.

So wwyd?

[Doinmummy]

I would report. Theft is theft. Think about the recipients of the stolen goods. They have paid for things that you know have been stolen. What on earth are they thinking of , giving youngsters so much responsibility ?

[AnyFuleKno]

if they carry on stealing you'll be out of business anyway

[CloudsAndTrees]

Why wouldn't they be able to find someone else instead of illegally exploiting two teenagers?

I don't really understand this, but if you know people are stealing, of course ou should report it. Very selfish of you not to.

[jessjessjess]

Report it. How would you like it if your parcel was stolen?

A friend recently told me how upset he is that a parcel from his mother went AWOL shortly before she died. Those parcels belong to real people with real lives.

Why don't you take over the manager job?

[Meandmycats]

If you have proof of thefts you should definitely report. It is the right thing to do.

[pouffepants]

I can't take over the manager job, because I would have to stay at the depot till 10am, when the lorry comes back. That's not enough hours to stop couriering for though. I would have to start at 6am which isn't possible.

The first lad gets £25 a day for 6-10am, which I don't think is exploitation, I don't know what the second lad receives, or indeed if he's still supposed to be there now christmas is passed.

I completely agree I need to report, but I think everyone's going to hate me because no-one wants to go on homedrop, especially the aunt of the boy.

The job gets advertised but no-one applies.

[lovelyladuree]

Keep quiet. You will only bring trouble to your door.

[squeakytoy]

How on earth can they find nobody skilled to do the job????

[LessMissAbs]

I spent much of the Christmas period chasing a valuable package that went missing through a courier. I got it; I'm pretty sure it was stashed away to see if anyone would make enough fuss not to steal it.

Why on earth wouldn't you report multiple thefts you are aware of, particularly when they might affect people you know and yourself?

Why wouldn't you want a young person/child to be caught when they can still turn their lives around, rather than making them believe they can get away with it?

If the depot can't be properly run, it shouldn't be open anyway - is peninsula-living going to all of your heads or something?

[ajandjjmum]

Staggers me that they can only find a thief to do the job. There are supposed to be millions looking for work.

[BabylonElf]

YABU theft is theft.

15 yo should be at school. Courier company risking massive fine and prosecution for employing him.

[cinnamonnut]

YABVU - report it!

[treesindoors]

You should shop them for theft and the company for employing a 15-year-old who should be in school. And of course the company will go under - they've left their depot in the hands of two young teenagers. They're a shite company.

[EuroShagmore]

I think you should shop them.

I don't believe they cannot find anyone else at all to take on that job. There is high unemployment!

[pouffepants]

I KNOW all of this, and I should report, but would you really do so easily if you would lose your job.

I'm self-employed (in theory) so if I lose this work I won't be entitled to any benefits. I'm screwed.

I can't just get other courier work because most places go up to 25kg which I can't lift, and my van isn't big enough for most companies, and I can't afford to replace it.

[SparklingSnow]

You really do need to do the right thing and report it. This is theft and it is disgraceful they are getting away with it. I've had so many problems with things I have ordered going missing while with couriers and I know loads of people have had the same issue.

You wouldn't like it if someone else was stealing your things so why is it okay for them to steal others? Also, as others have pointed out, if packages keep going walkabouts then you will all end up out of business.

I had a parcel go missing a few weeks ago. The company I ordered it from said they wouldn't send out a replacement until I had paid for another one. This was a very expensive item by the way. Needless to say I wasn't happy about it and it was too close to Christmas for a big expense. So I missed out as I'm sure lots of others are having to do due to thieving idiots.

[SparklingSnow]

There's plenty of people out there waiting for a job to come along. So I'm sure they would get someone else to do it in no time.

[pouffepants]

I think the deal with the younger lad was that he could work till 8.30 and then go to school, but he doesn't.

I heard the office bloke trying to get him to go the other day, but he said school was boring and he always seems to be there at 10.

[treesindoors]

The very least you should do is start looking for other work in every spare minute.

[pouffepants]

We've had 4 years worth of various people's relatives running the depot, due to recruitment failure. 2 people were sacked for theft, one of whom has since been locked up as a paedophile.

No-one applies for the job. i've even suggested it to interested people on my round, none have ever even contacted. I know someone who runs a care agency in a different area, they can't recruit for love nor money either.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Sounds like a shambles. Do you mind telling us what company you work for so we can avoid it?

[RyleDup]

You're in a difficult position. I don't suppose its worth having a word with the lad and telling him you'll report him if he doesn't stop?

[pouffepants]

It's bloody annoying though. I've built up my route so that I can earn 30k flexibly, doing something I love.

I doubt very much I could find another unqualified job earning that, so dh would prob have to change jobs too, or get extra hours, which would have knockon left right and centre. All because someone else is nicking.

[SparklingSnow]

CloudsAndTrees, I was about to ask exactly the same question!

I'm beginning to wonder OP if you work for the particular dodgy company who pinched my missing parcels!

[pouffepants]

cloudsandtrees, you'd have a job on. We deliver for most of the high street names, and seem to be getting new contracts every week. I guess because we're cheap?