Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To consider not shopping the thief

110 replies

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 20:20

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?

OP posts:
Roseformeplease · 02/01/2013 21:05

Can you report anonymously?

Bogeyface · 02/01/2013 21:10

I would be inclined to do what Ryle said and have a word with the boys. Tell them that you know that there are parcels going missing and that if it doesnt stop now then you will be reporting them to the police.

Then, if they carry on you know what you have to do, but you have given them a chance. At 15 and 16 they probably dont realise just how serious this is, they will probably see it as victimless in that the person expecting the parcel will get a refund etc. I suggest you put them straight.

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 21:11

Also, I don't know which one of them it is. I suspect both together, but don't know.

OP posts:
pouffepants · 02/01/2013 21:13

It's going to be very difficult to know if it's stopped because so much goes missing BEFORE it gets to our depot.

It's only due to a quirk in the system of missorts, that I discovered one of them must be at it.

OP posts:
cinnamonnut · 02/01/2013 21:24

I want to know which company this is too...

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 21:32

Sorry, we get enough bad press as it is (understandable). I don't want to affect my earnings by facilitating a mass mumsnet boycott.

But it's one of the biggies.

I personally work conscientiously, know my customers and give a personal service, leaving things at workplaces, with family, neighbours, sheds, whatever, so everyone gets their stuff on time. This is of course when the stuff gets to me, and isn't flattened on the way. I've not had a claim or complaint for years.

OP posts:
SparklingSnow · 02/01/2013 21:43

I'm betting Yodel or Hermes. They are both useless and many parcels go mysteriously missing with both of them.

butterflyroom · 02/01/2013 21:44

My Christmas present went 'missing' when being delivered from via Citylink. I am so upset......

FergusSingsTheBlues · 02/01/2013 21:47

You should be giving the police a quick yodel. If you are that conscientious, you would surely stand up for the customers being robbed rather than safeguarding your own interests.

SparklingSnow · 02/01/2013 21:49

I'm sure OP would be reporting them for stealing if any of her stuff was going walkabouts. Double standards springs to mind.

SizzleSazz · 02/01/2013 21:50

Yodel didn't deliver to me on NYE apparently due to 'adverse weather' Hmm

I'm guessing, given that there was only slight drizzle on NYE, that they haven't been able to deliver any parcels at all for the last 6 weeks.

I think i would give the boys a warning you are on to them.

cafebistro · 02/01/2013 21:52

Report!

CloudsAndTrees · 02/01/2013 21:52

You know you should report them, so just do it. How can you possibly claim you work conscientiously when you know your customers are having their things stolen so that a couple if teenagers can have a cheap thrill.

HollyBerryBush · 02/01/2013 21:55

Op - I am the voice of reason Grin

I'd have a quiet word in their collective shell like - once they've been clocked they'll stop. you dont need to say "oi" you've (both) been on the take" a simple "parcels are going missing on your shift, do you (both) know anything about it?" should suffice

IF they carry on - shop them - a warning should be enough

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 21:55

If I had a parcel stolen I would lose the value of that parcel.

In this scenario I potentially lose almost my entire family's earnings (hubby earns approx 6k). That seems a harsh punishment when it's not me doing the stealing.

OP posts:
ThePinkOcelot · 02/01/2013 22:00

Could you maybe have a word with them, and hint that you know there is thieving going on and if it doesn;t stop you'll have no alternative but to report it?

tittytittyhanghang · 02/01/2013 22:04

If you are that conscientious, you would surely stand up for the customers being robbed rather than safeguarding your own interests.

See the problem is being conscientious wont pay the bills, no matter how good it looks on an internet forum.

OP i would be inclined to say nothing if i thought it would affect my job. Otherwise can you not annonymously tip off the police?

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 02/01/2013 22:04

If it is Yodel I don't think it's long before they implode anyway.

I had 2 of their drivers just before Xmas delivering seperate things to me, ranting on my doorstep to each other about how crap the company is and everything that is going wrong.

Felt sorry for them.

soontobeburns · 02/01/2013 22:07

OP where are you I would love a job!! Cant believe no one is applying. Is it advertised at the job center?

As for if you should tell it is in the best interests. It can lead to more theft.

VivaLeBeaver · 02/01/2013 22:09

I think in your position I'd talk to the lads. Tell them you know what's happening, that the police will be involved soon if they don't stop. Then I bet they stop it.

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 22:11

I think i need to say something to them, as a warning at least. Otherwise, I can just see them getting more and more confident, and turning ever more criminal.

My problem is that I won't know if it's stopped or not, since there are so many missing parcels anyway. Clearly the main depot has it's own problems. I only came across the proof due to a quirk in the missorts system, and the fact that areas were shut down over christmas/new year, which meant they were the only ones with access. This won't come up again.

And they'll know this (I think)

OP posts:
HollyBerryBush · 02/01/2013 22:13

Do your depots have CCTV?

MadamFolly · 02/01/2013 22:15

I'd stay quiet, its too much for you to lose.

pouffepants · 02/01/2013 22:18

I was told that cctv was being installed after a major episode of vandalism, but I'm not sure, it's not been mentioned since, and I've never noticed cameras.

OP posts:
PowerPants · 02/01/2013 22:21

I agree with Hollyberry