To open neighbour's parcel?

[FatRedCrayon]

DH took in a parcel for the house over the road 2 days ago. No signs of anyone in the property since and we've been over and knocked a couple of times.

The parcel says on the side "Live plants, please open immediately".
Do I open and attempt to care for said plants until neighbour surfaces? Or do I ignore and hope the plants are resilient?!

I know it's an older chap living on his own, I've spoken to him briefly once. He has a younger man (his son?) visiting semi-regularly but not regularly enough for me to keep an eye out and catch him. I don't want to go raiding someone else's parcels but equally don't want to dump dead plants on someone in a very un-neighbourly fashion...!

You could open it carefully, and then, if the plants are anything... erm... incriminating (surely that's the worst case scenario) then you could reseal and never mention opening the box. Or you could call the company who sent them and ask advice. Otherwise I think I'd open the box and water them, and just point out that's what the box commanded!

It's illegal to open someone else's mail/parcels - I'd stick a note through their letterbox - you could also ask other neighbours if they know of his whereabouts...

Ring the firm up and ask advice.
If they tell you to open and water then that's fine.

I'd open and look after them. Often you can order plants in advance so your not quite sure when they will arrive - he could be on holiday or in hospital and may appreciate you looking after the plants.

It's not illegal to open someone else's post. It's only illegal if you have malicious intentions with the content.

Yes, open them and water them. The last time I ordered some plug plants they took an insanely long amount of time to arrive - far more than I'd anticipated (hadn't read the small print). It hadn't occurred to me they'd have to actually grow the plants first. Anyway, by the time they showed up I'd more or less forgotten about them - I could well have been on holiday.

If he's an elderly man living on his own I'd be concerned that there's no sign of him, particularly if he's ordered perishables. Can you see through his windows and check he's OK?

Banana it looks like they come from a genuine plant supply company,
I don't think they're anything dodgy!

I'm also pretty sure I couldn't get in trouble for opening them to water. But pp's are right, a call to the company might not be a bad idea, will try tomorrow. Don't know too many neighbours to ask but Mr Next Door is lovely and has lived her for ages, he's probably my best shot, will check tomorrow too. Thanks!

If I was your neighbour I'd be annoyed if you didn't. Highly unlikely to be cannabis plants.

You could try one last knock and stick a note through, saying you were caring for them?

I did this with a order of meat that came for my neighbour once. Arrived in a poly box and despite me never meeting him (had only just moved in) he had put leave with number * if out.

I tried and tried for the next 24 or so hours and in the end I opened it and put it in my fridge. When he finally arrived home 5 days later he seemed really put out by it. No thanks for not letting my expensive food go off or anything.

I would still do it again though tbh not all people are ungrateful dick heads

Quick update - Mr Next Door came up trumps, turns out the chap across the street is on holiday and back tomorrow (though don't know when).

The plants are on my windowsill enjoying some sun and have been watered, they're looking pretty resilient!