Takeaway delivery driver recorded me and my house

[holliem91]

Hi all,

A little worried about this. I ordered a takeaway at about 7pm. It arrived at about 7.30pm. When the delivery driver showed up he was recording me. As soon as I opened the door he had his phone pretty much in my face, holding it up and pointing it directly at me whilst giving me my food. He was acting slightly weird and kept apologising which I also thought was really odd as he hadn't done anything wrong. The food was on time so there was no need for him to apologise for anything. I thought he was recording me but my first thought was maybe he was checking the order on his phone to make sure he had everything in the bag. But, he continued to hold his phone up even after he gave me my food. I closed the door and watched him through my living room window and he continued to turn around and record the house. I also have a Ring camera so I've rewatched the footage back numerous times to make sure I wasn't just being paranoid and he was 100% recording me and the house.

I rang the restaurant up and told them, the owner spoke to me and apologised and said he probably did it to prove he delivered the food as a couple of days ago someone scammed them and made out their food never got delivered. I went on to explain how he could've just asked to take a picture with the food in my doorway or at least told me that's why he was recording but he didn't and it was very creepy. I live alone and I've seen footage circulating around on social media recently where gangs record peoples homes to later go back and break in and I'm quite scared now. I don't know what more I can do though. I don't feel like this is a matter for the police as what could they do? I don't want to waste their time but I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight.

It could just be a genuine thing and he was proving he delivered the food but it's just really strange how even after he gave me the food he continued to stand on my drive and record the house for a good 20 seconds afterwards. The owner asked to see the footage, so I sent it to him and he replied saying "That's not very good at all" and that was it.

What would you all do if this happened to you?

I would assume that he was gathering evidence he had delivered the food, and think no more about it.
I always have doors locked in my house though.

I think he was just over-zealous with recording evidence that he delivered it. Not sure what he could do with the footage, if he wanted to record for burglary purposes, he could record without you being aware of it.

He's obviously been stung by the previous issue and not very competent or confident with phone and video and now probably going to lose the job.

I would never order from them again.

There are scams in the US where a delivery person takes a photo of them putting the take away onto the door step and then immediately taking the food for themselves, also caught on Ring door cameras!

I can understand why he was actually filming handing over the food to you.

Yes as pp said it sounded like being scammed/accused of not delivering has really rocked him and he’s recording to prove the deliveries are reaching the houses. Overzealous and unnecessary, but I wonder if he got a bollocking last time.

I think I’d be initially a bit put out but not dwell on it. Anyone could film your house at any time, I don’t think potential burglars would be so brazen about it if that was their intention.

I know it seems weird but it's tough for these delivery drivers. Like PP have said lots of people claim they never got their food when they did.

@Thedarknightsaredrawingin

I would never order from them again.

I agree with this. Sorry OP, what a horrible thing he did.

Ring camera eh? Sounds even steven to me :)

Thanks all. I am probably being over paranoid but it's just me and my little girl that live here so I feel quite vulnerable. If he had just said to begin with that this is why he was recording I would've understood. It's how he stood on my drive afterwards recording the house for what felt like half an hour that really creeped me out. I'll try and think no more of it. I suppose if he was suspicious he wouldn't have been so blatant about it! Thank youI feel reassured already

I would assume he was doing it to prove he delivered the food. Perhaps it comes out of his wages if they have to resend food out when someone claims it hasn't been delivered. I doubt he was filming your house for a future burglary. As someone has said, it's hardly discreet and I am not sure how much use a film of the front of someone's house would be in planning a burglary.

Good point malmi

Also agree with those saying 'why would a burglar film the front of a house?'

If there were some reason, then you'd do it a bit less obviously

If this happens again (which it probably won't, he sounds bizarre), you can ask him to stop recording and leave your property if he was standing on your drive. I'd keep the footage from Ring just in case anything happens, as it could be useful, but just take and reassure yourself of security precautions within your home and you will be okay. There are small measures you can take to reduce the opportunities for entry into your home e.g. keeping bins away from exterior walls (particularly those with windows) and attaching jingly bells inside the lid - keeping them in a location where someone couldn't hide behind them; check and replace all screws and fixings that have rusted, and tighten any that are loose on entry points; and teach your young child basic security precautions through games if possible (Do they know how to tie a reliable knot? Do they know when she can come get you and discern concerning noises from not?)

Privacy laws haven't kept up with technological development, and most aren't worth the paper they're written on at an individual level. It has made solving crimes easier though, so use that to your advantage given your concerns and retain the phone call, messages etc. too. Much like previous posters, I'd probably pick a different takeaway in future - although drivers do move around between them.

The obvious course of action would be to say, "Why are you filming me?" at the time...

I reckon he was the one accused of not delivering the order and was making absolutely certain he won’t be accused in general wrong again.

To be honest, if he was doing it for nefarious reasons your complaint may have deterred him. He’s now aware you have cctv, and that if anything happens he would be the prime suspect

Stop being paranoid, it’s obviously not about you, it’s a huge scam these days, all over the uk, food being ordered then apparently “not being delivered “ rendering the delivery company forced to reimburse the food costs. Did you really think some delivery guy wanted to video you? Apologetically??

I also have a Ring camera so I've rewatched the footage back numerous times to make sure I wasn't just being paranoid and he was 100% recording me and the house

So you recorded him too?
And played it back numerous times not creepy at all

What's the difference?

He recorded your house for half and hour?

I'm not saying he has a right to make you uncomfortable. But honestly what dodgy reasons do you think he had in doing this? Just seems really simple that he was trying to prove he'd delivered the item.

But you were recording him too?

check and replace all screws and fixings that have rusted, and tighten any that are loose on entry points; and teach your young child basic security precautions through games if possible (Do they know how to tie a reliable knot?

I don’t get these bits of advice.

The last three times I've accepted a package for next door they've taken a photo of my feet/the package on my stairs/I'm not even sure what. It must be for proof, but last time they just sent next door the photo without any other information (they don't recognise my slippers that well, lol).

Poor bastard. Probably got it in the neck because some customer decided to scam the delivery place and claim food wasn't delivered, did what he was told to do to prove he was delivering food and now will probably lose his job because some other customers complains about that. Quite hypocritically, frankly, as OP was recording him too.

He probably got money docked because someone claimed he didn't deliver and wants to prove he did.
Unsettling, but I would try to put it out of your head.