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AIBU?

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Original poster

Takeaway delivery driver recorded me and my house

85 replies

holliem91 · 04/01/2021 21:19

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?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 04/01/2021 23:29

Excellent posts @BlueCatRedCat, and @IfTheSockFits
and I completely agree @InTheSnow

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 04/01/2021 23:29

If I felt that vulnerable I would be opening a tin of beans rather than inviting over and then opening my door to a stranger bearing food.

Poor chap.

Flavabobble · 04/01/2021 23:32

I've rewatched the footage back numerous times
I'd put money on him not watching the video he took, unless you'd claimed non-delivery.

AnotherDelphinium · 04/01/2021 23:32

Yes. YABU. Incredibly so!

Add in the hypocrisy of the fact you were filming him on your Ring, I’d agree with the pp that I’d put you on a no-deliver list if I was the driver or owner.

So many delivery drivers are being scammed. They’re on lousy wages, insecure jobs and high overheads, and then often penalised as well. I’d definitely get a body-cam if I was a takeaway delivery driver.

Would you complain if he’d been wearing a body-cam or helmet go-pro? Surely since you’ve got a doorbell you’re one of the people with a comprehension of how useful video recordings are?

Also, what do you think you’ve got in your house that’s got any worth on the second hand stolen market? Unless you’ve got a focus st/other high value sports car on your driveway, there’s not much in a house organised criminal gangs are interested in nowadays.

june2007 · 04/01/2021 23:35

DEf YABU.

pelosi · 04/01/2021 23:35

It's how he stood on my drive afterwards recording the house for what felt like half an hour that really creeped me out.

What a drip feed. Half an hour? Really?

Flittingaboutagain · 04/01/2021 23:37

I think his customer service skills are lacking and he should have said I have been asked to film delivery.

Robbybobtail · 04/01/2021 23:39

Was it ordered through Just Eat or Uber Eats? My ds has told me that lots of his friends order food through these sites then on the feedback they say they didn’t get the food or it was the wrong order/cold etc and they then get their money reimbursed. I think it’s become a fun thing to do (and these are not kids who are short of money). Disgusting really.
I can imagine it was creepy but I really think he was just covering himself. or maybe he found your house attractive/interesting in some way and was filming it for his own use - my dh is involved in property and does this - he will see something of interest (Architectural or whatever) and just start filming or taking photos on his phone!

Groovinpeanut · 04/01/2021 23:43

As you're of such a nervous disposition don't order anymore takeaways.
The poor guy has probably had lots of people scamming saying they've not had their takeaways delivered, this comes out of the delivery drivers pay.
You recorded him, then reported him for recording you. Saying it felt like he was recording you for half an hour is a bit over dramatic too.

ScribblingPixie · 04/01/2021 23:50

Pretty much all delivery drivers seem to take a pic now, mostly of it on the floor but sometimes handing it over to me. Fair enough if they need to protect themselves from accusations.

Carolofthebellies · 04/01/2021 23:53

A picture of you taking the pizza would behave been more than enough. What else do you need to prove? Maybe you need to keep the curtains open so he could have filmed you eating your pizza? That's definitely a proof.

theblackparade · 04/01/2021 23:57

I think if he was planning on coming back and robbing your house he might not have made it so obvious that he was filming your interaction Hmm

Lilyargin · 04/01/2021 23:57

It’s a bit unfair to criticise the OP for feeling slightly creeped out by this behaviour. Single women living alone or with a child/children do feel vulnerable at times (like when being filmed, for instance) They might be rare, as someone pointed out, but crimes do happen. The vast amount of films portraying women as prey feeds these feelings of vulnerability and tells a narrative.
Giving statistics doesn’t work to negate feelings, as fear or apprehension is sometimes irrational, but it’s still real.
Anyway, if the OP feels reassured she’s being over-cautious the thread has worked in allaying her fear. So that’s good.

8obbingabout · 05/01/2021 00:03

Hi OP,

I understand why this would nerve you and it does sound a bit creepy I have to admit. However I do think he has filmed/taking pictures of him passing the food to you and possibly filming/taking phots of your house number. His english may not be of a good enough standard to explain to you what he was doing which could be why he was just apologising the whole time. The lack of response and apology from the restaurant makes me think they could have been asked to do this since they have been scammed in the past.

I wouldn't worry anymore about it. You have a ring door bell and they know everyone is at home during lockdown so I wouldn't think he'd have been recording you for any other reason.

Myshinynewname2021 · 05/01/2021 00:08

He won't come back tonight but if it were me I would have state of the art locks and would ensure my ring subscription was always up to date. We got burgled and the first thing the cops said was 'is there cctv?' Though be warned there are people nicking ring doorbells.,,

BlueCatRedCat · 05/01/2021 00:15

Why the fuck would anyone wishing to case the OP's joint in order to rob it, make themselves completely obvious and identifiable? Don't be ridiculous.

Redshoeblueshoe · 05/01/2021 00:34

Exactly bluecatredcat I wonder if we are somehow related ? 🤣

StopSquirtingBleachOnCaneToads · 05/01/2021 00:48

What he did was weird and inappropriate - a photo would have been fine.

But i do think it sounds genuine - maybe he doesn't have much confidence and doesn't quite know how to behave, so he took it a bit too far, but ultimately he will be on absolutely shit money and is probably terrified of getting his wages docked or losing his job. He's just trying to cover his own arse and going about it in the wrong way.

You let the restaurant know that he made you feel uncomfortable, and they acknowledged this. I would just leave it now. You can always choose to not order from them again if you feel strongly about it.

ItsNotGreenItsBlue · 05/01/2021 00:53

Would be creeped out and avoid ordering from there again too. Good on you for contacting the restaurant, hopefully prevent him from doing it to anyone else.

Nikhedonia · 05/01/2021 01:11

@malmi

Ring camera eh? Sounds even steven to me :)
GrinGrinGrin
TurquoiseDragon · 05/01/2021 01:53

I can understand recording the delivery, even if clumsily done. But the recording continuing after the delivery seems quite odd, and I can also understand OP being spooked by it.

CrotchBurn · 05/01/2021 03:36

Was he foreign? Just wondering if maybe his English wasnt good enough to explain what he was doing. But yeah I would take the restaurants explanation at face value. It is a bit weird that he didn't just explain before getting his phone out but meh

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 05/01/2021 03:49

Going to take a wild guess here and say he was apologising because he was a bit embarrassed about having to record the delivery, because he probably knows it makes people a bit uncomfortable. You say youndont know why he would apologise because he was doing nothing wrong, but then you phone his work place to report him for doing the thing that he was apologising for?

Mally2020 · 05/01/2021 03:51

I fully understand his thought process, however the recording of yourself and your house was massively imposing and borderline illegal. Taking a photo upon acceptance or otherwise is ok but he hasn't gained consent about how the recording will be used and especially if it is on your own land without permission could cause serious issue for the restaurant, I'd ask for proof it has been deleted

Sinful8 · 05/01/2021 03:58

@pelosi

It's how he stood on my drive afterwards recording the house for what felt like half an hour that really creeped me out.

What a drip feed. Half an hour? Really?

Well she said it was 20 seconds in the first post.

So its going up all the time

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