Package stolen? Help!

[foxyroxyyy]

My DH ordered from an auctioneer site and the item has been delivered to our old address by mistake.

DPD sent us a picture of the person receiving the delivery and as we don't have contact details he popped round yesterday to pick it up. No answer so left a note.

Still haven't heard anything. DPD can't do anything. Auctioneer site can't do anything unless she agrees a time to be home so it can be picked up.

Hubby is worried she has decided to keep the item.

AIBU to say we know where she lives and that she has it so she wouldn't be silly enough to steal it? It's worth some money but not close to life changing amounts. And it's the type of item only certain people will like.
Wise mumsnetters, is DH right, should we be panicked?

[foxyroxyyy]

Anyone?! Got a stressed out hubby here

[BobLemon]

Caaaaalm, OP. Mistakes happen.

You’ve said it yourself that this has been stolen. Theft is theft and if you don’t have any luck by popping round again today, report it to the police.

[Bluntness100]

It’s not been stolen for goodness sake, She’s allowed to be out.

Can one of you go round when you can see they are in?

[foxyroxyyy]

@BobLemon thanks for reply. Yes I think we might have to

[foxyroxyyy]

@Bluntness100 we don't live anywhere near there anymore. We've left a note and told the neighbours. But yes she may well be out and not have had a chance yet.

[wildeverose]

Honestly calm down. Go back again when she's in! Someone's not going to steal a package when there is evidence they have it.

[Bluntness100]

[quote foxyroxyyy]@Bluntness100 we don't live anywhere near there anymore. We've left a note and told the neighbours. But yes she may well be out and not have had a chance yet. [/quote]
If it’s your old address it’s obviously your fault, you didn’t update it correctly, calling the police on her is ludicrous at this stage, it’s also not her fault you don’t live near.

You made the error, go round when you think they will be in and don’t waste police time.

[angieloumc]

Report it to the police, his ridiculous. It's been a day. Maybe they were out, ill, it could be any reason they haven't responded, strange how you call it a 'stolen package'. Complete over reaction.

[angieloumc]

*how ridiculous, apologies.

[FuckyouCovid21]

In the first post you say your DH popped round, popping to somewhere to me means it's very close, like a neighbour or round the corner. How far away is it?

[foxyroxyyy]

Fair point. It takes us over an hour each way to get there so it's not as easy as just popping round but yes should probably give it some more time.

I honestly wouldn't accept a package in someone else's name that was for my address though! Strange!

[viques]

It hasn’t been delivered to your old house by mistake. It has been delivered to your old house because that is the address they had been given to deliver it to.

The mistake is yours, not the auctioneers, not the delivery people or the innocent woman who is now being accused of theft.

[foxyroxyyy]

@FuckyouCovid21 he went yesterday as he was panicked. It takes over an hour to get there and another hour to get back. No exaggeration- we moved to another area.

He will go again today, we just can't go multiple times in a day on the off chance they might be home.

[Homemadearmy]

She may not have noticed the name, or be worried that it is a scam. CA. You ask your old neighbors to pop round? Or get the auction house to send her a letter so that she can contact them?

[Timper]

@foxyroxyyy

Fair point. It takes us over an hour each way to get there so it's not as easy as just popping round but yes should probably give it some more time.

I honestly wouldn't accept a package in someone else's name that was for my address though! Strange!

There’s every chance she didn’t know it wasn’t for her. I think most people are always expecting deliveries at the moment. If anything like all the courier firms that deliver to me, it’s left on the doorstep and the driver has taken off before give you’ve even had a chance to check to details. Don’t blame her for your mistake.

[TheCheeseBadge]

Sometimes parcels are accepted by mistake because no one looks at the name at the point of delivery.

I'd look at the time / date of the delivery and try and go round then, and if no joy go again over the weekend. Remember that delivery drivers knock really hard (mainly because lots of them don't get paid unless they actually deliver the parcel!) so try and copy that.

Post a note every time if there is no answer. Will your old neighbours let you know if they've seen the new owners about? Once you can confirm they're not on holiday, etc, if they're not responding to your notes I'd send one last letter via recorded delivery and say you know the goods were received, they weren't addressed to them and if you receive no contact you may have to go to the police.

I doubt the police will actually do anything (although not impossible - I was involved in a case where a neighbour was prosecuted for stealing parcels) but once they know you're serious they're more likely to contact you to arrange a handover.

Good luck.

[slashlover]

He will go again today, we just can't go multiple times in a day on the off chance they might be home.

Leave it a few days FFS. What time did your DH go round yesterday? The poor woman could have been at work and you're hassling her and calling her a thief. Why did your DH involve the neighbours and what did he tell them when the whole thing is YOUR fault to begin with?

[foxyroxyyy]

He just told the neighbour what had happened so the woman wouldn't think it was some kind of scam as they know us. We haven't accused her of anything in the note, we've been perfectly polite and we know the address error was on our end - although we updated it before dispatch it turns out the auctioneers printed off the address details as soon as the bid went through.

[Lockheart]

It's only been 24 hours and you're already accusing this woman of being a thief when the only reason she has your parcel is because of your own cock up.

She may well be working and doesn't have time to faff about correcting others mistakes during the week.

You've told the neighbours who know both of you, and left a note. Give it a couple of days before storming in with accusations of criminality...

[Beautiful3]

I wouldnt assume shes going to steal it yet! Did you post a note with your phone number on it? Arrange a time to collect it. Be nice and polite. I've had a parcel delivered to me by mistake, they didn't ask my name or anything. When I realised, I ran to the couriers van to return it. If I'd missed the courier, I wouldn't have travelled far to deliver it. I would just leave it in the garage for 7 days, until the owner turned up. After that I'd open it to inform the senders. That's probably what this person is doing, as they wouldnt want to open it (to inform the senders) incase she gets shouted at for opening it (and accused of trying to steal it). Hope you get it back.

[wildeverose]

The title of the thread is package stolen ffs - it should be titled, "package delivered to old address" - although tbh it's a complete non event as it's only been one day and no crime has taken place! I honestly don't understand why you've started the thread op? You popped in once, she wasn't home. It was yesterday - she's probably at work again today and hasn't had chance to call you. You have the proof it was delivered there, no one is stupid enough to keep a parcel which is proven to be at their address.
What do you honestly want? I am genuinely at a loss of what you're expecting. Is the package really that valuable/important??

[mainsfed]

Who's mistake was it? Did DH give the wrong address?

[MuddlingMackem]

YABU, the package is only stolen if she refuses to hand it over knowing it's not hers. However, as the auctioneers sent it to the address on the order and it's been delivered to the address they were given, neither they or DPD have done anything wrong. When your DH has put a note through has he put phone numbers on that she can ring so you can arrange directly with her a convenient time to collect it?

Unwittingly taking in someone else's parcel is a huge headache and hassle, and it might just be that she doesn't have time or energy to deal with it right now, so cut her a bit of slack. And if it has been stolen then it will be up to the auctioneers to report the theft to the police, not you.

[Voomster953]

If it’s your old house, you’ll know the phone number most likely. Why not call her?

[mainsfed]

@Voomster953

If it’s your old house, you’ll know the phone number most likely. Why not call her?

I think you usually take your phone number with you when you move house.