To understand why there’s so much postal theft

[Eastie77Returns]

This morning I was walking to the bus stop when I saw a Royal Mail van at the top of my road. The Postman was sorting a bunch of parcels in the back of the van. I asked if he had anything for my address (I’m expecting a parcel) and he said yes. I assumed he’d have to hand it to me at my actual door so started walking back but he said here you go love and threw it to me.

I live at the bottom of a long road and his van was round a corner so there was no way he could have known that I had just walked out of the property address I gave him. This isn’t standard practice is it…or is it? If so, I understand why so many parcels go missing!

It wouldn't be s great plan, to approach post vans and give a random address hoping there might be a package.

Maybe he recognises you. Posties tend to be good with faces. I was chatting to someone and they were the postie from next town but they had covered holidays so knew where I lived.

I don't think this is how most postal theft occurs.

You asked him if he had a parcel for you. He gave it to you. He could probably either recognise you or tell clearly that you weren't a thief.

I suppose it’s possible he recognised me although I’m certain I’ve never seen him before.

It would be much easier to open the van and take a bunch of parcels whilst he's walking to someone's door, than to take a punt on there being a parcel for a random address where there's a good chance he knows the occupants anyway.

Maybe you just seemed trustworthy to him. It would be quite a random way to attempt crime, you'd most likely end up with a pile of junk mail, and would also risk being recognised.

I thought you were going to say he left the open van unattended. Random way to attempt theft, not likely to be very profitable. So yeah....