Neighbour stealing parcel

[Littlesandjoolz]

So basically I ordered an IPad Air for my daughters birthday from Currys. It was meant to be delivered yesterday, but they left a card saying it was delivered to the nieghbour next door but one. I went round and asked about it and they denied all knowledge. I believed them as they have always been pretty good neighbours and taken in parcels for me previously.

I bumped into a different neighbour and mentioned how I was panicking that I'd missed the parcel and the courier was messing me around when the neighbour said they had seen the courier knock at mine and then take the parcel to the other neighbours and they did take it in! I then went on the tracking details on the website and theres a photo of it clearly being handed to the neighbour. I went back round and the neighbour slammed the door in my face.

I've called the police and they've noted it but basically said they aren't going to do anything and aren't even prepared to come and talk to the neighbohr. What can I do? Will curries send a replacement as I haven't had the iPad? or can they at least block the iPad that the neighbour has stolen? Its £600 and is a lot to lose.

I'm gobsmacked that the police won’t do anything when you have photographic evidence of them taking it! It's bloody theft!

@TossedSaladandSE So you're saying that it's ok for OP's neighbour to STEAL a £500 item all because OP wasn't in!?!?!
I've heard it all now.....!!!

OP already said, the delivery window was 11am - 1pm, the item was delivered at 8.45 without any notifications

This is usually the best approach. The neighbouring thief will most likely back down when the courier is standing on the doorstep, looking them in the eye, saying they handed them the parcel.

@Littlesandjoolz Contact your bank (if debit card) or credit card provider as you can claim this back and they then investigate it to get their money back.

If you used a debit card then your bank will do a chargeback claim. If you used a credit card, then your credit card provider can do a Section 7 claim!

@harvestdesigns Please also contact your bank or credit card provider! They will give you your money back! See my previous comment above!

What I would like to know is what justification the police gave for not investigating; can you please enlighten us, OP?

That's some Champions League level victim blaming. Bravo.

@TossedSaladandSE are you okay? Bit odd to come to a thread, make a load of baseless assumptions and berate the OP.

@StereotypicalKaren

Given the neighbours are refusing the hand it over even though OP has proof they accepted it, it isn't a delivery mix up. It's theft.

Can you go back to police tomorrow and speak to someone else? This happened between a few of my neighbours years ago, the police came and it was sorted in 30 mins.

On a daily basis for the next week, I would personally:

• report to Curry’s & ask for an update
• report to the courier to start an investigation
• contact the police again

be a nuisance! If no luck:

• consider filing a chargeback with your bank
• send neighbours a letter before action

Courier investigations are no joke. They will keep a record of this and will be wary of delivering to those neighbours in the future. It’s likely the delivery driver will personally go to the address and ask for the parcel which will shame the neighbours.

@StereotypicalKaren

Liability absolutely lies with delivery man.

But neighbour has chosen to keep something that doesn't belong to them.

It would have OP's details on the package - clearly not a gift or a mistake.

The iPad can definitely be blocked but you need the serial number or imei if it’s cellular. Curry’s likely has this information.

Frankly I wouldn’t want the iPad now as they’ve likely set it up, used it and activated the warranty so it won’t be “new”. But also keep an eye on websites like eBay or Facebook in case they’re trying to sell it.

I personally would write them a formal letter advising you’ve evidence of them taking in the parcel including photo (and to call their bluff video by saying dpds newest anti theft prevention) and you’ve reported it to the police, give them the crime reference so they know you’re being serious, and request they return the delivery within 24 hours.

if they do, you’ll close the police case as a simple misunderstanding.

if not, you’ll be pursuing this with police and also civil court so it can be rectified by which ever way the quickest.

Absolutely awful to do this but I don’t think delivery drivers ever help themselves by leaving parcels here there and everywhere because of the KPIs their measuremed against

I'd be sticking the photo on every lamp post and tree. Then they might get the message!

I think most iPads have a serial number, maybe on the receipt. Whether the iPad can be tracked that way or not. Might be worse emailed Apple to see if that serial number iPad has been activated.
I took on my neighbours iPhone and gave it to them, in future I will refuse valuable goods just in case something goes wrong.

It's obviously not a "mix-up", and on what we have been told was a theft of an expensive item. So they need to explain, obviously, why they have done nothing.

I work for a group of retailers of some high end goods. Do not worry. If you did not designate this neighbour as a 'safe place' ,you simply go back to the retailer and tell them you cannot locate the parcel despite it being marked as delivered. They may ask if you have checked with neighbours, shed, back garden, bins etc...They have access internally to the courier portals and can see the photo and all tracking info, including the exact coordinates of the location it was left. We usually send out a Denial of Receipt declaration for the customer to complete..(It's literally a signed letter saying you did not receive the goods). Once we receive this, we just send out a replacement. The issue of the wrongly delivered parcel is taken up between the retailer and the courier company.
In future I would recommend you update delivery preferences when you receive your tracking number/confirmation of courier and redirect your valuable purchases to a collection point...just to make sure your scumbag neighbours don't get a second opportunity...

As a side note, I'm actually surprised that an item of that value did not require a secure code/secret pin upon delivery..I would raise that point if Curry's give you the run around and have the issue escalated if your query is not resolved within 2 emails. Best of luck.

@BabyCloud they delivered way earlier than the given timeslot, something like 0845 instead of 11-12