By Shelby Brooks
Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, a man masquerading as a delivery driver has taken off with a car-full of nicked parcels from Grandvue Estate in Pakenham.
Multiple CCTV videos show a man pulling into driveways on Tuesday 6 April to pinch packages that had been left only minutes before.
Pakenham Senior Sergeant Amanda Douglas said police had received six reports from residents of the estate but hoped other victims of the thefts would continue to come forward.
“It’s an ongoing opportunistic theft trend across the state,” she said.
“The main message is to prevent this happening – suggest parcels be hidden in a meter box or behind a gate.
“People walking up to front doors isn’t uncommon so if a neighbour saw it they wouldn’t have thought it was suspect.”
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was alerted to the thefts by multiple posts on the Grandvue Residents Group (Pakenham/Officer, Vic) Facebook page.
“Everyone watches out for everyone on the page,” she said.
She had hand-delivered a baby bundle for a friend three doors down and said she was saddened to learn it had been stolen by the unknown offender.
The man had even pulled into her own driveway to look to see if there was a parcel he could take.
“It’s creepy,” she said.
“We’re at the back of the estate so he had done the rest of it already.
“You can see in the video the front seat piled with parcels.”
She said based on the other CCTV shared to the Facebook page, the man was wearing a high-vis jacket which helped him appear as just another delivery driver.
“If you saw him you’d think nothing of it,” she said.
“He’s a pro, he’s clearly done it before.”
Senior Sgt Douglas said police needed clearer CCTV to help identify the offender and also asked the public to keep a look out for a blue 2014-2017 BMW X5 with cloned plates.
If you had a parcel stolen on Tuesday or have CCTV of the incident, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or visit the Victoria Police website police.vic.gov.au.
