A regular online shopper has questioned Canada Post’s safe drop policy after her parcel was stolen from her front door.
“It’s just like leaving money unguarded,” said Neesha Brar.
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Home surveillance footage showed a brazen woman walking up to Brar’s Surrey home and walking away with her parcel.
Just prior to that theft, the video also showed a Canada Post agent dropping off the package, knocking on the door and walking away.
“The delivery man didn’t wait and see if anyone was going to answer the knock. Didn’t ring the doorbell and left the parcel at my doorstep,” Brar said.
Brar’s package was stolen two and a half hours after the Canada Post agent left.
Canada Post refused to talk about its safe drop policy to Consumer Matters on camera, but in a statement said, “safe drop is a common and accepted delivery practice among all Canadian parcel delivery companies.”
The practice involves leaving the package in a “safe area” when the person receiving it is not available to take the delivery.
The Crown corporation also said that in cases when a customer cannot receive the package, “the delivery agent will use his or her best judgment in making a safe drop decision.
“We will only safe drop if: there is a safe place sheltered from weather and the parcel cannot be seen by passers-by, such as inside an enclosed porch or storm door,” it said.
READ MORE: Union calls for Canada Post to release theft stats
Canada Post also said it will only safe drop the parcel if it does not require a signature or collection of funds or the sender has not requested “Do Not Safe Drop.”
Brar said that’s unrealistic.
“We don’t know when a retailer or anyone we are shopping with online is using Canada Post as opposed to another provider,” said Brar.
“You are taking the responsibility of shipping this to us, make sure it gets to us.”