Security video from a house in Edmonton’s Pleasantview neighbourhood appears to show a man stealing a Christmas package roughly 30 minutes after it was dropped off by Canada Post and hidden behind a planter.
In the video, the man walks directly to where the package is hidden and takes it before leaving the scene.
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“[I felt] violated. It’s your front step and someone has the wherewithal to just walk up and take something off your front step is a little disturbing.”
Baldwin posted the video on Facebook in an effort to warn other residents of the problem. He said other neighbours have reached out after seeing his post to say similar incidents have happened to them.
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“It’s very upsetting. If you have the ability to get it delivered to a neighbour or to your business possibly, I would highly recommend that,” he said.
Canada Post said it works closely with police to ensure mail is delivered safely.
“We take the security of the mail very seriously,” Canada Post wrote in an emailed statement to Global News.
“Our efforts involve everything from equipment, to monitoring, to working closely with police. We encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious activities to immediately report them to the authorities and Canada Post’s Customer Service at 1-800-267-1177.”
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Canada Post said it’s expecting record package delivery numbers over the holidays.
“Across the country, we projected parcel volumes will grow by 20 per cent in November and December 2017, compared to our record volumes in 2016.”
UPS told Global News that anyone shipping a package can get insurance for its contents, make a signature mandatory for drop-off or hold the package at a depot location if the receiver isn’t home.
Baldwin said he contacted Amazon to report the package stolen and the company sent him a replacement.
The gift was for his mom, so Baldwin doesn’t want to publicly disclose what is was.
-with files from Lauren Pullen
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