Mail theft in Sydney: Fake food delivery riders hit new apartment building
It’s a rapidly growing industry across Sydney — and now thieves are posing as food-delivery riders to steal mail from new apartment buildings. Watch the CCTV.
Inner West
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Police are hunting two fake food-delivery riders who stole packages in a new apartment complex in Sydney’s inner west earlier this month.
Amid warnings of a spike in mail theft across the city, police have released CCTV footage showing a man and woman posing as workers in the burgeoning food-delivery industry before stealing packages at a Camperdown building’s foyer.
Police say that just after 2pm on Thursday, August 1, the man entered the front security door of an apartment complex on Sterling Circuit after a resident left the building.
He approached mail and packages left near the lifts before stealing items and placing them in his delivery backpack, police say. The man then fled the area with the woman.
He has been described as being of Indian appearance and was wearing a black and white helmet, a dark hooded jumper, dark tracksuit pants and black sneakers.
Police have described the woman as being of Caucasian appearance, with brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and was wearing a black, white and orange helmet, dark long-sleeved shirt, black tights and black sneakers.
Both were also wearing a large food-delivery backpack.
Leichhardt police crime manager Detective Inspector Grant Watson said there was extended CCTV footage of the theft, but it can’t be released for legal reasons.
Det Insp Watson said the biggest mail-theft hot spots in his local area command were Camperdown and Forest Lodge, where there are a raft of new developments.
“The theft of mail is on the increase — and it’s a real problem for every command across the metropolitan area,” he said.
“It’s difficult for police to identify the exact number of these thefts as they are not reported as mail theft, but rather as a fraud and no explanation for it.
“But there’s no doubt it’s a major problem. And it ranges from the haphazard to organised ones, like the pretend food-delivery drivers trying to blend in.
“You’re seeing it wherever there’s a concentration of these new apartment blocks, where there a large amount of mailboxes together and where packages are left out in the foyer.”
He said thieves were looking for credit cards to use either for a “quick fix” at a convenience store, servo and bottle shop, or for identity fraud.
“It’s an easy hit for them without having to rob someone,” Det Insp Watson said.
“They can use the cards on Paywave up to $100, and they are also selling the identity to people who know how to manufacture false cards.
“Police’s message to residents is to consider purchasing a locked mailbox, check your mail daily or have mail held at the post office or collected by a friend when you’re away for extended periods.”
Food delivery giants Uber Eats and Deliveroo have been contacted for comment about the impact of fraudsters on their rapidly growing industry.
Anyone with information about the alleged incident at Camperdown earlier this month is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.