Parcel theft caught on camera at Erskineville apartment

A delivery rider has been filmed brazenly taking a package from an apartment block after dropping off food.

The moment a light-fingered delivery rider pinched a package from an apartment complex lobby after dropping off food has been caught on camera.

The rider was filmed by CCTV cameras at an inner west complex in Sydney on June 27.

They had just made a delivery to a resident at the same Erskineville set of flats, before walking over to the mailbox, grabbing the package and stuffing it into a large bag commonly used by food delivery drivers.

A delivery rider was captured taking a package from the apartment’s lobby. Picture: supplied

The package contained a candle.

What they took was a candle ordered from The Flower Room in Newtown.

The shop’s owner Wayne Phan said he was contacted by the customer to tell him the package never arrived.

“I thought it was really weird. I’ve had this shop for about 11 years and I’ve probably only had two calls like this before, about things not getting delivered,” he told news.com.au.

“The customer was quite upset. So I replaced the candle out of my own pocket, it was worth about $50.

“It is so weird. Like everyone has things delivered to the lobby or mail room.”

Mr Phan was so shocked by the missing item he went to the building to look at CCTV footage.

That’s when he discovered the candle was stolen.

A Hunter Candles product was pinched from the lobby. Picture: The Flower Room

The candle was a Hunter Candles product that ranges in price between $45 and $60.

Hunter Candles described themselves as a local, handmade business from Newtown that draws its inspiration from the natural surroundings of their suburb.

Mr Phan said he had reached out one food delivery company hoping they could investigate and reimburse him for the candle, and he has also reported the matter to the police.

But a spokeswoman for the company told news.com.au none of their riders were completing trips in the area around the time of the theft.