Police step in as 100 missing parcels in one area of Devon were marked as 'delivered' - but are nowhere to be seen...
A resident is fighting back on behalf of a host of villages and towns hit by a wave of alleged courier fraud that has seen more than 100 parcels falsely declared as delivered.
Luke Jones has ignited efforts to bring everyone from the affected communities together so that their collective voices can be more readily heard.
A Facebook post alerted residents of Loddiswell, Aveton Gifford, Kingsbridge, Modbury, Churchstow and surrounding villages.
Mr Jones said he now had evidence of more than 100 parcels that courier firm Evri has confirmed as delivered, but which have not actually made their way to their intended recipients.
Worse than that, Mr Jones said a few common themes were emerging with the so-called fake deliveries, including a photo of the same door for multiple deliveries, a blank black screen instead of a clear image, and claims that packages have been left in porches when none exist.
'What started as a few missing parcels has uncovered a mountain of evidence pointing toward organised courier fraud across the South Hams,” Mr Jones said.
“We have now verified over 100 individual cases where residents have been victimised, including [supposed] midnight delivery sprees and identical fraudulent photos being sent to dozens of different homes.
“This isn't just a failure of service; it is a systematic betrayal of trust that is costing our community thousands of pounds.”
Mr Jones said he had worked to ensure anyone who had suffered such service could report it under the same crime reference number (50260022372) to the police.
“We will not stop until the Evri executive team takes full responsibility for the criminal activity occurring within their regional network,” Mr Jones added.
While undelivered parcels are problematic for customers, they could also be an issue for the businesses that have sent the goods. That’s because if they don’t arrive, then customers are likely to seek refunds or compensation from them, rather than the delivery firm.
The businesses themselves would likely need to chase the delivery firm for compensation - an unnecessary headache especially for small companies.
Evri said: “We’re committed to making sure every parcel is carefully looked after, and we apologise to local customers who have experienced any issues with their deliveries.
“Following an investigation with our delivery partner in the area, we can confirm that the driver in question will no longer be delivering on behalf of Evri.
“The overwhelming majority of our couriers are highly regarded by customers, with an average star rating this year of 4.6 out of 5.
“Anyone still requiring help regarding their delivery can get in touch with our dedicated customer service team.”
A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “We have been notified following a number of reports of parcels due to be delivered by a courier being stolen in Kingsbridge, Loddiswell and the surrounding areas.
“We are currently investigating the reports received.
“Anybody who believes they may also have been a victim of such a theft, who has not yet spoken to police, is asked to report it via 101 or the force website.
“Investigating officers will then make contact in due course.”