'Neighbour's actions were wild after my parcel was accidentally delivered there'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real ... r-35931426

One woman found her neighbour's entitled actions far more than just a minor annoyance after her parcel was accidentally delivered to her home. She was astounded by her neighbour's behaviour

Sometimes, neighbours can get on your nerves. Perhaps they occasionally host a raucous party or mistakenly take your bin after collection day. These minor irritations are part and parcel of community living and usually easy to overlook.

However, one woman found her neighbour's entitled actions far more than just a minor annoyance when she swiped one of her parcels and refused to return it. The woman shared her story on Reddit, explaining that her neighbour, who lives on the next street over, ended up with her package due to a delivery error. When she went to retrieve it and clarify the mix-up, the neighbour declared she was keeping it for herself.

In her post, the American woman revealed that the stolen item was a dress she had purchased for a job interview.

She had bought it in a sale and it was the last one in her size, so she was taken aback by her neighbour's audacity.

She penned: "I thought it was going to be a simple, 'Hey! I think my package was delivered here by accident. Do you have it?'

"But the woman said 'Yes, I did receive it, so I called the company and they told me to keep the dress and they would send you a new one'.

"And I said, 'Well, I'm aware this was the last one of my size in stock, it was a discounted item, and I need it for a job interview in a couple of days. Can you just give me the package?'

"She proceeded to tell me no because she had already given the dress to a friend. I asked her to please call the friend and have them bring it back, but conveniently, the 'friend is out of town all week'... bulls**t."

The woman provided her neighbour with a week to retrieve the dress, yet when silence followed, she opted to involve the authorities.

Regrettably, officers informed her that because the delivery was handled by UPS (United Parcel Service) rather than USPS (United States Postal Service), her neighbour hadn't breached any "federal crime".

Nevertheless, she remains convinced her neighbour has committed postal theft and is determined to pursue further action.

The woman went on: "At this point, it's just more about principle and p***es me off that she opened my mail to decide if what was inside was 'worth keeping' rather than waiting for the rightful owner to come looking for it or contacting UPS about it."

Users responding to the post encouraged the woman to reach out to UPS directly, suggesting they might retrieve the package on her behalf and ensure proper delivery to the correct address.

One individual shared: "I have had this happen twice and contacted the postal service who retrieved the parcel from the person and redelivered it."

Another contributor remarked: "The audacity. Some people are wild. I'd let the cops visit, but won't get your dress back."

Is it illegal to open someone else's post?
Under the Postal Services Act 2000, it's against the law in the UK to open someone else's mail without their permission. The legislation also makes it an offence to deliberately delay a postal packet during its delivery.

The act states: "A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he – (a)intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or (b) intentionally opens a mail-bag. A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

Individuals found guilty of this crime could be slapped with a fine or face imprisonment for six months to two years, depending on the severity of the offence.

Should you receive a parcel that isn't meant for you at your home, rather than discarding it or opening it, there are steps you can take. If the parcel or letter bears your address but not your name, simply strike through the address, mark "Not known at this address" on the front, and return it to a postbox.

Moreover, if a letter lands at your doorstep by mistake with the wrong address, just put it back into a postbox; Royal Mail will ensure it gets to the right place when it next goes out for delivery.