Van full of parcels stolen

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 22 Oct 2008, 15:11

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/n ... ticle.html

A Royal Mail delivery driver has been suspended after his van and a consignment of parcels were stolen from under his nose.

The van was taken while the driver was a short distance away making a delivery. It is understood he had left the keys in the ignition.

Royal Mail today said the van had contained 26 parcels destined for homes and businesses in the Westcotes area of Leicester.

The company has no record of who the parcels were addressed to. It has urged people to contact anyone they believe was due to send them mail.

The unmarked white Leyland Daf LDV 400 van was stolen from Wyngate Drive, Westcotes, at about 12.40pm last Wednesday.

Thanks to its onboard tracking device, it was found abandoned in Braunstone a short time later.

Royal Mail, whose main distribution centre is on the Meridian business park, on the edge of Braunstone, today apologised to customers. It confirmed the driver had been suspended pending an investigation.

A spokesman said: "The vehicle has a tracking device, so it was recovered very quickly, but the contents were gone.

"So far, we have not be able to trace any of the missing items.

"Incidents like this are very rare, but we apologise to our customers for any concern this has caused them."

Royal Mail revealed a set of keys was taken from the van. The keys are for a series of secure "pouch boxes" in which postal workers store extra bags of mail.

As a precaution, 22 boxes in the Westcotes areas are to be fitted with new locks. In the week since the theft, none have been tampered with, the spokesman said.

He urged Westcotes businesses and residents to contact the Royal Mail if they believe they have lost a parcel.

He urged them to contact the senders in the first instance to confirm the item had been sent.

Fosse Road South resident Terry Molloy, 43, said: "It's a real embarrassment for the Royal Mail. There could have been some items of high value in there.

"People will be asking themselves if they've lost out here. In some cases, they just won't know."

A shopkeeper in the area said: "I know the driver and he is a good chap. He has made this one mistake that every delivery driver makes – leaving their vehicle for a couple of moments.

"Anyone can make a mistake like this, I hope he doesn't lose his job.

"As a business you don't know what mail you're going to receive every day, you receive promotional items and samples all the time."

Inspector Ross Dimmock, commander of Hinckley Road police station, said the van was found empty and abandoned in Blackmore Drive, Braunstone.

He said: "We'd urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact us or Crimestoppers.

"Our message to all drivers, particularly delivery drivers who make frequent stops, is they should always be thinking about how they can reduce the opportunities for crime.

"So always lock your vehicle and remove all items of value from view."

People concerned their parcel might have been stolen can call the Royal Mail on 08457 740740.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 22 Oct 2008, 15:35

After all that has gone on with management wanting to get rid of FT staff, anyone who is still leaving their keys in the ignition deserves all that they get.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 22 Oct 2008, 15:59

I agree that this was a mistake by the driver and though I don't think he should be sacked, he should be disciplined. However, why don't Royal Mail get the manufactuerers to install an alarm that alerts the driver when he does not lock the door, or when the door is opened but the keys are still in the ignition. They do it for fleets and private use so why not RM.

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 22 Oct 2008, 16:21

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:I agree that this was a mistake by the driver and though I don't think he should be sacked, he should be disciplined. However, why don't Royal Mail get the manufactuerers to install an alarm that alerts the driver when he does not lock the door, or when the door is opened but the keys are still in the ignition. They do it for fleets and private use so why not RM.

Neither do I, but integrity of the mail is one of our company's top priorities, therefore they tell us that all vans must be securely locked when left unattended even for a short period of time. As to Royal Mail installing alarm alerts can't see that happening in the forseeable future will cost to much.

Just hope the driver concerned is a CWU member and has a good union rep on board.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 22 Oct 2008, 18:49

brothermagrew wrote:
TrueBlueTerrier wrote:I agree that this was a mistake by the driver and though I don't think he should be sacked, he should be disciplined. However, why don't Royal Mail get the manufactuerers to install an alarm that alerts the driver when he does not lock the door, or when the door is opened but the keys are still in the ignition. They do it for fleets and private use so why not RM.
Neither do I, but integrity of the mail is one of our company's top priorities, therefore they tell us that all vans must be securely locked when left unattended even for a short period of time. As to Royal Mail installing alarm alerts can't see that happening in the forseeable future will cost to much.

Just hope the driver concerned is a CWU member and has a good union rep on board.

The Essex police can manage to install an audible system to remind them to put diesel into their cars, so it's possible and would in the long term be cost effective.

NWpostie · Post by **NWpostie** » 23 Oct 2008, 19:50

I do feel sorry for the Driver and hope he doesn't get sacked but it is not looking hopeful, In my Office we had a team brief a couple of years ago about this and the warning is that if the keys are left in and the van is stolen, dismissal is a real possibility, several drivers in my area got sacked for this.