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CCTV footage has captured the shocking moment a delivery driver allegedly stole two parcels containing Christmas gifts from a customer's garden.
Footage obtained exclusively by Mirror Online shows the Yodel driver spotting parcels behind a bin that had been left earlier by a previous Royal Mail delivery drver.
He can be seen shining a light using his mobile phone, picks up the parcels then takes them back to his van.
The driver apparently had no idea the moment was captured on CCTV - but did a double-take and appeared shocked when he returned the following day and spotted the camera pointed at the doorstep.
The woman whose parcels were allegedly stolen just days before Christmas reported the incident to police and Yodel, but the firm responded with an offer to arrange a "redelivery".
Footage shows the driver finding two Royal Mail parcels near bins (Photo: © Mirror Online)
The 26-year-old woman, who asked not to be identified, has called for the driver to be fired after the alleged theft occurred in Weybridge, Surrey, on Wednesday at 5.50pm.
She said the parcels contained around £120 worth of gifts for her brother and sister-in-law, and she was forced to buy new gifts for the pair.
The woman, who works in media, said: "He knocked on the door but no one was home and then went over by the bins and used his phone as a light.
"He left but then walked back and took both parcels, and then came back the next day wearing the same clothes.
"But he obviously didn't realise there was a camera because he did a double-take when he saw it."
She added: "I couldn't really believe what I was seeing [on the CCTV]. It's annoying because I've had to go out and buy replacement gifts.
"It's also upsetting because these are the people you are supposed to trust."
She provided footage which shows two parcels being delivered by Royal Mail earlier in the day.
As instructed the Royal Mail driver left the parcels behind bins in the garden because no one was home.
But hours later after nightfall a Yodel driver appeared on the doorstep to deliver a parcel.
After finding no one home the driver looks behind the bins and then uses his phone to shine a light on the hidden parcels.
The driver lingers for a moment and then walks away, but then returns to the bins and scoops the parcels off the floor.
He then closes the gate and leaves.
Footage shows the same driver returning to the same home the following day, Thursday, during daylight shortly before 4pm.
It's at that moment he apparently realises there is a camera outside the home.
After no one answered the door the man delivered the parcel to a neighbour's home and then returned to leave a card in the door.
The woman said the missing parcels contained house phones and gym kit, which she was forced to replace in time for her family's Christmas gathering.
She realised something wasn't right when the tracking website indicated that the Royal Mail parcels had been delivered, but they weren't in the spot where she had told the driver to leave them.
She went through the CCTV footage and discovered the apparent theft.
She added: "When I told Yodel about it they said they would offer me a 'redelivery' and they were really unhelpful.
"I told them I have CCTV and they said the complaint has been 'escalated' and they apologised."
She said the driver should lose his job if the allegations are proven.
She added: "I don't think he should be a driver. He should be removed from his job."
A spokesperson for Yodel said: "We apologise and have launched an internal investigation.
"Appropriate action will be taken with the individual concerned."
Mirror Online has approached Surrey Police for comment.
In a message sent to the woman a Yodel customer service representative wrote: "I am extremely sorry to hear about the issue that you have experienced with one of our drivers.
"Please be assured that Yodel take these matters extremely seriously and will not tolerate such behaviour.
"As a result, this incident has been escalated to the Service Centre Manager to address, in line with our company procedures, with the driver concerned.
"Please accept my sincere apologies on behalf of Yodel, for providing such a poor experience."
