A Parcelforce driver has been accused of stealing from a Bristol house – and the victim claims he was offered £150 to keep quiet about it.
The incident was filmed on CCTV by homeowner James Harris, who branded the delivery company a 'standing joke' after the bizarre episode.
He told the Bristol Post that he showed the footage to Parcelforce bosses at the company's Patchway depot - and was later offered a wad of cash not to make an official complaint.
Mr Harris claims he was even presented with a form to sign agreeing not to report the theft, but rejected the offer and reported the incident to the police.
The 36-year-old, from Patchway, was expecting two deliveries on the day of the theft, November 22 - one via the Royal Mail and another from its subsidiary parcels specialist, Parcelforce.
The Royal Mail postman arrived first and left his package - a £20 dress for Mr Harris's partner - inside the porch, because nobody was at home: an arrangement previously agreed.
CCTV then showed the Parcelforce driver arrive about two hours later with a larger parcel.
But instead of leaving a delivery card, he walked into the porch without permission.
James Harris was shocked to see a Parcelforce delivery driver steal from his home, but the electrician was more surprised when he was offered £150 to keep quiet
"He opens the porch door, steps inside the porch with the big parcel, knocks on the front door again and there's no answer," said Mr Harris, a self-employed electrician.
"He puts the big parcel down in the garden and proceeds to go into the porch.
"He's in there for the best part of a minute, looks around, picks up the black flappy package (the dress), tucks it into the lining on the big parcel then fills out a delivery card and shoves it in our door."
The driver then leaves, unaware the incident has been recorded on CCTV.
Mr Harris said he did not realise what had happened at first but, after the Royal Mail said the dress had been recorded as delivered, he decided to check his CCTV.
He went to Parcelforce's Patchway depot with the footage and showed it to a man who told him he was the mananger.
Mr Harris said: "He was like 'oh dear' and said not to worry about this."
The man promised to investigate, Mr Harris said.
But he claims nobody got back to him, so he returned to the depot again.
Mr Harris claims he was then told the driver had 'picked the dress up by accident' - but no longer had the package.
The situation became more bizarre when the manager said he would visit Mr Harris's house to apologise on Friday, December 2.
After walking into the house, Mr Harris claims the man "put £150 on the coffee table".
"He said 'this is out of the driver's pocket, £25 for the dress and the rest is for the inconvenience'. He proceeded to get a piece of paper out of an envelope to sign," said Mr Harris.
"I was expected to be quiet. I said 'if you think I'm signing that, you can do one'.
"He said 'I will have to take the money back' and picked up his £150, his bit of paper and scurried out of the door."
The delivery driver can be seen walking into the porch, then leaving with a separate package, which contained a £20 dress, delivered earlier in the day
Avon and Somerset police have confirmed that they are investigating the allegations and that Mr Harris has given a victim statement.
A spokeswoman for Parcelforce, which is part of the Royal Mail group, said the company could not comment on the incident while a police investigation was ongoing, but that it was cooperating fully.
Mr Harris said: "I feel violated that somebody in a trusted position can enter my property and steal from me.
"The dress was a present for my girlfriend's birthday. She feels quite intimidated."