THREE delivery drivers are facing potential charges as the result of three separate Burnaby RCMP investigations into package thefts.
In each of the three cases, the driver was accused of stealing the packages they were meant to be delivering and then attempting to sell the items online.
On September 10, Burnaby RCMP responded to a report of an Amazon driver stealing packages and then selling them on an online marketplace. On September 29, a search warrant was executed at the suspect’s Vancouver residence. Police seized 32 packages worth approximately $2,200. The suspect, a 28-year-old man, was arrested and released pending charge approval.
On November 16, a similar report of an Amazon driver stealing packages was received. On November 22, Burnaby RCMP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team (POST) executed a search warrant at the driver’s Surrey residence. The suspect, a 26-year-old man, now faces six counts of theft which have been forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.
On November 28, a third report of an Amazon driver stealing packages was received. On November 29, Burnaby RCMP POST members executed a search warrant at the driver’s Vancouver residence. The suspect, a 25-year-old man, was arrested and released. Three counts of theft are expected to be forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.
The items stolen included everything from a $627 men’s watch to a $35 Apple airtag.
In each case, police credit Amazon, which has a warehouse in Burnaby, for proactively identifying possible thefts and contacting Burnaby RCMP to report them. Burnaby RCMP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team is assisting frontline with one file and has assumed conduct of the other two.
“It is unusual to see these types of thefts, let alone a pattern of separate incidents, as safeguards and security measures put in place by these types of businesses are often an effective deterrent,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj with the Burnaby RCMP. “In all three of these cases, information gathered by Amazon was key in the investigation and the recovery of the goods.”
While the investigations are still underway, there is nothing to indicate the three incidents are linked. No further incidents have been reported to the Burnaby RCMP.