A DELIVERY driver has been caught on film appearing to take a parcel left outside a woman’s home, while making a drop-off to another flat in the block.

The incident in Lissenden Gardens, Kentish Town, comes amid concerns over a rise in doorstep thefts as the number of online orders increase.

If the driver opened the package wondering if an expensive phone was inside, they may have got a disappointment: two cat bowls had been ordered.

An investigation has begun into why the man removed the package

Elaine Revell, whose parcel was taken, said she was startled when a neighbour showed her footage from a Ring doorbell camera.

“I was just in shock really,” she said. “I’d never suspected it might be a delivery driver.”

In the film, a man working for Yodel arrives to deliver to an upstairs flat.

He appears to look at the parcel outside Ms Revell’s flat on the way up and then, on his way out, he leans down and picks up the package.

A Yodel spokesman said: “We take driver behaviour very seriously and this incident clearly doesn’t meet our high standards.

“We can confirm that the driver has been removed following an investigation and the customer has been fully informed.”

Ms Revell, who works as an admin assistant at London Zoo and has been volunteering at Covid vaccination clinic centres, said: “I phoned the police and reported it but they asked me how much it was worth and said if it’s only £30 they can’t do anything.

“But it’s the principle. I’ve had lots go missing, including camera traps for work worth over £900, and I’ve been lucky because most of the stuff has been from Amazon and they either refund you or send a replacement.

“Everyone I speak to here has had something stolen. So how much has he taken? It sends such a bad message to thieves, that they can steal pretty much anything, especially of lower value, and get away with it.”

She added that with the video available to view: “What more evidence do they need?”

A Met Police spokesperson said officers are receiving frequent reports of doorstep thefts and said it was due to how often delivery drivers are leaving parcels outside properties “making it an easy win for those involved in criminality”.

“Officers in this case have taken all reasonable steps to identify the male at this time however the case has been closed unless further information becomes available,” they added.

“Incidents such as this will often be opportunistic and we would encourage the public to report anything similar should it occur to them, whatever the value.”

In November last year, Camden Police said doorstep thefts were a growing trend across London and offered advice on how to prevent the crime from happening such as ensuring someone is home at the time of delivery, installing a video doorbell, security light, or having your parcel delivered to a trusted neighbour or family member.