By Brendan Rees
A man walking a dog has been caught on CCTV footage “helping himself” to a parcel from a South East doorstep.
Ashton Menezes of Lynbrook said the man brazenly walked up his mother’s driveway on Lawless Drive in Cranbourne before picking up the box, opening it, and running off with the goods.
Cameras caught the man taking the package within half-an-hour of it being delivered about 2pm on Monday 15 April.
“Looking at the footage we noticed he’s walked past the house and then walking back, and was eyeing the parcel from the walkway,” Mr Menezes said.
The thief then decided to return and take the package, he said.
“Just took the entire package, with the box and everything inside and left.”
Mr Menezes said he ordered the package from JD Sports which he arranged to be delivered to his mother’s address.
He initially thought gardeners – who his mother had organised to attend – had placed the parcel “somewhere safe.”
“I thought I’d treat myself to the package,” he said, which was worth $200. “Why not, I deserve it, I’ve worked hard as we all do and this happens.
“This is actually the third time someone has actually come and done something like this and I’ve kind of had it.”
Mr Menezes has reported the theft to Cranbourne Police who is investigating.
“It’s not so much about the package, I really don’t care about the package…it’s more just getting justice because that’s what really matters,” he said.
He also called JD Sports which he says were happy to organise a refund.
“I hate pointing fingers but they should’ve left it in a decent location because it was meant to be a safe drop location which didn’t require a signature.
“But they left it right in front of the doorstep which everyone can see.”
Mr Menezes shared the footage on Facebook’s Casey Crime Page in the hope that someone might identify the bandit.
