She delivered their dinner — then she took their packages

Surveillance images show the woman walking in with a food delivery and walking out with armloads of packages. | Provided

We’ve seen plenty of package theft schemes, but none like this.

An Uptown resident who ordered delivery from a local sandwich shop buzzed the food runner in. Then, she and an accomplice hauled away the building’s package shipments, photos show.

According to an email from building management, the restaurant used a Postmates driver to deliver the customer’s sandwiches around 9 p.m. on November 14.

Surveillance camera footage shows the food runner being buzzed in with a food delivery in her hand. The same camera shows her walking out with two packages. She then lets another guy into the building and he took boxes, too, the managers say.

Surveillance images show the woman gathering boxes, then letting in a man who walks out with even more. | Provided

“No one else was buzzed in a half-hour before or after her entry,” according to the email to building residents.

The restaurant was told about the incident “and was asked to pass this information on to Postmates, who hopefully will take the appropriate action,” a manager wrote.

The building’s manager included some advice for residents to follow as they gear up for a holiday package delivery surge:

  • Don’t leave packages in the lobby overnight (“One that was stolen was there for four days,” the manager said.)
  • Ask a neighbor to pick up packages if you are not available.
  • Drop off a neighbor’s package at their door
  • Meet food delivery people at the front door

“Package theft is a crime of opportunity,” the email concluded. “Lets not give criminals an opportunity.”

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About CWBChicago 6032 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com