A customer has expressed shock after an Amazon delivery driver was recorded tossing a package from his van window, then taking a photograph of the damaged item as proof of delivery. The incident, which occurred in Scawsby, Doncaster, was captured by the customer's doorbell camera.
Michelle, owner of the spiritual reading firm Minithemedium, had ordered two gift boxes from Amazon. The footage shows a sprinter van stopping outside her home, the driver rolling down the window, and then throwing a parcel onto the porch, landing in front of a car. The driver then took a photo of the package on the ground, near the pavement, which was later provided as proof of delivery via the Amazon app.
Michelle reported that both boxes inside the parcel were damaged as a result of the impact. "My first reaction was absolute shock. He didn't even get out of the van to deliver the parcel," she told the Daily Mail.
After receiving a notification of delivery and the accompanying photo, Michelle contacted Amazon's head office to complain. While the company offered a refund for the damaged items, she stated that a customer service representative could not confirm if the delivery method was considered acceptable.
"I asked 'Do you class that as an acceptable delivery?' and he just mumbled something at me," Michelle said. She added that the parcel could have been easily stolen if it hadn't been witnessed by her husband, who was near the window at the time of delivery. "Anyone could have just walked down the pathway and grabbed it."
The incident highlights concerns about parcel theft, with an estimated £600 million worth of parcels stolen from people's homes in 2025, a 31% increase year-on-year. The period between October and December is particularly busy for parcel thieves due to Black Friday sales and Christmas shopping.
"It's getting to Christmas now and there's going to be a lot more deliveries coming up," Michelle noted. "I'd just like there to be a bit more training for [Amazon's] staff, especially for elderly customers who might not be able to go out and get their packages."
Porch piracy surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people shopped online and delivery drivers adopted 'knock and run' methods. In the UK, approximately 4.2 billion parcels were sent and received in 2024, exceeding the pandemic peak. Inappropriate deliveries, such as packages left in visible locations or in recycling bins, have also become a recurring issue, often captured on doorbell cameras.
Michelle's message to the delivery giant was simple: "Improve your delivery skills." She added, "If you're paying for a service and you're waiting for a delivery, you expect it to be delivered."
Amazon was contacted for comment.