A business owner is now “living in fear” after watching live footage of a brazen thief stealing parcels from her doorstep.
Lisa Parker’s doorbell camera captured the moment the hooded man took the valuable items from outside her house in Sturry Road, Canterbury, in broad daylight.
It comes amid a surge in so-called “porch pirates” pouncing after delivery drivers drop off packages when homeowners are out.
Lisa told KentOnline: “My husband and I were out for the day in Whitstable when we got a notification on our doorbell camera.
“We watched live as the guy casually walked down the drive, picked up two parcels and left.
“Seeing the footage really stressed me out.
“Luckily, most of the time, someone’s here but it makes you wonder if the guy will just be standing there waiting around.”
Lisa runs a business, Chakahindi, where she designs clothes and has them shipped over from India.
“One of the parcels that was stolen was full of beautiful tote bags and kimonos,” she said.
“I do big events all around Kent and get things designed and made for shops.
“The parcel that was stolen was around 12 kilos, which is small compared to what I normally get sent. It had around £200 worth of stock in it, which would have been around £1,000 retail value.
“The other parcel contained things from Amazon my husband had ordered”.
Lisa says that she asked for the parcel to be left in her safe space on the DPD app – which is either through her garden gate or in a delivery box on her porch.
However, this was not done and the packages were stolen just 20 minutes later after being set down.
She is now worried she will be targeted again in the future.
“He knows that I clearly have lots of stock of really lovely stuff arriving that he could probably sell and make quite a lot of money from,” Lisa said.
“It’s a big, big safety concern. I keep thinking: ‘Where is he? Does he live across the road? Is he watching and waiting?’
“He knew exactly what he was doing, and now I’m really stressing because obviously, it’s a loss for the business.
“I sometimes get orders with £4,000 worth of stock.
“He’d covered his face, he clearly tiptoed down the drive, and then casually walked off as if he lived here.
“Our house is also set really far back down off the road, so you’ve really got to be looking.”
The incident took place at about 1.30pm on Saturday.
Lisa, who has lived in the road for the past six years, has since contacted the shopping company so an investigation can be raised with DPD.
She added: “I shouldn’t have to be living in fear. I’m just absolutely sweating it.
“The money will come back, but in the meantime, I’ve had to pay out again to reorder things for my client who needs it urgently.
“The fact that there was a big family car sitting on the drive as well when it happened – it’s just so brazen that he did it at lunchtime on a Saturday.
“It’s quite worrying.”
The incident has been reported to the police, who have confirmed enquiries are ongoing.
DPD has been approached for comment.
KentOnline previously revealed how police say there is a “growing trend” in parcel thefts in the county.
More than 600 letters and parcels were reported stolen to Kent Police in 2024 – up from 562 the year before.
