Medford Police are currently seeking assistance in nabbing an Amazon delivery driver accused of swiping a UPS package from a local home. The incident allegedly occurred around 1:45 PM on Wednesday as the driver was making a delivery, as reported by CBS Boston. Found within the stolen package were a pair of limited-edition "Stranger Things" Converse sneakers, intended as a gift for a young girl.
Taken at a Medford residence, the theft was caught on a doorbell camera—a device that's supposed to provide security was witness to the crime. According to NBC10 Boston, the suspect is an Amazon employee who was traced and questioned by police on Friday afternoon, yet the whereabouts of the exclusive sneakers remain unknown.
The Medford Police Department has taken this incident seriously, promising on Facebook to track down the individual responsible for what they called "Grinch-like behavior," as mentioned on CBS Boston. They encourage anyone who can identify the suspect or vehicle to call them, aiming to end the story with the sneakers back under the tree this holiday season.
The package's rightful owner, Linda Julien, had purchased the special sneakers for her daughter Katie, both of whom made eye contact with the driver on the day of the incident. In a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston, Julien expressed a mix of admiration for her mother's gift-finding abilities and dismay at their loss, saying "When I figured out what they were, I was so like impressed that my mom was able to get them and so disappointed that we lost them because they were stolen."
This case goes beyond a simple disappearance of goods; it's about the violation of trust we place in those who deliver bits of our lives, from the mundane to the irreplaceable. Linda Julien hopes the Amazon driver "will find her soul to return them if anything else she's taken from other people to get all this back to them," as she told NBC10 Boston. While no other package thefts in the area have been reported, the Medford Police Department works in conjunction with Amazon on the investigation, the company having extended their gratitude for the local law enforcement's efforts.
For those who fear they might fall victim to package theft, several carriers including Amazon, USPS, FedEx, and UPS provide guidance on how to report missing parcels. Amazon suggests checking with neighbors and contacting the carrier or seller if there's an issue with delivery. USPS encourages filing a report via their website in case of theft, and FedEx and UPS both recommend promptly making a claim on their respective sites.
