Police issue parcel delivery scam warning to Shropshire residents
People in Shropshire have been warned to be on their guard should they receive parcel deliveries from Littlewoods which have not been ordered.
The warning was issued by West Mercia Police today following three unordered deliveries to homes in the Market Drayton area believed to be part of a scam.
In each incident earlier this week, a parcel delivery was made by the Littlewoods catalogue service. Within minutes, the recipients received either a phone call or a home visit by a man claiming the parcels had been wrongly delivered.
He succeeded in obtaining one parcel. None of the recipients had actually ordered goods.
Police Constable Teresa Horne, the investigating officer, said: "The deliveries were made by a legitimate courier from Littlewoods and the parcels mainly contained camcorders valued at £540.
"Minutes after the drop had been made, the householder received a telephone call or a visit by a man saying the parcel had been wrongly delivered. All three addresses were visited by a black male described as being in his mid-thirties, with a bald head, of stout build and wearing a beige jacket.
"He claimed to be a legitimate collection service and stated the parcels had been wrongly delivered."
The man parked some distance away, arriving at the addresses on foot.
PC Horne added that people should be aware of the scam and if they had any concerns, to call the police on the 101 number. She also appealed for witnesses or information about the Market Drayton incidents to be forwarded to her at the town's police station.
Information can also be given to the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
