South Jersey family says delivery driver stole $16K in belongings from driveway
SEWELL, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Sewell, New Jersey, family says an alleged Amazon Flex delivery driver stole about $16,000 worth of luggage, handbags, jewelry and other belongings from their driveway just minutes after they arrived home from a wedding.
Jim Hegeman said the theft happened in late July outside his family's home on Creek Road.
The Hegemans had just returned from a three-day wedding and unloaded their car, placing several pieces of luggage in the driveway while they carried items inside.
Hegeman said the family was inside for only a few minutes before returning to retrieve the rest of their belongings.
By then, he said, everything was gone.
"Three minutes. In three minutes," Hegeman said.
Hegeman said he reviewed footage from his Ring camera and discovered that the person he believes took the luggage had been making an Amazon delivery two houses away.
Surveillance video from a neighbor's camera appears to show a man arriving in a blue car, delivering an Amazon package and then pulling up the Hegemans' driveway. The video then shows him loading pieces of luggage into his vehicle.
"He was two houses down. He was just watching us take everything in the house," Hegeman said. "As soon as they went into the house, he stopped, then took everything."
Among the items taken were Hegeman's wife's Louis Vuitton handbags, along with dress clothes, jewelry and other belongings the family had brought for the wedding, he said.
Hegeman estimates the total value of the stolen items at approximately $16,000.
He said he contacted Amazon and submitted receipts for the missing belongings.
"They said we have enough evidence to prove our claim, but they can only offer us $2,469," he said. "Not very happy about that."
Hegeman said he also filed a police report and that detectives are working to identify and locate the driver.
For now, he said his family wants either their belongings returned or to be compensated for their full value.
"We just want our stuff back or the monetary value of our stuff," Hegeman said. "I don't want to be out because Amazon decided to hire a guy that's going to steal from everybody. That's not my fault."
Amazon and Washington Township police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
