A thieving delivery driver has been sacked after he was caught on camera stealing two packages left on the doorstep of a house.

The Parcelforce worker swiped the Amazon boxes from outside a village home near Canterbury while pretending to drop off his own.

But unbeknown to him he was being filmed on CCTV, and was given his marching orders after the incident was reported to bosses.

The homeowner, who asked not to be named, said the parcels had a combined value of less than £30.

“It was just a Firestick and some kids’ pens - nothing much at all,” he said.

“I wasn’t at home and got a message from Amazon to say they had been delivered, and was sent a picture of them outside my door.

“My wife called later to ask if I’d moved them, but I hadn’t.

“It was only when I checked the CCTV when I got home that I saw what had happened.

“I hadn’t even ordered anything from Parcelforce.”

The footage shows the Parcelforce driver arriving at the house 45 minutes after the Amazon delivery was dropped off.

He does not ring the doorbell or knock at the door, but instead picks up the two packages and hides them behind his own box, before walking off.

The homeowner, who was given a full refund by Amazon, reported the incident to Parcelforce and was later told the driver had been sacked.

In a voicemail message left on his phone, a boss at the firm said: “We’ve identified the driver and called him back to the depot and he has been dismissed.

“It’s not very nice just before Christmas but, not being funny, it’s not your fault, it’s not my fault, he should keep his hands to himself.

“I’m frustrated, I’m annoyed and I’m disappointed that an innocent customer has been let down. "I can only apologise.”

The homeowner decided not to press any charges against the driver.

“We got our money back very quickly so we just left it at that, for now,” he said.

The incident on December 2 comes amid a spate of parcel thefts in the Canterbury area, with six similar incidents reported in the space of four weeks.

On each occasion – the last of which was on December 4 – deliveries had been made, but when the recipient stepped outside to collect the items, they discovered their package had been taken.

During the first theft on November 11, a resident in Down Road received a notification, along with a photograph, showing their parcel had been delivered.

However, it was not there when the victim went to collect the item.

Two more incidents were reported on November 18 - one in Bingley Court and the other in Long Meadow.

On both occasions the deliveries were left at the property, but when the purchasers went to collect them, they were gone.

And police are investigating three more thefts in Westwood Drive, Kilndown Gardens and Kent Avenue, which took place between November 22 and December 4.

Insp Guy Thompson said: “We investigate all reports of theft and are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.

“It is important to note that, compared to the number of households in the area, the number of postal thefts remains very low and residents remain very unlikely to become victims.

“We are not complacent and encourage residents to take the following steps to further reduce the chances of having their post stolen.

“Track your parcel to ensure somebody is at home when it is delivered, or arrange for it to be received by a trusted neighbour or family member.

“Install a security light, CCTV or a video doorbell to discourage thieves from approaching and to alert you when someone is at your home.

“Alternatively, use an off-site locker service as these tend to be in busy, safer locations and are therefore less likely to be targeted by thieves.”