Abandoned Amazon Packages Found in Massachusetts Woods: Driver Cites Stress
Several dozen Amazon packages were discovered apparently abandoned in the woods of Lakeville, Massachusetts, early Sunday morning, days before Christmas, police said. Officers collected them and returned the parcels to Amazon, according to the department, which said that the driver identified themselves and won’t be facing charges, citing stress for dumping the packages.
Totes of Unattended Packages Discovered
The Lakeville Police Department found three totes of Amazon packages in the woods over the weekend. Officers loaded them into pickup trucks to return them to the station. With no recent reports of stolen packages in town, investigators decided to send them back to the distribution center in Middleborough.
“I would like to commend Sgt. Shawn Robert for his discovery of these unattended packages while on routine patrol,” Chief Matthew Perkins praised. “Sgt. Robert likely saved a Christmas headache for many local residents by noticing these totes and getting them back to Amazon, hopefully in time for a holiday delivery.”
Driver Cites Stress as Reason for Abandoning Packages
Initially unsure of why the packages were left unattended, the police department later revealed that an Amazon driver came forward to confess that they had left the packages around 7 p.m. on Saturday due to stress. The driver, who remained anonymous, planned to inform their manager about the incident.
“I am proud of the way our Lakeville Police officers handled and investigated this matter. At this time, we are not seeking criminal charges and are considering this a human resources matter for Amazon,” Chief Perkins stated in a follow-up statement.
Amazon Confirms Reprocessing of Orders
Amazon confirmed that all the orders had been reprocessed and either redelivered or were in the process of being redelivered. Customers were advised to check their accounts for updates on expected delivery times. The company also expressed gratitude to the Lakeville PD for recovering and returning the packages, pledging to assist in the investigation.
Assonet resident Blake Brangan shared his relief upon receiving a message from Amazon that his package, initially thought to be lost, had arrived. “It’s just really crazy to just toss them out in the woods like that, but thankfully for that officer that found them,” he expressed. “It’s stressful during the holidays, I really feel bad for whoever it was.”
