Parcel Scam

[Barmaid]

My parents received a parcel (delivered by Royal Mail but not signed for) in someone else's name at their address.

This has concerned me since a) they have lived at their address for several decades and the named person never has and b) the name of the property appears on the parcel. Now the Post Office data bases and all derivatives of do not include the house name.

I have suggested that they a) check any online companies and change all passwords b) do not give the parcel to anyone who might call for it and c) stick in back in the post as "not known at this address".

Anything else we might do? What would be the point of this scam. It cannot be a mistake since, as I say, the house name does not appear on any databases.

[Barmaid]

Well we will never know about the parcel cos mother handed it back to the postie this morning.

As for Asbo, he turned up at 1.45am sopping wet. No idea why he's taken to roaming. He's always been so anxious to check I'm around (he did go missing for 6 weeks in 2009). We are considering rehoming a girl cat because i think he could be lonely. We just don't know what to do for the best.

[Barmaid]

And Mr BM now thinks I'm mad because when I realised there was lamping going on I went marching up the lane to get reg plates etc and call the police. He hissed "You could get shot". "Do i look like a ******* deer? No. Now hurry up".

[shoota]

You need to be careful with lampers Miss, some are not very nice chaps.

[Barmaid]

I know, Shoota. But I know every nook and cranny round here like the back of my hand. I also know where I can't be seen. I wouldn't put myself in danger. Plus I'm not very bloody nice at nearly midnight soaking wet and with a missing cat.

[Tuvok]

Should I ask what lamping is?

(I've heard "I'll lamp him one" eg. thump)

[shoota]

Were they shooters or running dogs?

[shoota]

Blokes who go out at night with lamps looking for deer, hare, rabbits etc. Some with guns, some with longdogs.

[Giggsie]

Our house name was not on any data base either and since internet shopping it caused lots of mix ups. We are in the countryside our parcels were being delivered else where. I then emailed the post office and in no time it was on all data bases. It now appears on all drop down address lists on the internet. No problems since.

[Barmaid]

I think they were shooters. After deer. I could see the flash of the lamp as I was walking up to the field (my view was obstructed by a house and trees) and the tyre tracks coming off the field. They left the field I knew they were on about 30 secs before I got there and moved up the lane. I was on foot so I just called the Rural crime team. We had actually seen the vehicle 10 mins earlier but didn't make the connection until I heard them in the field. Just 2 blokes in it.

Spoke to gamekeeper this morning and he seems to know who they are.

[Tuvok]

Poachers!

[Barmaid]

Thugs of the countryside as we prefer to call them, Tuvok.

[shoota]

Often, but sometimes they do it simply for the kill or the excitement. Some are organised gangs who flog the venison to pubs or unscrupulous butchers.
But lamping can be a legitimate pest control operation when conducted against foxes (especially at lambing time) or rabbits by properly authorised and trained people. (Like me.)

[Barmaid]

This was def illegal, Shoota. The gamekeeper notifies us when he is out at night.

We have real problems round here with hare coursing and lamping. And then they just dump their dogs.

There is an awful lot of it just for sport. Last week our farmer neighbour found several dead hares and deer. Makes me really cross.

[Apc2604]

The joys of the countryside Barmaid. We live very rurally like you and lamping and poaching is rife around this area. Something that really upsets me. The keepers we used to have around were gun happy in earlier years and we were constantly worrying about our cats and dogs. The keeper now is quite reasonable, but OH is often up half the night waiting for our cats to come home safely.