A delivery driver was captured on CCTV stealing a parcel from a Fife doorstep.
The man can be seen arriving to drop off one parcel and leaving with another.
Matthew Burton, who lives in the countryside near Largoward, said he was outraged to see the recording when a pair of riding boots he was told had been delivered were missing.
He also said it was disturbing to see the man spend some time walking round his rural property, and that his dog had required vet treatment for stress as a result of the disturbance.
UK Mail, a division of DHL, said the subcontractor who committed the theft last Thursday had been sacked and police informed.
Initially the company told Matthew, 48, the driver thought the package was for collection but its blue plastic wrapper was found dumped nearby.
The £25 boots, which Matthew needed for a riding trial the next day, were returned.
He said: “I got an email from Royal Mail saying the boots had been delivered but when I got home there was no sign of the boots.
“There had been a delivery from UK Mail and I saw the time and checked my CCTV.”
He was shocked to see a van pull up outside his gate and the driver walk in with a white parcel and leave with a blue one.
He said: “The guy goes to the back of the house and goes to the front door. He picks up the parcel and I can see him looking around then leaving with the blue box.”
Matthew reported the incident to police and UK Mail.
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His four-year-old Jack Russell Aisha, who is obsessed with postmen, was in at the time and was distressed by the stranger walking round her home.
A spokesperson for UK Mail said: “Last week Matthew Burton got in touch to let us know that his parcel had gone missing.
“A full investigation was launched and one of our subcontractors was found to have stolen the package.
“As a result, the driver has been dismissed and the police have been informed. We have now returned Matthew’s parcel and apologise for any distress caused.”
Police Scotland confirmed a report had been made but no further action was required as the item was returned.
