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Brazen act caught on Aussie mum's doorbell camera

Home doorbell footage captures the moment a man casually approaches an Adelaide home and snatches a parcel from the front porch, before walking off with it in his jacket.

Chanté Betkowski was inside her Brahma Lodge home at the time and was feeding her nine-week-old baby when her phone notified her that someone was at her door.

It was Wednesday morning in broad daylight and her car was in the driveway, but it didn't stop the thief from swiping the package.

A man stole a parcel from a woman's home while she was inside with her baby. Source: Supplied
A man stole a parcel from a woman's home while she was inside with her baby. Source: Supplied

"I got a notification on my phone just as I was finishing feeding my baby and saw that someone came to the door, so I got up and went to check and realised he took the parcel," she told Yahoo News Australia.

"I was confused at first because I didn’t think anyone would actually do something like that and then I just got angry because I realised he stole things that I bought for my baby."

Ms Betkowski said she was expecting the package and saw on her phone that the postman had delivered it about half an hour earlier, but she wasn't able to jump up to collect it right away and assumed it was safe at her door.

"I wasn’t sure what to do at first so I called my partner and then I got in the car to see if I could find the guy," she said.

"My partner came home from work and he called the police and made the report."

Telling clues in camera footage

Desperate to find out who the parcel thief is, Ms Betkowski shared the footage on Facebook.

"If anyone knows who this is, or sees him riding around Brahma Lodge area, please message me. He just stole a package from my door full of baby things that I need," she wrote.

After seeing the post, Ms Betkowski said her neighbour came over and told her that he'd seen the guy "loitering just before he took the parcel". Others think they've seen him around the area too, she said.

Ms Betkowski said she wasn't aware of other neighbours who've had their packages stolen, but many pointed out a telling detail in the video.

"A lot of people have said it looks like he has other things under his jacket in the video," Ms Betkowski told Yahoo News Australia.

"I just want my parcel back, or replaced, and for the guy to get caught," she said.

The new mum was feeding her nine-week-old baby at the time when her phone alerted her to someone at the door. Source: Supplied
The new mum was feeding her nine-week-old baby at the time when her phone alerted her to someone at the door. Source: Supplied

Many people who saw the video suggested calling the council to see if the garbage truck in the background of the video captured any footage.

"Actually if that truck pulled up the same time he may have information as they have onboard cameras," one said.

Ms Betkowski followed their advice and contacted Salisbury City Council, but she's yet to hear back.

The frustrated mum hasn't heard back from the police either, and she's no closer to finding out who the man is, or getting back her parcel.

Police investigation underway

Ms Betkowski's brother also shared the video online in hopes the parcel thief would be found.

"She was looking forward to it [the parcel], now she's lost it and will have to find the money to buy it again," he told Yahoo News Australia.

A police spokesperson told Yahoo "the matter remains under investigation".

"At around 11.40am, Wed 25 May, a man was captured on CCTV stealing a parcel from the front verandah of a house in Kent Ave, Brahma Lodge," a statement said.

"The suspect is described as being Caucasian, about 30 years, wearing yellow hi-vis hooded top, bike helmet, dark baseball cap, dark pants, dark boots and carrying black backpack."

Yahoo News Australia also contacted Salisbury City Council for comment.

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