Sneaky moment Uber Eats driver sends customer a picture of his ‘delivered’ food then drives off with it

An Aussie retail worker claims his lunch was stolen by a food delivery driver who pretended to leave the order at his address.

Corey Davis, an employee of Billy Hyde Music in Marlestone, Adelaidehad ordered the expensive feast from Betty’s Burgers for himself and his colleagues.

CCTV footage from outside the shop appears to show the Uber Eats driver attempted to cover his tracks by taking photos of the delivery on the kerb, before he immediately picked it up again and drove off.

Mr Davis said he went out in search of his delivery after being notified by the app it had arrived, and the meal was nowhere to be found.

The confused part-time musician reviewed the store’s CCTV footage was able to ascertain the banquet appeared to have been stolen by the Uber driver.

‘[I was] a little bit shocked by that, but just mostly disappointed,’ he told 7News Adelaide.

‘It wasn’t a massive order but it was enough to leave us just hungry for the rest of the day.’

After submitting a complaint, the delivery service offered him a flat $25 refund.

While the experience has not discouraged him from using Uber, he told 7News Adelaide he will ‘be keeping a closer eye on the next delivery’.

It is not the first time Aussies have complained about thefts at the hands of Uber Eats delivery partners.

Last year, a Melbourne restaurant worker took to Reddit to ‘vent’ about Uber Eats drivers collecting food orders without verifying the pick-up through the app.

By not verifying the pick-up, drivers may leave with a customer’s order without paying.

‘I don’t get how people can live with themselves stealing foods from small businesses!

‘This has been happening almost every busy hour.

‘They came in, picked up the order and pretended to ‘verify the pick-up’ on their phone and then cancelled the order.’

When this happens, restaurants can apply to Uber Eats for support, but little can be done to cool the complaints of hungry consumers affected by the delays.

‘Imagine [being] on a busy f***-ing service period, and we need to prioritise the stolen order because some Uber drivers took the food.

‘I’m just so fed up with this.’

Another user said their takeaway business now required delivery drivers to show proof they had accepted the order before being handed the food.

‘Once they’re a familiar face and have built up trust then I no longer ask.

‘Ten per cent of drivers are ruin it for everyone’.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Uber Eats for comment.

According to the Uber Eats website, customers can apply for a refund if their order did not arrive.

‘Our goal is to fulfill every order. If you never received your order but were charged for it, chat with us so that we can make it right and get you back to ordering,’ the website states.

‘Please contact us within 48 hours to get the best possible support experience. After this time-frame, we may be unable to provide a refund.’