This is the moment a driver believed to be from a leading delivery company smashes into a car in Birmingham then speeds off.
The Ford Transit driver, believed to be with Yodel, is caught on camera in Malvern Drive in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, reversing into a parked Toyota RAV4, shattering its rear window.
The driver, who has been blurred for legal reasons, is then seen getting out of the vehicle, inspecting the damaged car, then getting back in his van and carefully reversing off down the road.
The incident took place on Wednesday, October 27, shortly before 1pm and was captured on camera.
Read more : Man knocked unconscious in vicious birthday party attack
Mohammad El-Hilu said it was his late father’s car that had been parked at his home, and had been moved to the roadside, while work was being carried out on his house. It was not insured.
He said he contacted both Yodel and West Midlands Police after the incident, but neither has helped him.
Mr El-Hilu said Yodel had not paid for the damage and police had told him the case is closed due to a 'lack of evidence'.
This was despite him doing the detective work and providing the video, registration plate of the vehicle involved, its make/type, the date and time of the incident, the nature of the delivery and even details of the firm the driver worked for.
The exasperated 33-year-old account manager told BirminghamLive: “It’s just frustrating – not because of the damage, not because of the car but because no one cares. He just hit our car and drove off.
“After watching the video I went around to the neighbours, and asked them ‘have they had any deliveries?’. Only one neighbour had a delivery.
“I couldn’t make out the licence plate from our video. But a neighbour’s CCTV had the number plate
“He was delivering a package for Yodel from Waitrose which was pet supplies for the neighbour’s dog.
“I rang Yodel and said this has happened. I am to settle it privately but your driver has to call me.”
Read more : Thug stealing booze attacks Co-op worker with wine bottle
He continued: “The guy’s manager rang me a couple of days later and left a voicemail message and said ‘I know one of our drivers hit you please ring this number’.
“I kept calling back but he didn’t answer.
“Yodel said ‘we heard you’re going to settle with the driver’. But I said ‘the guy won’t answer my calls or call me’.
“Genuinely, if the guy had knocked on the door and cleaned the glass I’d have left it.
“But because he was clearly dishonest I am pursuing it. I think he just did it by accident and I think he just panicked.
“But I kind of feel be honest about it. The worst thing I think he knows he’s been caught. He knows what he’s done and he’s still like he’ll see what happens.”
And Mr El-Hilu said the frustration has been made worse as the police have closed the case, despite the evidence he collected.
He said: “I gave all the details to the police and uploaded the video. All they would have to do is ring Yodel and ask at this time and date somebody was delivering for this company – who was it?
“I have literally given the police the whole case and then got an email to say the case was closed.
“So basically they couldn’t be bothered.”
A Yodel spokeswoman said: “We’re disappointed to hear about this incident and thank Mr El-Hilu for bringing it to our attention.
“The driver’s behaviour clearly does not reflect the values that we stand for. We’re investigating this incident and will look to take appropriate action as a priority.”
West Midlands Police said the incident had not been reported in the correct way.
Read more : Police station still set to close despite 2021 estates review
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said the reply ‘may have been automatically generated’ but Mr El-Hilu was told to use the ‘RTC Online Reporting Portal’.
But Mr El-Hilu said he called and then was told to report it online. He said he was not told of the special ‘RTC reporting portal’. He received an emailed reply saying the case was closed, not that it had been reported incorrectly.
The email said: “Your incident has been reviewed and will now be closed and filed.
“This is due to there being no lines of enquiry to progress the investigation at this time.”
The statement from the force following enquiries from BirminghamLive continued: “We advised the victim that as the incident appears to be as a result of a road traffic collision, it needs to be reported in the correct manner.
“This needs to be done online using our RTC Online Reporting Portal. Unfortunately, until this has been completed via the portal, we cannot process the matter.
“It’s unclear on this occasion why the wrong form has been filled out and we appreciate the frustration filling out information again can cause.
Buy a gift for a child in need and make a #BrumWish 2021 come true
BrumWish 2021 aims to get thousands of Christmas gifts to young children in need across our city - the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care and kids who have little.
This year's appeal is bigger and better than ever - because we have teamed up with our partners at #Toys4Birmingham, including Thrive Together Birmingham, the Birmingham Playcare Network, the Edgbaston Foundation and Birmingham Forward Steps.
Also involved are Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Barnardo's, Spurgeon's children's charity, the Springfield project in Sparkhill, St Paul's Community Development Trust and Your Local Pantry, which runs food hubs in 12 locations across Birmingham and the Black Country.
Three donation days, held at Edgbaston to take in new and nearly new donations of gifts and books, are now ended.
You can buy a gift from the #Brumwish Amazon Wishlist here.
You can also donate cash, which will go into a fund held by a charity partner to use to plug gaps or buy specialist toys for children with additional needs. This is the link to make a donation.
The spokeswoman added: "We try to make it clear on our website with information and correct signposting.
"We are making enquiries with our contact centre staff and we always keep our eyes open for feedback. If a victim does not have access online, they can report face to face at a local station.
“For us to be able to investigate an incident we require the registration plate number of the other vehicle(s) and CCTV of the incident taking place or an independent witness/es.
“Sadly without this information there is insufficient evidence to pursue an incident.”
While you're here, receive the latest Sutton Coldfield news direct to your inbox through our daily newsletter.
