Episode 7

The Package Was Opened Before It Was Returned

Published on: 1st March, 2026

The neighbour thought he could steal and get away with it...

Ben ordered something expensive online. Later that day, he received confirmation it had arrived.

But the doorstep was empty.

That evening, a neighbour knocked — holding the box. Already opened.

Some items were missing.

The next day, Ben saw something familiar listed for sale online — same brand, same model, same colour.

The seller wasn’t anonymous.

New stories released daily.

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Transcript
Speaker A:

This one started with a delivery notification.

Speaker A:

Ben had ordered something expensive online.

Speaker A:

Nothing unusual.

Speaker A:

Later that day, he got a message saying it had been delivered.

Speaker A:

But there was nothing at the door.

Speaker A:

He checked around the building, asked neighbors.

Speaker A:

Nothing.

Speaker A:

The seller confirmed the address was correct.

Speaker A:

They sent a photo.

Speaker A:

The package was clearly on his doorstep.

Speaker A:

Just not anymore.

Speaker A:

That evening, a neighbor knocked.

Speaker A:

They were holding the box opened.

Speaker A:

They said it must have been delivered by mistake.

Speaker A:

Said they'd only realized after opening it.

Speaker A:

Said they were just bringing it back.

Speaker A:

Ben looked inside.

Speaker A:

Some items were missing.

Speaker A:

Not everything.

Speaker A:

Just enough to notice.

Speaker A:

When he asked about it, the neighbor shrugged.

Speaker A:

Said they didn't know what was supposed to be in there.

Speaker A:

Said maybe it came like that.

Speaker A:

The next day, Ben spotted something familiar online.

Speaker A:

Same brand, same model, same color, listed for sale.

Speaker A:

The account wasn't anonymous.

Speaker A:

It belonged to the neighbor.

Speaker A:

That night, Ben posted the story online.

Speaker A:

People focused on one detail, not the missing items.

Speaker A:

The fact the package was opened before being returned.

Speaker A:

The final update was short.

Speaker A:

The listing disappeared.

Speaker A:

The neighbor stopped answering messages, and a doorbell camera was installed the next day.

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About the Podcast

stories of reddit.
Bite-sized stories of trust, betrayal and everyday decisions.
Stories of Reddit is a short-form storytelling podcast drawn from real, anonymous posts shared online. Each episode adapts a single story; personal moments, relationship tensions, moral dilemmas, or quiet confessions; told plainly and without commentary.

These are not reactions, debates, or judgement pieces.

They are first-person accounts of ordinary people trying to make sense of what happened to them.

The focus is not on spectacle, but on experience. On how people explain their lives when no one knows who they are.

Episodes are brief and self-contained. One story. One perspective. Left for the listener to consider.

New stories released daily.

Explore all shows: https://www.simplestoriesproject.com
Support and get exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/cw/SimpleStoriesproject