Redwood City man uses camera to prove package delivery claim

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- Millions of homeowners are using security cameras to capture thieves breaking in or stealing packages, but a Redwood City man used his camera to show something that did not happen.

This could open up a whole new use for security cameras.

Ubaldo Carlos was expecting an expensive package and when he didn't get it, the shipper said it must have been stolen. He was able to prove what really happened, or rather what didn't happen.

Carlos relies on his backyard Jacuzzi for a little stress relief. "I'm gonna use it for that because I'm gonna have surgery," he said

But with surgery coming up, the jets suddenly stopped working. The spa needed a new pump. "So I ordered a pump from a company in L.A. and they sent it to me through FedEx," Carlos said.

Carlos then tracked the shipment every step of the way until it arrived. "It shows that the pump was delivered at 11:17 so I called my wife from work." he said.

His wife went outside to get the package, but nothing was there, so he called FedEx right away. "They told me that the pump was delivered at 11:17 that day."

But his family had been home all day and no delivery person had come. "We looked at the neighbor's house and we looked at my house because I live next door," Carlos' daughter-in-law Alejandra Tapia said.

He was convinced the package was never delivered. What's more, he could prove it. "I have cameras. I have three cameras pointing at my front yard," he said.

Carlos reviewed this security footage showing the front of the house at the time FedEx said it delivered the pump. "But I don't see no employee from FedEx delivering a pump or a package."

He reviewed it over and over -- no FedEx truck and no delivery he told FedEx. Carlos stated, "They told me that the pump was delivered at 11:17 and there was nothing they could do."

Carlos kept offering to show FedEx the footage, but they didn't return his calls. Tapia said, "I was talking about it with one of my coworkers and she said, "Why don't you call Michael Finney?'"

We contacted FedEx, the company investigated, and days later, Carlos got the call from the company saying, "I'm sorry we misplaced your pump but we're gonna pay for it."

FedEx would not tell us what happened to the package, but did buy Carlos a new pump saying, "We investigated this matter and worked directly with the shipper to resolve the issue. It is our understanding that the customer's needs have been met."

They certainly were. "Yeah, it was great. Thank you 7 On Your Side," Carlos said.

Someone out there has a pump that Carlos says probably is of no use to anyone else, unless they have the same hot tub and it needs a pump.

For now, whatever happened to that package remains a mystery.