Homeowner Paula Habib believed it was «no big issue,» but as her cultivated tomatoes continued to vanish, she became desperate to find out who was taking them. She assumed it was a starving animal, but when she reviewed her camera , she was astounded to realize it was the mailman!
She lives in Quebec, Canada, and told CBC’s As It Happens that she understands why someone might steal her tomatoes, stating, «They’re out there.» They’re crimson. They seem to be delectable. »
But when the mail guy kept returning for more, she became irritated. Every day he passed by, and more tomatoes vanished. «Every time we looked at the camera, there was him, selecting and choosing and spinning the basket round and round to choose the red ones,» she said.
Her acquaintances teased her about it. «He’s truly in there.» One of our pals remarked, «Put out some bread, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper, and he can build a tiny sandwichmayonnaise, salt, and pepper, and he can build a tiny sandwich.»
She informed a Canadian radio news station that he once failed to deliver the mail and simply ate the tomatoes! Midway through, he remembered, ‘I forgot to put the mail in the box.’»
Habib resolved to stop the stealing and notified Canada Post, but after receiving «the runaround,» she turned to the media. Soon after, she received a call from Canada Post, informing her that a postal worker would be visiting her home to personally apologize.
She told As It Happens that she doesn’t want him fired, but that what he did was unethical. I’ve always taught my children not to steal, and it’s stealing to me. » You’re meant to believe the postman.»
When asked whether she would give the postal guy some tomatoes if he came by, Habib replied, «I should go out and get him a plant.»
