Amazon driver dubbed 'Real-life Grinch' dumps 80 packages in the woods due to 'overwhelming stress'

The holiday season can be exciting for many, but for delivery workers, it often brings overwhelming schedules and impossible deadlines. This year, one Amazon driver reached breaking point, abandoning around 80 packages in a wooded area of Massachusetts, citing stress as the motivation behind their actions, as reported by PEOPLE. The unusual discovery was made during a routine patrol by Lakeville Police Officer Shawn Robert on December 22 around 2 a.m. While driving along 63 Bedford Street, Officer Robert noticed items that appeared out of place along the roadside near a wooded area, according to a statement from the Lakeville Police Department.

Curious about the situation, he investigated further and uncovered a surprising scene: three large totes filled with Amazon packages scattered several feet into the woods. In total, approximately 80 packages were recovered, leaving authorities puzzled about how the packages ended up there. The story took a twist the next day when the driver responsible for the abandoned goods visited the Lakeville Police Department. The driver admitted to leaving the packages in the woods at around 7 p.m. on December 21, explaining that they had been overwhelmed by stress and could not continue the delivery route, according to a second statement from the Lakeville Police Department.

According to the Lakeville Police Department, the driver had planned to inform their manager about the incident but had not yet done so. Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed against the driver. Instead, the incident was categorized as a "human resources matter" for Amazon to address the issue internally. The Lakeville Police returned the packages to Amazon's local distribution center, ensuring items were redirected to their intended recipients.

Police Chief Perkins praised his officers' diligence in handling the matter. "I would like to commend Sgt. Shawn Robert for his discovery of these unattended packages while on routine patrol," Perkins said on December 23, per the department's statement. "Sgt. Robert likely saved a Christmas headache for many residents by noticing these totes and getting them back to Amazon, hopefully in time for a holiday delivery." In police camera footage, viewers can see how the officer found the packages at night, per NBC News.

The challenges faced by Amazon employees aren't limited to delivery drivers, as a similar story highlights the struggles inside the company’s warehouses. A TikTok video by Monica Barajas (@_princessmay_23), a warehouse worker at Amazon, quickly went viral after she opened up about the difficult conditions she endures on the job. Barajas's video offers a glimpse into the harsh reality of working inside an Amazon warehouse. In her post, she explains her frustrations, including a bathroom break policy that allows only a very brief 7-minute break.

Given that the bathroom is a three-minute walk away, Barajas highlighted how unrealistic it is to expect workers to manage with such limited break time, adding to the mounting stress of the job. Apart from bathroom breaks, Barajas shared that Amazon tracks how many boxes workers process each hour, creating an atmosphere where employees are constantly under surveillance. The workers face a lack of support and deal with strict guidelines that deny them Voluntary Time Off (VTO) when necessary.