how to stop people stealing your food?

nimbo

seriously go with the little black curly hair option...

i would pee my pants laughing (if i hadn't stolen it)...

or chilli, and food dyes.

Don't do anything that could cause actual harm, there would be too many things that could go wrong, and they may be a pain the bottom, but you don't want to actually hurt any of your house mates...

w211

nimbo wrote: »

Don't do anything that could cause actual harm, there would be too many things that could go wrong, and they may be a pain the bottom, but you don't want to actually hurt any of your house mates...

True, though they shouldn't be stealing your food anyway, you may also forget what you've done to your own food/drink!

brightonman123

fit up a dummy (toy?) cctv camera, and see who kicks up a stick.. possible culprits right there, or might actually scare em off..

this ploy may take a bit more effort- using protective gloves, put food in a wrapper, spray on some indelible paint, then put that inside another (sealed!) bag..

whoever has glowing fingers is your man (or woman..) obv will need to be careful when opening stuff yourself!

failing that, mini fridge in own room (if allowed?)

Derivative

brightonman123 wrote: »

fit up a dummy (toy?) cctv camera, and see who kicks up a stick.. possible culprits right there, or might actually scare em off..

Possible culprits perhaps. I would be rather miffed if someone put a CCTV camera in my kitchen, even if it is shared. To be honest, I'd probably just take the camera down or face it at a wall and leave a note.

GlasweJen

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lick-Cheese-Other-Notes-Flatsharing/dp/1847441289

clairec79

http://www.lazyboneuk.com/products/The-Fridge-Locker.html

£20 is expensive but maybe you could fashion something similar with padlocks

brightonman123

Could put a big sign up, with/without the dummy cctv, warning of thieves..?

minerva_windsong

I've told this story before, but when I was a student I would very occasionally treat myself to a pizza, eat half for tea and then put the rest in the fridge for the next day's lunch, and nine times out of ten it would be gone the next morning. So one day I got some washing up liquid, lifted up the cheese and squirted the washing up liquid over the base before putting the cheese back and putting it back in the fridge. Next morning the pizza was still there, minus one slice with a big bite out of it. Job done

Green food colouring in milk is a good idea - could you also maybe add blobs of green to the butter to look like mould? I know that might not necessarily stop whoever it is but it'll certainly make it look off-putting...

I used to have milk in a plastic bag hanging out of the window as well (although that was more because our kitchens were being done up and I can't live without tea!) but I think it only works if the temperature is right - not freezing cold but equally not too warm either, so it would work in most of the winter but perhaps not going into the spring as we are now.

The mini fridge is a good idea if you can get a decent sized one, although obviously it will depend how much food you have/want to keep in there. For that reason, a cool bag or cool box may be better - you will have to change the ice packs fairly regularly depending how cold your fridge is if it isn't one where they come pre-fitted but as long as you've got a freezer for them you should be OK - or as previously posted the lockable cage that goes in the fridge.