Stolen food

Fuchsia_a

Is there anything I can do to discourage people from stealing my food out of the fridge at work?

Someone's used about half the margarine I had left in the tub since last time I used it, I've also had most of my lunch go missing before noon a couple of times (though I think this was overzealous cleaning by coworkers, not theft, as it was half avocados , a lettuce and similar from teatime the night before that I'd brought in from home) and I've spoken to other people who've had unopened cans of drinks and similar go missing despite the fact that there's a water cooler next to the fridge.

Personally, I see this as outright theft of property, and in principal it's as insulting as someone routing through my handbag and taking small change from my wallet, but at least that wouldn't leave me to go hungry at random times or cause me as much inconvenience. :mad: The only places to buy food around here are expensive (the sandwich van costs about £4 or so for a meal, and I don't like buying 60p bags of crisps when my meals usually cost less than that to make) so if my food goes missing, I just eat what I have stashed in my desk, which usually isn't great for a whole meal.

I've spoken to our HR about it, but they just say to label the food; the margarine I bring in looks nothing like anyone else's, so the person eating it knows it's not theirs anyway and I can't see that doing much good. :rolleyes: At uni I would've added food colouring to make it look like it'd gone off, but if I do that here the cleaners'll just chuck it away for being a health and safety hazard.

It's really making me quite annoyed. I'm not stingy and don't mind sharing food at all if someone asks around because they need something, but I don't like people taking things without asking first.

lindens

I would wrap your things in a carrier bag and then put them in the fridge. I would have thought thieves wont bother to unwrap something. Or you could decant the marg into another type of container so people dont know what it is.

wolfehouse

people 'borrow' food at my workplace all the time- no thanks or replacing items.
i think it must just be human nature. If you put yours in a distinctive box that is hard to get into as mentioned above maybe it would work. why not experiment and report back to us?

cashpoortimerich

I once saw that someone had left a blob of chewing gum in their margarine to deter thieves, it passed the cursory `is it in date' check by cleaners but no-one seemed that keen on pilfering it from then on.

maninthestreet

Put a sign on the margarine lid saying 'I've spat in this margarine tub'. This should work, but check the sign when you come to use the margarine, in case someone has written on it 'So have I'.

ifonlyitwaseasier

for the marge, put a sticker with your name and stating if they wish to use some please ask otherwise you'll assume it's theft and ask management to set up cctv by the fridge.

for meals, stick it in a plastic tub with your name on it. if it still goes missing ask HR to send an email round, theft can be used for gross misconduct, so it may get people thinking twice.

only other thing is get a mini fridge and keep it under your desk

good luck,

beer_tins

Place jack-in-the-box in margerine tub, with bells attached. Wait to hear a commotion.

tinkerbell84

For the OP, how about a padlocked lunchbox?

Or one you can plug into the mains to 'zap' any thieving hands?

Gillianh2

Just my thoughts......... what about an office kitty to buy margerine milk biccies etc; if everyone contributed then that mu ight deter the "borrowers".Of course you might still get some who refuse to contribute, but if the majority are contributing then that makes things a little more difficult for the "Borrowers";)

janegresty

for the next week put your food how you normally do and see if you can get hold of something to put on the food that will "stain" your theif! How amusing would it be to see your culprit wandering round with bright red on their mouth and hands or simular? Would def make them think twice before doing it again!

MidLifeCrisis_3

Fuchsia_a wrote: »

Is there anything I can do to discourage people from stealing my food out of the fridge at work?

Someone's used about half the margarine I had left in the tub since last time I used it, I've also had most of my lunch go missing before noon a couple of times (though I think this was overzealous cleaning by coworkers, not theft, as it was half avocados , a lettuce and similar from teatime the night before that I'd brought in from home) and I've spoken to other people who've had unopened cans of drinks and similar go missing despite the fact that there's a water cooler next to the fridge.

Personally, I see this as outright theft of property, and in principal it's as insulting as someone routing through my handbag and taking small change from my wallet, but at least that wouldn't leave me to go hungry at random times or cause me as much inconvenience. :mad: The only places to buy food around here are expensive (the sandwich van costs about £4 or so for a meal, and I don't like buying 60p bags of crisps when my meals usually cost less than that to make) so if my food goes missing, I just eat what I have stashed in my desk, which usually isn't great for a whole meal.

I've spoken to our HR about it, but they just say to label the food; the margarine I bring in looks nothing like anyone else's, so the person eating it knows it's not theirs anyway and I can't see that doing much good. :rolleyes: At uni I would've added food colouring to make it look like it'd gone off, but if I do that here the cleaners'll just chuck it away for being a health and safety hazard.

It's really making me quite annoyed. I'm not stingy and don't mind sharing food at all if someone asks around because they need something, but I don't like people taking things without asking first.

My sis had this problem at work too and with no canteen, machines or shops nearby it meant she went hungry. She'd tried all the usual ploys til one day when her wrapped and clearly named lunch went missing, she announced that it was a set up and she hoped whoever had eaten it enjoyed the maggots. Of course it wasn't true, but it never happened again and we still laugh at the thought of the person probably sticking their fingers down their throat!

Or spread the rumour that you've heard CCTV is now installed in the room.

MLC