Stolen food

Elitist

Sunnyflower - I know, it's just rediculous, especially since I was in the middle of a pay dispute when he had the cheek to ask me for milk; so I was sure to get a dig in about the fact that I was getting paid too little for me to be able to purchase milk to share with the rest of the office :rotfl:

Nicifer - That's a seriously good idea! They're pretty cheap too, so in the long run it would definately pay for itself :money:

john_s_2

Someone's already mentioned it but I worked with someone who put a couple of drops of green food colouring in his milk. It didn't affect the colour or taste of his tea.

Another colleague applied her lipstick then 'sucked' the top of the bottle leaving a lipstick mark all around the top. That seemed to work. And lastly another colleague decanted his milk into a medicine bottle. Basically you just want to ensure that the thief will choose someone else's.

My wife works for the police (as a civilian). She used to work at a station where her office was used by the uniformed lot when they had a big operation at weekends. Their fridge would always be empty when they returned to work on Monday morning.

Although funny I also add to the advice not to lace food with laxatives or similar. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that.

geordie_joe

Nicifer_noonoo wrote: »

I'd suggest investing in a lockable cash box, removing the tray and voila - instant lockable lunch box

That's the best idea so far, but don't try it on an Army Base. Those b*ggers will pinch it, take it to the workshops and have it welded shut then put it back in the fridge. Just for a laugh!

I know, one of them where I work did it to the boss' lunch box. He was a, much disliked, civilian who who had been presented with a metal lunch box when he left the Army. It had his name and regiment etc. engraved on it and he was very proud of it.

Then one day it got welded shut and everyone knew about it.

full-time-mum

Nicifer_noonoo wrote: »

I'd suggest investing in a lockable cash box, removing the tray and voila - instant lockable lunch box

What a fantastic idea...

amandada

I work for the police and nothing's sacred in our fridge!!!!

madmum33

My daughter is a student, I bought her the book "I Lick My Cheese" - full of interesting notes from student digs and tips on how to deal with problems like this one. She still has food go missing - most recently some chicken portions which, scarily, were replaced by long out of date chicken!

Badsaver

Get yourself a mini fridge and set it up near your desk/workspace. If you are challenged by managers, tell them that unless they do something to stop people stealing from the fridge, you will keep it there!!! We have the same prob at my office!:j

garty

why do you not just keep your lunch in your bag next to you (keep cool bags in pound shop) then you will know where it is!!!!!!!!!!

sleepymy

Do those recommending spiking food with laxatives realise that if someone on medication consumes it their medication could flush through their system causing them to suffer potentially serious consequences? Someone who's on heart medication could end up having a heart attack.

I think thieving is disgusting but I also think reckless endangerment isn't any better!

Fuchsia_a

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions! I've started performing experiments to see which method of deterrence works best. Drawing patterns on top of my margarine seems to work a bit, but doesn't stop them when they're being more blatant about taking it, alas.

I'm not going to try spiking the food with anything that could be harmful or isn't usually a food, as I don't want to actually hurt anyone! :eek: I may go down the flavouring or colouring route if the problem continues, though - it'd be the thief's own fault if they ended up with oddly-flavoured toast (I'm thinking mint and chili), and I know people who successfully used blue food colouring at uni.

I loved the jack-in-a-box idea. I'll try getting hold of a musical card and attach the sound-producing device to an empty margarine box and lid. If they remove the lid, it should pull the tab right out, unlike in a card where they have a limited range of motion, and it'll be difficult for them to make it quiet quickly.

I approached our HR about the problem and they said that theft of food wasn't serious enough to warrant a global email, signs or similar measures. I can't help wondering what someone would have to steal for them to actually take it seriously. :rolleyes:

I don't want to get a mini fridge as firstly there are no electricity points free near my desk (there are already extension cables off of extension cables!), secondly it's not exactly good for the environment to be running an extra fridge just for margarine and occasionally some other stuff, and thirdly I don't think I'd really have the space for it! I often bring in a whole lettuce, cucumber or similar things at the start of the week and keep them in the fridge because I take the bus half the time and it's a pain having to lug lunch around as well as everything else, so a coolbox or bag isn't really practical either. I will, however, get myself a lockable lunch box to store it all in if nothing else works; it's a fantastic idea!

Thanks again for the suggestions, both practical and amusing.