Someone at work is eating my lunch on a regular basis - how can I get back at them without getting in trouble

As title suggests someone at work is eating my lunch 2-3x a week. Yes I put a name tag on my food, both on the plastic bag and then on the lunchbox. This theft almost always occur 99% of the time I get takeaway such as a sushi box or some kind of takeaway. Other times they'll look in my lunch box and nick parts of my lunch such as my chobani yoghurt or up and go other prepackaged snacks.

The higher-ups won't let me view CCTV and they said they'll investigate and despite reporting it in early December, it's been happening again shortly after the Christmas/New Years break. Friends have suggested putting unbearably hot spices or laxatives or something to mess with them but I have the feeling I'd get in trouble.

Any suggestions?

update: i will go with a really hot sauce and put it in one of my lunches, thanks for the ideas guys :) Will let you know how it goes
update 2: purchased hot sauce as someone suggested in the comments from the chilli factory, will keep you updated

Comments

        • @bobkin: the seroquel munchies can cause all of that?!

        • @niggard:
          You use Seroquel for a sure throat? I'll try that

        • @Phoebus: to sleep!

  • +2

    He took a Chobani Yoghurt? That's a cry for help!

  • Rat poison

  • +3

    My first question to OP is how does he identify your box. The first thing you have done is once the incident happened you have started putting your name on the boxes and making it a more interesting game. This idiot knows you and can definitely identify your box now.

    My advice, remove all the names from the box and change your box. Now tell everyone around (leaving few) that you have changed the box because of the reason. See if you still have the issue. In my view it will be one of the few people who knows your box. Get two or three boxes and keep on changing. The person will either try someone else if he is a maniac and if this is not targeted to you only and now suddenly everyone is talking about it in office and it becomes more epidemic. This will force HR to step in and check the camera etc. If not then matter closed and all happy lunch time.

    From experience we have seen that this is mostly friends who want to trouble you and very rarely any stranger.

    :-)

    G

  • -2

    4 pages in and no ones suggested the obvious solution- call the bikies in!

  • Put a prop head next to it that is life like and gorrie. Then say you had to put it in there so the paint didn't peel

  • +1

    Padlock your lunch box

    • +5

      I knew a guy who padlocked his cold bag in the fridge. The thief used scissors and cut out a hole on the other side :(

  • I've got 3 words for you

    Haribo
    Sugar-free
    Gummie-bears

    • +1

      Those things are like using a hand grenade to swat an ant, the risk of collateral damage is extremely high

      • Haha. Drastic times call for drastic measures

  • +5

    I just imagined the thief dosing up on a combo of chillies, laxatives and Viagra.

    He's gonna make a horrible mess somewhere!

    • +3

      hahahaha….

      hot, fast, and hard!

      wow, now that would be a sight :)

    • A hot mess

  • +6

    Since it is not everyday, I wonder if you can identify based on that? Unless they are not just targeting you and eating other lunches on other days? Or there are multiple lunch stealers? What a crappy situation.

    If it helps, last time one of the kids in my kindergarten class ate other people's lunches, I caught him red handed… Here's the CCTV footage: https://youtu.be/SQtlPPZ6FFE
    Good times!

  • +2

    Do not be concerned about prosecution. Storing something labelled with your name in a communal fridge does not impose obligation to consume.

    • +3

      Exactly.

      It doesn't matter that the food is stored in an area open to the public, the thief knows its property that doesn't belong to him.

      http://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/4239/stealing-and-theft-o…

      Thief is permanently depriving someone else of their property. OP with the appropriate video evidence could EASILY go the police station and have them investigate and charge with Minor Theft.

      People think that just because it's someone's lunch or "just a sandwich" means it's ok to steal it. Value doesn't determine whether its ok or not. You wouldn't go into a shop and shoplift an item right? Same thing.

      • +7

        Well no, but I would download a sandwich

  • +1

    Make a formal complaint of work place harassment. Tell them you are stressed from the ongoing bullying and are considering seeking legal advice.

    • You are joking, right?

    • one way to turn missing lunch into missing employment.

  • SOME INTERESTING OPTIONS FOR YOU:
    1. Pack an INK BOMB in your lunch box if you want to find out who it is….OR
    2. Get a lockable lunch box to stop them….OR
    3. Have an early lunch….OR
    4. Just buy your lunch at the tuck shop

    • +2

      The tuck shop! Bahaha

  • if you have somewhere else to keep your lunch, I have (and recommend) this: http://www.biome.com.au/lunch-boxes/14491-packit-mini-cooler…

  • Put a note on your lunch box for a week that say "I've been putting rat poison in my food, I hope you're enjoying it"
    Problem solved.
    You're welcome

  • +5

    Could never understand the motivation of people who do this. Unsure other peoples work place but this is classed as theft which can be grounds for instant dismissal where i work.

    • yeah had the conversation with someone at work today. simple rule. Don't mess with out peoples sh*t. easy

    • what's there to not understand. hunger and frugality.

      • Whats there not to understand. You could lose your job doing it. Seems not worth it losing your job messing with someones lunch worth say $10 maybe $15 dollars. Heck i have had stories of people getting fired taking home a litre of milk from the work fridge.

        • if you're doing it you probably aren't thinking of consequences.

          and that $10-15 3 times a week is basically saving $130-200 a month.

  • +10
      1. Drug someone
      2. Admit to it
      3. Get arrested
      4. ???
      5. Who's in checkmate?
  • Have anyone suggest putting a tile tracker in the lunch box? Or put some permanent marker on your lunch and check on people's hands.

  • Or even better, do what they did in "Ransom" offer a bounty for the culprit. Free lunch to the one catches them.

  • For all the do-gooders in the thread, why don't you leave a note first saying you've poisoned your food, and if it still gets eaten THEN put something in it with the same note. You can't say they haven't been warned then!

  • Remember, whether it is your food or not, you cannot put drugs in it to 'teach' someone a lesson.
    Intending to drug someone unknowingly is so much worse than occasionally eating another person's food. (and if the drug had adverse reactions, you would somewhat be responsible D:)

    Even leaving a note talking about poison could end up getting pretty serious, whether you did it or not. People often take food tampering very seriously. Whether you are in the right or not, the stress alone from any potential legal shit would take away any satisfaction you stand to gain.

    idk what you can do tho.

    • Too true, so no notes, and never admit you put magic mushrooms in the bollinasse sauce

      • +2

        bollinasse sauce

        That's some fancy phonetic spelling.

    • +1

      you cannot put drugs in it

      Okay guys, the lawyer has spoken. So even if you have a prescription supplement or complimentary medicine approved by the TGA, you can't have it for lunch because some a-hole might STEAL it.
      /sarc

      They didn't say anything about pathogens — have at it!

  • Imagie its the actual people you alerted originally and they know they cant be caught . You cant get in trouble for messing with your own food. Laxatives all the way

  • Lysergic Diacetate Man. Look for the butterflies with the thief.

  • Can't you just take some lunch that doesn't need to be put in the fridge while the higher ups investigate?
    I'm sure you could ask for a deadline as to when they will finish reviewing.

    Otherwise lockable cashbox from Bunnings is $12 and is big enough to fit your lunch. If the whole box goes missing, should become a more serious issue for management to deal with as it's no longer just lunch.

  • Hmmmm you might need a backup plan if the thief is actually reading all of these. lolz

  • Get one of those exploding ink bombs, like the have in large quantities of cash 😃

  • Oh and by the way a police officer in the uk got charged with "administer a poison" for replacing his gatoraid with windex. Don't be stupid enough to doctor your food.

  • +3

    Stop trying to do the work yourself, let the workplace start talking about it! Stick a letter on the the fridge:

    To the person who continually steals my food, over the last few months I've provided various meals in an attempt to determine what you like best of mine. For a while I though it was the sushi, but you don't seem to steal that much anymore, the noodles you seem to like more early in the week, and sandwiches for you are a clear loser on anyday!

    I've clearly labelled the food as mine in an attempt for you to provide feedback as to what you'd prefer to steal, because I'm frankly running out of ideas and local take-away to provide you with the perfect lunch. Perhaps a fixed roster system would suit you best? Maybe I can start the week with a Mexican Monday followed by a Thai Tuesday and perhaps a Wacky Wednesday which I'd change up my meals for you.

    Anyway, thank-you for stealing my lunch, the rumblings that lightly thunder through my empty stomach are just the clarion horns that trumpet to my ears that I should be thankful to have a job where I can afford to buy my own meals…

    …even if I dont get to eat them.


    Put your name to it, share a laugh with your workmates and let them do the work, I bet at least one of them knows who it is.

  • +5

    Just jizz in the lunch everyday.

  • What sort of fked up workplace is this?

  • +2

    This shit actually happens for real???

    I would screw them over BIG.

    grind up an entire pack of luxatives and sprinkle it on evenly.

    or as altomic put it, if you can stomach making it, a dog shit kebab.

    Dont worry about getting into any sort of trouble, cause at the end of the day it was your (profanity) lunch. so if some scumbag decided to steal it, they reap the consequences. if anything, you are screwing around with your own food, not theirs.

    no patience for these kind of (profanity).

    excuse the frenchies, got all rallied up…

  • Time to rob someone's LunchBox Money

  • +1

    Hurry up with an update OP; either your company actually takes your complaint seriously or you need to do something "subtle" to catch this person.

  • Laxative, membranes of a chilli? infuse it in urine?

    Tried hiding nuts or common foods into lunch that people are allergic to?

  • I would definitely do laxatives and never ever admit it to anyone. There is no way they will say anything. "Oh I stole so n so's lunch and it gave me the runs". They'd be a laughing stock at a minimum with zero sympathy - or at risk of getting fired for stealing.

    • How are they going to get fired if you haven't told anyone of the laxatives?

      Assuming firstly they cause the thief's pants to be filled - which would depend on type/volume of laxatives, any third party would just assume the thief is sick. Aside from the embarrassment, they will get sympathy and most likely a free day off.

  • It might be one of the higher ups taking your lunch…. Since they refuse to let you see the CCTV.

  • +5

    Buy a packet of artificial saffron powder packet from woolies or Coles and sprinkles in the pack of food which the thieves has been targeting I bet you will catch him read handed, the saffron colour is so strong it stays in your hand even after you wash it with the soap for several times, all you need to do it sprinkle tinny bit of saffron. I am taking from the personal experience the pack of saffron colour is vey strong, please try this method it won't disappoint you. Good luck.

  • +1

    Put your lunch in a small tool or fishing tackle box and put a lock on it?
    I know someone who kept having their milk stolen, so they started to pour it in to a bottle that was relabelled 'Breast milk' -it was never touched again

  • +1

    Change your diet to that of eating only snails and insects.

  • +1

    Shame the thief with a lidded container, some Blu-Tack and a magnetic window alarm. This produces a piercing shrill like a smoke alarm and hopefully OP or colleagues witness who opened it. OP then repeats this occasionally when the thief approaches the fridge, saying "Sorry, I forgot, I still do this sometimes as my lunch might get nicked again".

  • +1

    I've worked for heaps of large employers having to share a fridge with 20-100 people. It can never get stamped out cause it only takes one offender to do the wrong thing.

    What always works for me is buying lunch outside, otherwise make sure that my food in the fridge is the least appetising (eg. plain cheese and lettuce sandwich, no condiments, labelled with my name).

    The thief will automatically stop stealing your food and will start stealing other people's more interesting food. When enough coworkers become personally invested or when the boss gets their lunch stolen you'll find that things move much more quickly.

  • +1

    No update from OP. What's going on? Or were you just trolling?

  • +1

    Yes, update?

  • Could you leave a note to advise the anonymous person eating your lunch that it has come to your attention that you have a communicable disease and that you think they should see their doctor? That will get into their head and they may leave your lunch alone. I'd still keep it at my desk though. After hearing some of these ideas, I'm scared to leave mine in the fridge ever again.

  • +2

    Put a really strong blue or green food coloring in some of your food. It will dye their lips for a few days and you'll KNOW who the culprit is. Be aware of the possibility of payback though.

  • I had the issue at uni awhile back. Just crush lots of Metoprolol in soup. Bradycardia (and it's symptoms) are punishment enough. Solved my issue.

    Jebus is also cool with my actions. Exodus 21:24 "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot".

    People just need to learn its not cool to try to kill someone by stealing their food.

    • +1

      Had to look it up, lol loss of sex drive.

      Or you could load it up with estrogen if its a guy. If its a female put something that will increase appetite, slowly increase carb and fats. In a few months they will be huge and forever alone

    • +3

      People just need to learn its not cool to try to kill someone by stealing their food.

      I dunno man. Secretly overdosing someone on a medication they don't take, which affects the heart, seems a little close to the whole trying to kill someone thing. Just a bit.

      But if Jesus is cool with it then rock on!

    • +1

      Jebus is also cool with my actions. Exodus 21:24…

      Old Testament = BC.

      Back to the seminary for you.

    • That's old testament rules, which is fine if your Jewish, or isis.
      Jebus is new testament witch teaches forgiveness and self lobotomy

  • Cayenne pepper!
    It's stronger than wasabi and easier to conceal as it is a powder.
    Do you have any enemies at work?
    If your name is on the bag, then perhaps theyre not stealing your lunch to eat…

  • TLDR: Not sure if this has been suggested, but I'd rub a freshly cut chili all over your lunch. You can even put it on the outside of your yoghurt, sushi pack etc. This would be harder for the offender to detect but they'll definitely feel it especially if they rub their eyes afterwards. Just make sure you use gloves yourself when cutting the chili and when handling the items you've laced.

  • I use small pelican cases for keeping a bunch of small items protected around my house. They'd probably make a good lunchbox as well.

  • +1

    Take your boss's lunch a couple of times, problem solved.

    Or write your bosses name on your lunch box.

  • +1

    I have the solution. Maybe.

    Step one get small individual wrapped chocolate that's hollow.

    Step 2 inject food dye into it till its full with a needle.

    Step 3 close hole with hot knife.

    Step 4 Re wrap chocolate and put in the fridge.

    Step 5 chuck a few in the lunch box/bag.

    Wait for it.

    Then go see who has food dye all over his mouth, hands and clothes.

    Or who magically goes home sick at lunch time.

    Just a thought lol.

  • Get some maggots (from fish bait shop) or cockroach (or some other insect, cicada, crickets etc) and put it in your lunch. Leave it and wait for the screams!

    • Check out granddads old shed for whatever poison has been outlawed 50 years ago.
      Makes it heaps harder to trace I've heard

  • If he takes away your food, then what do you get to eat?
    My advice is to change the name tag and then check if he still steals away your food or not.

    • I have to quickly run out and go to a restaurant down the block to buy something if I'm really hungry, or I'll just eat the other food that I bring (e.g. muesli, yoghurt, up and go) and the snacks I keep in my drawer.

      • +1

        Update please?

        • +1

          Update?

        • +5

          @bob123456:

          I've ordered hot sauces from the chilli factory as someone commented, on its way over.

        • +1

          @sausagedelay: Great. Keep us informed.

        • +3

          @sausagedelay:

          please report back to us on the result of this, been following this thread lol

        • +3

          @sausagedelay: You need to remove all toilet paper and tissues from your workplace on the day you do this.

        • @blue-dinosaur:

          better yet block the door

        • @sausagedelay: good work!

        • +2

          @sausagedelay:
          So… what is happening with this update please

  • I would put it in lots of layers of plastic bags, so that when they are opening the bags, it would make lots of noise and take longer to open. SO when you hear the characteristic rustle of plastic bags going on for a while, you know it's time to pounce.

  • Use lunch as a cock rag

  • Berocca sandwich?

    The sandwich thief will be foaming fluorescent orange at the mouth.

  • +4

    Similar thing happened to a person at my workplace. This is what happened. Sad but true.

    The person whose lunch was getting stolen made several complaints to management and nothing was done about it.

    That person took matters into their own hands and laced their lunch (food and drink clearly named and packed in a lunch box and in the lunchroom fridge) with laxatives. Lunch thief strikes again, and goes home an hour later with severe gastro intestinal distress.

    Lunch thief ends up in hospital over the weekend finds out after tests, that they have been dosed with laxatives and contacts police. Monday morning police show up at work.

    The person whose lunch was getting stolen gets a call to go to HR. Arrives at HR to be notified that they are suspended without pay pending any charges. Police then question the person whose lunch was getting stolen with HR and charge the person whose lunch was getting stolen with Malicious behaviour with intention to harm (intention because of the previous complaints by them and the fact that the lunch thief stated they became violently ill after consuming food stolen from the fridge backed up by the hospital toxicology report). They are released on bail later that afternoon. They are then told by HR that due to the charges their employment has been terminated.

    The person whose lunch was getting stolen launches unfair dismissal with fair work with the aid of industrial relations solicitors (very expensive). Case adjourned until after criminal court case.

    This person now has to hire criminal lawyers to defend a criminal case (more expense). In the end they end up taking a plea deal for a GBH charge.
    The end result is.

    Guilty plea to GBH, conviction recorded, 14 months suspended sentence, and 48 monthly court mandated monthly anger management sessions which they have to pay for out of their own pocket and Solicitors costs to pay.

    No job.

    Unfair dismissal cased dismissed due to guilty plea in criminal case. Industrial relations solicitors costs to pay.

    Lunch thief launched civil suit including costs… more solicitors fees. Solicitors advised them to settle out of court with the lunch thief.

    Lunch thief received a verbal warning from HR (nothing noted in employment file as 1st verbal warning) about taking food that was not theirs from communal fridge.

    My advice to the OP ……

    Cut your losses, do not retaliate and don't bring your lunch to work any more or keep it at your desk. If you make a complaint to HR or Fair Work about bullying and harassment be prepared for sudden poor performance reviews and the eventual loss of your job.

    • Great info.

      Perhaps chilli would be better? Then you could claim that you like your sandwiches hot. you can't really claim you like laxatives in your sandwich.

      Otherwise, don't label your food so they can't point the finger back at you?

    • +1

      This is exactly what gives work fridge thieves the balls to steal other peoples food. Instant dismissal ought to sort these inconsiderate arse hats.

Login or Join to leave a comment