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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Another Office Fridge Problem

50 replies

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 12:46

I work in a large office, several floors with approx 7 or 8 teams of 10+ people sharing one domestic fridge per floor.

People put lunches, shopping, whatever in the fridges all fine we are all grown ups and know how to share space. Milk is provided by the building and is also kept in these fridges.

Recently things have been stolen from the fridge. Not whole cans or bottles but bites and sips of things.
e.g. A supermarket sandwich in the packet, opened and a big bite taken out of the middle. A can of fizzy drink opened and sips taken about 1/4 of the can. Cheese from someone's supermarket shop, packet opened and a big bite taken!

WHY?! Would any normal adult do this? It is a fairly young office majority of staff between 25-35.
It is not confined to one or two peoples food so not a case of harassment or bullying.

It is super weird and tbh I am more interested in why they are doing it than anything else...

WIBU to buy a spy camera and catch the fridge bandit? Or just lace some food with chilli or laxative?

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 15:01

How about getting the manager to send out an email. 'Whoever is spoiling people's food in the fridge will be on written warning for misconduct when he/she is found out.'

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 15:02

Problem with chilli is that the proper owner can easily forget what they've done.

Original poster

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 15:06

The manager has already announced the issue at the whole office brief last month.

Basicly saying "We are all adults, stop being so childish whoever it is"

There is about one incident a week at the moment it has been going on since about March.

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2016 15:07

Also the guilty party will just say they thought it was theirs...All cans of diet coke look alike.
you need a really obscure sandwich or salad.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2016 15:08

Is anyone keeping note of who is in when this happens?
(Do you have any problems with poo troll types?)

lljkk · 21/06/2016 15:11

Is it possible to get some fingerprints?

ImperialBlether · 21/06/2016 15:18

Just buy your own little fridge! I'd be beside myself if someone ate my lunch!

Original poster

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 15:19

PolarBear
We have flexible working so I think it would be super hard to keep track of, plus there is 80ish people per floor.
What do you mean by poo troll? People who stink the loos out or make a horrible mess? Not in the ladies as far as I have ever seen, no idea about the gents.

llkkjj
Yes! Dust for prints and a full CSI forensic, then we will catch them! It's the only way to go!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 15:23

The manager's a spineless one then. Should announce again, put a camera in there and make it clear whoever does this will be written up. I'd invest in a small coolbag and put a lock on it.

Pinkheart5915 · 21/06/2016 15:27

Wow you have somebody rather childish in your office, they obviously think it's funny to take a bite out of people's lunches

Play them at there own childish game You need to take a sandwich in with 3-4 sliced fresh chillies in it or so very hot sauce, you will soon spot the thief as they will be on fire

KayTee87 · 21/06/2016 15:35

Someone stole my whole lunch & snacks the other day, I'm 36 weeks pregnant, pelvis is killing me and then had to walk to the nearest place for lunch. I wanted to kill someone the worst bit was I'd had my breakfast at 7am then was starving till lunchtime as usually I would have some fruit / nuts in that time but they'd been in the bag with my lunch.

Anyway back to your op you should defo try and find out who it is, they must think it's funny but it's seriously not.

Original poster

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 15:50

Oooh KayTee that is rough! Some people are so self centered, hope you are feeling better today.

I'm not sure a trap would work, it is literally one thing once or twice a week, usually sandwiches or drinks but occasionally shopping, so I could set a trap and not have them take the bait.

I suppose I could always make a trap every day, I have a feeling this may get a bit Moby Dick however¬

OP posts:

AdjustableWench · 21/06/2016 15:57

If you have any diabetic colleagues this could seriously endanger their health. People with disabilities are not required to disclose them, so it's entirely possible for one of your colleagues to be diabetic without anyone knowing. Someone who uses insulin can potentially end up in a coma if they miss a meal. Extreme example perhaps, but it's not just childish to ruin people's food; it has the potential to cause serious harm. I hope you catch the fuckwit who has been doing this.

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 16:03

Why not just bring it up again with the manager? Tell them it's still going on. All this chillis and traps won't work. They need to get a camera in and make it known whoever is doing this will be disciplined.

WhatALoadOfWankers · 21/06/2016 16:36

I would kill anyone who got between me and my lunch
I'd go with the cold sore sign

Original poster

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 17:51

Spoke to the manager juat before I left work, they said if it continues they will just say we cant use the fridge and it will be for milk only....

Why should we have to suffer because one person is taking the piss and being selfish, it was ridiculous at first now i am just cross

Apologies for sp im on my phone now

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 17:59

'Why should we have to suffer because one person is taking the piss and being selfish, it was ridiculous at first now i am just cross '

I'd ask if a note could be put on the door then, informing everyone of this.

Original poster

HairsprayBabe · 21/06/2016 18:45

Im usually in early so i might just stick one on, or suggest implamenting a buddy system so no one can go out for tea and coffee alone... most people go in rounds anyway.
It sounds so silly but it isnt fair, and it really could impact someones health as a pp said.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 21/06/2016 18:53

'It sounds so silly but it isnt fair, and it really could impact someones health as a pp said.'

It's not. It's really immature and selfish. I'd ask if a note could be put up with management approval. And tell everyone verbally. We had some contractors in an office where I was working once and lunches and food started to go missing. The manager put a lock on the fridge and you had to ask to get in and out of it.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 21/06/2016 18:54

My lunch was stolen when I was about 30 weeks pregnant, I went mad! I had to go to hospital for an appointment and no time to grab something on the way plus I have specific dietary requirements so not possible to have just anything. I sent an email to reception to pass on to office but they didn't include any of the expletives (surprisingly) and only briefly mentioned the dietary requirements. It didn't get returned and no one owned up!

WalkingBlind · 21/06/2016 19:48

Webcam like "nannycam" style, like the ones in the bears but stick it in a cool bag or something. Once you've caught them secretly plot for someone to follow them every time they go to the fridge. And take a bite out of their food every day.... Because they think it's hilarious.

Make sure to always say in passing "that damn prankster still eating people's food? Hilarious"

Ok so that's elaborate but I'm that petty and not knowing would drive me mad!

honeylulu · 21/06/2016 19:51

Wee in an Apple Juice bottle?

Wyldfyre · 21/06/2016 19:55

There's a type of laxative that is like chocolate. Get a Mars bar (as it has a rough top) and gently open one end.
Melt chocolate laxative on top and reseal.
Sit and wait.

oliveoilandaubergine · 22/06/2016 11:22

this was recently happening at my work too, we didnt find the culprit and after a strongly worded email from the MD the problem has stopped. The main suspect is someone with an eating disorder so we have had to let it lie. in some cases blatantly stealing food from peoples desks then admitting it when asked. The office has had to resort to hiding food as they always ask for some, We often have shared food in the office but they ask for parts of peoples breakfast or dinner.

The worst was when a bite was taken from an ice cream in the freezer!

It is common knowledge that this person has an eating disorder, i'm not speculating btw.

emotionsecho · 22/06/2016 11:28

I can't fathom why anyone would behave like this.

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