I know I'm being petty but AIBU

[lastqueenofscotland]

I've posted a couple of woes about my house share.
Typical London set up where as we don't earn 100k we can't afford to live alone.
Before I had an issue with a girl eating ALL my food, she'd ask for a slice of bread and eat the loaf.
After I called her out on this and leaving the kitchen and bathroom like a fucking bombsite recently, she, who is 27 years old, got her mum to come round and tell me off for being mean to her
Anyway I know she was home all day yesterday as has recently been fired (for being an entitled special snowflake and not understanding why she had to come in on time and couldn't just decide on the morning to not go into work like everyone else), and loads of my food has gone again,
A full bottle of squash is now a third full, i had a packet of crumpets which are gone and a full bag of pasta is about a quarter full now

Seeing as she got her bloody mum to come round and tell me off after I asked her to not eat all my food last time, AIBU to just keep everything in my room so she actually has to buy her own!!?

[Jenny70]

Is it worth getting one of these for the fridge - at 25 quid might save you a few hassles?
lockabox.com/

[lastqueenofscotland]

I moved a lot of stuff to my room before I went to work.
I've also texted her saying I noticed a lot of my food had gone, I said I'd like £5 in cash to replace it or the cupboard restocked by the time I'm home from work.

I wish I could move! I hate flat sharing but I don't want to play zillions of pounds for a studio in zone 6 when I can afford a nice house in zone 2 if i share it

[dowhatnow]

Can't you get together with your other flatmates and "gang up" on her? Surely she can't carry on doing it with all of you on her back - or is it just you she picks on because she knows you'll let her get away with it?

[BabooshkaKate]

When is her lease up?

[ToffeeForEveryone]

I'd be trying to get her out if I was you, not accommodating her by hiding your stuff. This isn't petty, she's regularly stealing from you.

A direct conversation with her that you won't tolerate her stealing and you are informing the landlord. Ask your other housemates to back you up with the landlord/agent. They may not know that she is unemployed either, that could be a way to get her out.

Life is too short to have to deal with this shit in your own home. If she can't behave properly she shouldn't be living with others.

[ChocChocPorridge]

There's always one.

In my share the downstairs toilet (nearest his room) was a no-go area it was so disgusting, and anything left downstairs got eaten by him (generally burning it and setting off the fire alarms in the process)

I even used to keep my washing up in a basket in my room, because otherwise we'd run out of mugs and plates which would disappear into his room and never come back!

Food in your room, and a lock box in the fridge/a fridge in your room too (assuming you can lock your room?)

[ClopySow]

Ah, flat shares. I found teeth marks in my cheese once. My flat mate had just taken a bite out of it and put it back. She owed me a couple of hundred pounds for various things by the time she did a runner and left me a box of half used toiletries as payment.

[EssentialHummus]

YY to a Lockabox or similar, and Y to putting laxatives in the squash. Really. She's had enough chances.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Increasingly tempted by the laxative idea.... Where can I buy there from

[SaucyJack]

I like the look of the Lockaboxes.

If you get a transparent one, you could have all manner of fun with sticking passive-aggressive notes or photos on the inside.

[Flumplet]

When i was at Uni we shared a house for a year, and it was absolutely the worst year in every way. I was one of 2 women and 4 men, and I was repeatedly accused (via passive aggressive notes on a board in the kitchen) of stealing shampoo and conditioner left in the bathroom, when in actual fact, i had my own shampoo and conditioner. One time i was also accused of stealing a very expensive parcel which was received and signed for (in my name but not by me). It turned out to be one of the guys downstairs. On the last day of the year after he vacated, we went in to his room - which was an absolute hovel - and found loads of our stuff like crockery, magazine subscriptions and other opened post and food packets. Moral of the story - it might not necessarily be who you suspect it to be.

[JellyBelli]

Complain to the landlord, you shouldnt have to share with a thief.

[Shelvesoutofbooks]

Lastqueen - boots or any pharmacy. Ask for the liquid ones

[fourquenelles]

Hope she is going great to be able to cover the rent if she has been sacked.

[fourquenelles]

Sorry about the extraneous great.

[19lottie82]

Unfortunately it's pretty much impossible to buy strong laxatives over the counter these days. I had horrendous constipation a year ago and went to 3 chemists, inc boots. All they could offer me was tablets that offered "gentle overnight relief". They didn't work.

[DarkBlueEyes]

Are you absolutely certain it's her? Because it conceivably COULD be your other flatmates. I'd be inclined to call a flat meeting and spell it out that it's not acceptable, it's theft and you won't put up with it. Perhaps she's replied to your message by now. I'd definitely lock things up if I were you as it means whoever it is won't have access to your stuff. I'd also tip that really foul tasting nail biting stuff into the squash, and find something harmless, but vile, to contaminate other things - like crumpets - that belong to you. Like egg shells maybe? crushed up finely and inserted into the hole? that'll teach her..

Everything else lock away, and wtaf with the mother? I'd be inclined to contact the mother and ask her to ask her precious little daughter not to steal from you.

[YouTheCat]

Get something irresistible and lace with laxatives.

Leave out for her princessness. Hide the loo rolls.

Does she steal from the others too?

[AuntJane]

Make a cake. Ice it was laxative chocolate. Leave it somewhere accessible. Wait for results.

[TheCatsMother99]

Seeing as her mum got involved last time, could you call her mum up and ask her to bring a food ration parcel for your housemate as she's clearly so hungry she has to go around stealing other people's food?

[ToastyFingers]

Piss in the squash.

Or put movicol in it.

Revenge is sweet.

[Topseyt]

It isn't petty of you at all.

To put it bluntly, you are living with an entitled thief! That is what she is.

Lockabox, padlock for the cupboard in the kitchen and a small fridge in your room. If she asks why you have done that then tell her bluntly. Tell her foolish mother too if you have to.

I remember my house sharing days all too well. I really don't miss them at all.

[chickenowner]

You are definitely not being petty.

I agree with the posters above - keep things in your room, or put a padlock on one of the kitchen cupboards.

Buy yourself a mini fridge for your room, or a lockable box for the shared fridge.

If there isn't already a lock on your room door then get one fitted.

You should not have to put up with this!