To find this rude? (Light hearted)

[ThisHeatIsKillingMeOff]

Anyone else find this rude?

Have a family member who rifles through my kitchen cupboards and helps themselves to all sorts, they do this on a Day by day basis.
This week they've made themselves sandwiches, food, took a unopened big bottle of coke home with them, snacks for my kids have gone all without asking just picks it up and takes it home.
It's costing a small fortune to keep replacing everything that I can't afford to keep doing!

Today actually they asked to take the last of something home and I said no, to have a sarcastic comment about having to drink from a hose pipe instead.

AIBU as in I should have a open house policy or does anyone else get annoyed with people taking stuff from their cupboards home with them? I don't mind making cuppas etc when they're here but taking it home seems to be taking the biscuit they aren't short of money neither.

What about one of those lockable with a timer fridge safes? Or a diet pig that squeals when the door is opened?
Or a firm, 'Anything I can get you mil?' as you head her away from the kitchen.

I see you are already putting snacks elsewhere.

@ThisHeatIsKillingMeOff

Stop being polite to this inconsiderate food thief! Blow your gasket if you need to, to protect not only your finances/food store and other race of mind but also the special snacks for your diabetic child. Also look on Amazon for lockable snack boxes. 🌹

@ThisHeatIsKillingMeOff My uncle started this kind of behaviour when his dementia first kicked in. Previously, a very scrupulous man, he began stealing parking change and sweets from people's cars if the gave him a lift and would raid the handbags of visitors to his house.
How does she do her own shopping? You might find that there are other 'unusual' traits that have developed - if other relatives are honest.

You are being bullied in your own home and made to feel guilty about it.

I wondered about dementia too. If you don't think it's that then she is completely being a CF.

It isn't lighthearted at all.

She's not a vampire, you know - you can rescind her invitation to cross the threshold.

Although maybe you should invest in a couple of crucifixes, get the Coke blessed by a Priest and have a couple of pointy stakes in the kitchen drawer just in case...

How magnanimous of them

Isn't it up to OP what she buys

Hide it all from her. She is so rude

In this day and age this is even worse than making more work for you, it's even worse manners/behaviour because most people are considering their budget/outgoings more.

Have a worse with them and say they can't do it anymore.

Or if they have dementia or eating issues or something, I would put locks on the cupboards OP.

It's probably rather compulsive behaviour, likely related to early childhood emotional neglect. Be kind but firm.

Is it your grown up child? Boundaries op

Sig- yes because everyone has unlimited money.
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To the PP's who claim snacks and coke are wrong (though I think maybe at least one was just mocking MN orthorexic culture 😃) nothing wrong with them as part of a balanced diet.

Do you get on with her in general? Do you “like” each other? If not, she is just pushing your buttons on purpose, which it seems like she is due to the hose comment. Does she need to be at your house everyday?

Is there any reason why you haven't put locks on the doors already?

I would put a lockable fridge in the garage or shed or somewhere and keep all these things in there. I know it’s a pain but you can’t keep up this level of feeding her.

Then she is banned from your house. No ifs, buts or maybes. It’s theft. It’s illegal.

Found the snowflake.

It's not an insult, it's fact.

How close is this family member? Actually, it doesnt matter, they are an asshole, you're a mug for tolerating it.

It's her MIL.

None of this is normal at all people don't grocery shop at other people's houses. Its one thing to be offered leftovers to take home from a meal you ate together its another thing entirely for them to raid your cabinets. If i were you i would put my foot down and say absolutely no food of yours is leaving with them and that if they don't agree they are not welcome over anymore. What they have left to drink is their business not yours

Nothing light hearted about this AT ALL! Tell them to piss off stealing food from your kids, and if they won't stop, don't let them in any more!

I would present them with a bill for everything they have stolen from you, and ban them from my house until it was paid in full. It’s theft, no matter what relationship they are to you.

I would go ballistic. Unless you’re an all inclusive hotel this is unacceptable

Next time she takes something I would say “ please replace that as it was for my/dh/dc lunch tomorrow “.
or move everything so she can’t find anything.

Exactly this!