Colleague stealing my noodles

[doitinadayswork]

And replacing them the following day with a pot noodle

The noodles in question are a Korean brand, very tasty. You can actually get them in B&M

I have a colleague who takes my noodles if I hadn't had time to stop and eat that day

And she replaced them the following morning with a pot noodle (argh).

I told my manager who said we like to 'give and take' in this department and was it really such a huge deal? I said she isn't replacing what I got though

AIBU here? What on earth do I do? She isn't one to cross, the thief. She is quite vocal and a higher band who could make me miserable if she so chose to do so

I worked for a long time with Koreans (preference for the Shin-Cup noodles, btw) and when the SARS outbreak came (2003?)and it didn't hit Korea at all badly, they put it down to their Kimchi consumption.

A friend of mine had similar when a colleague ate the Kit Kat chunky she’d left on her desk (!), colleague left a post-it saying she’d replace it…and she did…but with a small 2 finger Kit Kat, not a glorious chunky. Outrageous.

I’m still watching this thread, but only because there are posters who seem to think these might be fresh noodles that have to be stored in a fridge…

Noodles that are from B&M…

I can’t see it myself. I can only picture a block of dried noodles that require a kettle and stabbing of the fork to ‘cook’.

Just leave it in your bag. Problem solved.

**edited to take out ‘Korean brand’, as I’m now aware some are sold fresh in pots, but B&M don’t sell fresh noodles from looking at their website!

Me and my colleagues love the koka bowl ones. There's always 4 or 5 us that have them every lunch time, if there's any left on the shelf. People are buying 3/4 at a time

The curry one is just 👌 perfection

These kimchi ones are my favourite! Such a comfort food if you’ve got a cold or feel under the weather

jajangmyeon and koka chicken come a joint second

Of course, that's obvious. This is about the principle of whether she should have to, which she shouldn't. Employees should be able to leave their lunch in the provided facilities without fearing others will eat it and 'replace' it with something different.

If what you're suggesting is that no one leaves their food in the kitchen, well, that should apply to everyone regardless of what the food is.

If it's nicer, take your bosses car home instead of yours. Give and take after all 😉

Gotta be a Nong Shim. Shin Ramyun is the best. Jail's too good for 'em OP, keep your noodles under lock and key!

Thanks for the noodle suggestions
I might try the pork or prawn ones listed on Amazon, though it looks like you have to bulk buy.

Pp suggesting it's too early for school holidays - where are your priorities?! Noodles are important. Lord knows what you'd make of the Kraft mac and cheese threads... 😂

Well really its theft and in some work places (mine) it would be an instant dismissal if someone complained about their items being stolen..your managers response is absolutely ridiculous

You win mumsnet for your post's title.

I'd go passive aggressive Ross Gellar on her.

I see the OP has not returned... maybe this thread is just a clever marketing ploy by the manufacturers of Korean noodles?

Keep them away from her in your bag /drawer. It's not like they need to be in a fridge. A shared bridge is always a problem for a collective number of staff

they don't need to market that stuff. it's ridiculously addictive.

Op you need to come back and clarify if it's these noodles 😂

Wow your manager is a dickhead, or just weak.

Why the hell should OP buy her cf colleague lunch every day???

Yes! That must be it!

What a pathetic response from boss. Placemarking a bit!

Pot noodles are woefully inadequate replacements - far too thick.

Tip the replacement ones (uncooked) gently over her head or over her desk if there is any repeat.

I would have suggested calling the police but they are unlikely to come out and investigate.

I'd leave some noodles there heavily laced with laxatives.
That might stop them stealing.

Illegal. At best sacked for gross misconduct, at worst prosecuted (and no, the fact the noodles were stolen makes no legal difference - you can’t legally set booby traps for thieves in the UK).

Is it this brand op?

I'd be livid too of my colleague stole them. They're delicious, but far too good to have at work!

I’m racking my brains here to think of a solution. Someone used to steal all our milk at a previous workplace and in the end I decanted what I needed into a baby’s bottle and put a label on saying ‘expressed milk’. No-one ever touched it again. I’m wondering whether there’s any sort of equivalent that can be done with noodles.