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Original poster

Theft from employer

30 replies

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 11:53

Hello peeps

My husband maybe sacked due to a incident that happen months ago. He took one written off, non-working and not fit for use laptop home from work.

The background story was that he wanted to buy a laptop and he came across a used laptop with some faults. He was discussing with the seller and trying to narrow down the fault for weeks. Eventually he had some idea and asked the seller for a part number of the fault chip. But the part number wasn’t present. Since the item was a similar age to the a broken laptop at work. He decided to bring it home and record the part number. The idea was to take the laptop back once he recorded the info. But he was reported and suspended for a week so the business can investigate. He is in possession of the laptop and he will return it.

The husband is having a very stressful time and locked himself in a lock. He is crying and not eating well and I can’t see him like that. :(

He thinks he will possibly be fired and maybe reported to the police. Will he expect a prison sentence for the theft and breach of trust?

OP posts:

RedHelenB · 10/05/2019 13:48

Was there no one to ask permission of? Presenting it as you gave here I would say that he would be fired for theft if there was no work reason for taking it hone and he disnt ask permission.

Original poster

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 14:19

There was no ask for permission. Furthermore hubby often brought work home to repair some with and without permission.

He was comes to returns with it that loosing his job. The business also said they may involve the police if required.

OP posts:

NGC2017 · 10/05/2019 14:21

Unfortunately without gaining permission it will likely result in his dismissal.
Though you have stated his reasons for taking it home there is no way the employer can guarantee it to be the case. It will be seen as a breach of trust, and once that has broke down it is more than likely immediate dismissal following the investigation.
All he can do is admit to his mistake. I know it must be terribly hard for him but its a mistake he has mad

GlitterPixie · 10/05/2019 14:21

My husband was sacked for gross misconduct for a very similar circumstance. No police involvement. He was suspended first

Original poster

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 15:36

Currently he is waiting to be called in for a interview after the investigation is completed. Mostly likely be in a few days time.

He’s very worried that police will be involved and he will have a criminal record which would make finding work impossible. What type of sentence is he looking at? He’s never had any convictions and has been a good boy all his life.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 15:40

Why didn't he record the part number at work? And was he suspended the night he took it so he never returned to work and as such couldn't return it the next morning?

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 15:44

Sorry I think it's the way it's written, it happened months ago. He was suspended for a week.

Did he have the lap top at home for months? And was recently just discovered and suspended for a week? If so why did he have it for months at home?

Or was he suspended rhe night he took it and is now back and work and if so why is the lap top still at home?

I think the answers to these will dictate the severity of the situation.

Original poster

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 15:45

Didn’t have the tools to dismantle it so took it home. He took the laptop but never got around recording the part number until later that week. When he arrived to work on Monday they gave him a suspension and told him to leave the premises. He admits he is at fault and keep blaming himself for it.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 15:48

Hmm ok, yes that's not easy to get out of, he took a lap top he wasn't working on home, without permission and a few days later had still not returned it.

I suspect dismissal but no police involvement. I'm sorry. But it's very hard for him to prove he didn't actually steal it, because well for all intents and purposes he did. Thr line of i was going to return it honest, is a great one, even if it's true.

The thing is they need to trust their employees and it would seem it's broken.

I think if it comes to it, he needs to ask if he can resign rather than be fired so it doesn't appear on his cv and enables him to find new employment,

If I was him, I'd start looking.

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 15:50

He took the laptop but never got around recording the part number until later that week

But again this makes no sense, because why didn't he have it with him then when he returned on the Monday. I'm sure he just forgot, but it looks bad,

I think I'd be encouraging him to look for alternate employment now? How is your finances, can you cope? He is likely going to be dismissed with immediate effect, so no notice period.

Original poster

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 15:54

He has started looking for new roles. I will tell him to ask about the resignation request during his interview. The business did say during suspension meeting that police maybe be involved. He is very stressed and takes full responsibility, and want to come clean. I’ll keep this thread updated once I learn more.

OP posts:

NoBaggyPants · 10/05/2019 15:56

I think if it comes to it, he needs to ask if he can resign rather than be fired so it doesn't appear on his cv and enables him to find new employment,

Whilst there is no harm in asking, they can continue with the investigation even if he resigns. Or they could state on any reference that he resigned pending disciplinary for a matter which potentially amounted to gross misconduct. There's not much benefit to resigning.

SuziQ10 · 10/05/2019 15:57

They'd be pretty harsh to get the police involved. But they are takin the situation v seriously so they will most likely sack him.

Although it's a bad situation, it isn't the end of the world. Can he apologise and ask if they'd like him to resign? I'd be looking for ways to get out of the situation in the best way possible. If he walks away now (and saves them the hassle of meetings, notice pay etc) they may even agree to provide a reference. Although he's upset he needs to focus on how to best negotiate the situation!

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 15:58

We tend to give employees the option of resigning instead of dismissal, even when we have proven they have stolen, because we know if we don't they will struggle to find alternate employment and also it's usually out of character for them, so something drove them to it ie they are not prolific thief.

It's rare for a company to call the police, and I'm not sure rhe police can do anything here. It's his word he was going to return it, so can't imagine they will be keen to get involved.

TheInvestigator · 10/05/2019 15:59

But if he has a history of taking things home to repair without asking permission, and the employer has been happy with that arrangement then why didn't he simply say he was doing the same thing he always does? They've never had a problem before.

Original poster

Undertaker90 · 10/05/2019 15:59

He had the item in the van and was going to return it later on that day. But soon as he got into work they gave him the suspension. He had a breakdown and must have forgotten.

finance revise we will manage as I work. But I don’t want him going to prison.

OP posts:

Lanaa · 10/05/2019 16:01

There is no way someone of previous good character will get a custodial sentence for something so minor. Don't worry.

TheInvestigator · 10/05/2019 16:04

He will not go to prison for taking a broken laptop. It's just not going to happen.

NGC2017 · 10/05/2019 16:06

I'd be surprised if Police will be involved. He knows he has made a mistake and its a wasting time and resources when they are better put elsewhere.

Unfortunately he hasn't acted inappropriately, and it's a little hard to get out the the delay in returning it. The fact it wasn't with him on the day he was suspended also doesn't bode well.
As long as he takes full ownership and shows genuine sincere remorse for doing it, I would personally hand in my resignation as the meeting starts. That way his left before their decision. His reasons can be that he feels his mistake will result in a lifetime of lack of trust toward him in the workplace which is of course not how he wants to be seen. He owns up to his mistake but will find it hard to work in a place where his integrity will always be judged based on his stupid mistake

Presidentemmett · 10/05/2019 16:28

Even if the police were involved it’s doubtful he’d go to prison without previous convictions. But the severity may depend on the content of the laptop. If it has customer data on then the consequences may be more serious. His employers may have to get the police involved under information commissioner guidelines

HollowTalk · 10/05/2019 16:40

They must have been watching him as he left with it. Is there a problem with theft from that workplace?

HollowTalk · 10/05/2019 16:42

I'm really sorry but I think his account of what happened sounds really shifty. Isn't there an IT department that he could have spoken to about that part? And why think "Oh that laptop's a similar age..." when it's the model that you need to think about?

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 10/05/2019 16:51

Did he take the laptop home months ago as you say in your OP, and was suspended this last Monday? And he hadn't returned the laptop?

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2019 16:56

He won't go to jail for this. Don't worry.

HollowTalk · 10/05/2019 16:59

Did he take the laptop to work on the next working day?

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