Man Steals Coworker’s Food And She Yanks It From Under His Nose, Embarrassing Him In Front Of His Colleagues
Interview With AuthorThere is nothing worse than when you put some food in the fridge to eat for later or save a delicious dessert for after you’re done with a tiresome task and find that the food is no longer there. It can really make you want to cry.
Imagine the feeling when it happens at work. You bring something to eat, put it in the fridge and when the break comes, the food is already taken by someone else. This is exactly what happened to Reddit user Steelsnapdragon, but she was lucky enough to catch the thief red-handed. Furthermore, she had the guts to embarrass him in front of others, although not everyone understood her feelings at the moment and didn’t approve of her reaction, so she went to the internet to find out if what she had done was inappropriate.
More info: reddit.com
An employee publicly embarrassed her coworker for stealing her food, which most people would relate to, but not in her workplace
Image credits: Matt Seppings (not the actual photo)
The Original Poster (OP) said she started a new job in a small studio where she eats lunch at about 1 PM while most of her colleagues go at about noon. One day she decided to go at the same time everyone else went and while she was making herself coffee, the woman noticed her tupperware was in the sink with no food inside.
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
She then turned around and saw that her prepared meal was on a plate in front of a man she was not acquainted with. He had already heated the food in the microwave and was just about to eat it.
Being hangry is a real thing, people do get irritated on an empty stomach and actually get in a better mood after eating. That is probably what happened with Steelsnapdragon as she got mad and wasn’t afraid to confront the thief.
The OP was making herself coffee when she noticed her tupperware in the sink
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
The woman went to him, sat down on his side and took her food from him. Even before the man had time to react and say anything, she started eating it, to the disbelief of everyone sitting at the table.
The man got his voice back and had the audacity to ask what the woman thought she was doing taking people’s lunch like that. The OP wasn’t going to back down and continued with her sarcasm, commenting on the flavor of the food that she remembered being better when she first cooked it.
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
At this moment, the man finally realized that the woman sitting next to him was the person whose lunch he stole and the OP shamed the man for being so impudent for stealing someone else’s lunch and then being annoyed when that person took it back.
The thief didn’t have any good comeback and was just stuttering under his breath. He said that he didn’t know the food was OP’s, which is not an excuse, as it wouldn’t have been better if he took any other colleague’s food.
Turns out, a man who didn’t even work at the studio had already heated her food and was sitting down to eat it
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
It seems that the man was really embarrassed as from the story, it is clear how uncomfortable he was and that he didn’t find the words to even apologize properly.
Steelsnapdragon was really annoyed and continued the spectacle for the people in the dining area, thanking the thief for warming up her food for her. Of course, it was all said with an attitude, but after this, the man walked out and the whole room remained in awkward silence for a while.
The OP went to the man and yanked the food and the fork from him, following with some sarcastic remarks
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
From the people who saw the scene, there were 2 who thought that she was too rude and could have handled the situation better. As the event left the OP in a bad mood, she wasn’t very polite with them either and a couple of people in the comments actually pointed out that the OP is probably a woman and that is why she was judged for not being nice enough.
It is hard to tell whether the story teller is a woman or a man but by looking through other things she has posted, it is clear she is indeed a woman. Other redditors guessed she was because people often expect women to be polite, submissive and not confronting in front of a man and sadly, they guessed correctly.
When the man realized he took someone’s food, he muttered something and walked away
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
Bored Panda reached out to Steelsnapdragon and asked if there were any updates, but since the event happened only on Wednesday, there is not much to tell. She told us, “I didn’t report the thief. I felt my reaction was enough and we don’t have any HR/he works for another studio in the building.” Although she did explain what happened to her boss who seemed to accept her behavior at that time.
We also wanted to know if the comments made her see the situation more clearly and seeing that the comments were mostly supporting her, she felt relieved that she didn’t overreact in the moment. “After the comments I read, I felt a lot more validated in my response as I’ve had some mates tell me I have a knee-jerk reaction to things sometimes. I am a quiet person generally but get loud quickly when I feel someone has overstepped, which I did here.”
Surprisingly, the OP’s colleagues thought that this reaction was not called for and thought she could have been nicer
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
When something like this happens, you become wary of leaving your things unattended, but with food, it’s kind of hard not to use the fridge. The OP said she will still be leaving hers in the common fridge but she said she will be putting her name on the lunch box as she has noticed others doing.
The OP herself thinks that the man overstepped and she felt that her reaction was normal as any
Image credits: Steelsnapdragon
In the end, the OP doesn’t regret reacting like she did and thought that she wasn’t being too rude and that she treated the man like he deserved, because after all, food is sacred and theft is a crime. She just wanted to know if there are people who support her as those 2 coworkers clearly disapproved.
Redditors disagreed with the said coworkers and thought that she actually handled the situation epically and respected her for having the courage to be so bold and direct as it’s what a lot of them would want to do but wouldn’t, actually.
What do you think of the OP’s reaction? Would you have reacted differently? Is food something to be upset over? We would like to hear your opinions, so leave them in the comments!
Other redditors supported the OP and said that she did what anyone would want to do but would not have the courage to
260Kviews
Share on FacebookIdk why people think shame isn't a good deterrent. I think it works better than punishment sometimes. Having to shamefully admit what you did then punishment is probably better.
You usually see lots of comments about making spicy or laxative laden foods for the food thieves, which can be categorized as assault if given the right circumstances. I'd much rather face it head on and nip it in the bud. They deserve to be called out in front of their peers, so everyone knows just what type of person they're working with.
Load More Replies...Why in the world is lunch thievery even a thing?! I get it if you have two identical Tupperware and you grab and eat the wrong thing (assuming poor labelling as well, which does happen). But to take something you *know* isn't yours? WTF is wrong with people?
How do you not see if not the food you packed tho? Mashed potatoes vs pasta, i think I'd notice even without tasting
Load More Replies...She was rude?! SHE was rude?! He bloody stole her damn lunch! Never be nice to people like that.
I love how ppl think HR departments are like ubiquitous magical work fairies
Whenever I had reported anything stolen, including my purse one day, managers would just say "Was your name on it?" as if that justifies your belongings to be stolen.
Load More Replies...Oh it's totally because she was a woman putting a man in his place despite the fact he was in the wrong as the thief. Men really do expect women to prioritize their feelings at all cost
So, if she handled it better, per the other co-workers, would it have solved the issue? Maybe yes, maybe no. He had the nerve to ask her what she was doing taking the food from him, that he had already stole. So I'm not sure he would have stopped stealing from her or anyone else in the future. She said they have no HR, so no reporting it there. The fact that he was called out, and in front of people, makes me think that's going to be a better deterrent and he won't steal lunches anymore.
Definitely doing it front of other people was the reason it worked, if she confronted him 1on1 you can be 100% sure he would have continued stealing food.
Load More Replies...Everyone in our office was regularly having food going missing. I walked in the kitchen one morning to find 2 women from the other end of the office (they had their own kitchen) going through the fridge selecting their breakfast. I told the guy who's food they'd just stolen who was friends with them. He very nicely confronted them and asked what were they doing with his food. They laughingly said they couldn't bothered to go out and grab food so just took whatever they fancied we reported it and nothing was done but they were never left alone in that kitchen again.
I have never understood why so many people think it's worse to call out someone who is stealing from you than it is for someone to steal from you. I absolutely hate people who will steal my food. It happened to me constantly when I was going to school and didn't stop until I was willing to actually punch people for doing it. The people I've seen who will steal peoples' food in the workplace never showed any sort of remorse or indication they understood human ethics at all. Screw those people.
This person is my hero. Also if this person ever reads this, process this whole encounter like a dog would. Someone crossed the line, you bit back in no uncertain terms, now go back to just being you and don't give it a second thought.
I'm not sure why all the upvotes on reddit for the at least TWO commenters saying she should have gone to HR when she says right there THERE IS NO HR. There is no HR. Good for her for what she did, but she's not got a long career there, she should just get her resume polished now. It's not going to last.
NTA and honestly I don't even feel like they were that rude, tbh. After reading the title I expected to read a full on meltdown, this person however very effectively put that person in their place.
Yes, she could have smashed the whole plate on his nose for example ;b
Load More Replies...Whoever said she was rude was just shocked to see a woman stand up for herself. Men don’t like it when women aren’t submissive. I love this because I only wish I would caught the food thief at my old office job. He was real sneaky though (was a manager, of course). I recently had a somewhat similar situation with my fruit trees. They are glorious in harvest season - big plum tree with 3 varieties, cherry tree with 2 varieties, and an ancient Granny Smith apple tree. They’re well inside my obvious property line, but people can’t resist trespassing to steal the fruit. One such instance was a group of construction workers. Through a window I watched them traipse across my yard and yank at the branches. One guy looked right at me, hesitated for a sec, then continued eating and spitting the pits on my manicured grass, all while staring at me. So, I let my dogs out and watched them run for their lives. (my dogs wouldn’t hurt them, but they sound and look scary as heck) it was great
Oh god I can't even imagine the social outrage if someone was caught stealing a coworker's lunch in my country. I'm pretty sure the thief would also get fired.
3 or 4 years ago, at my office, we had a dude who did the exact same thing: he would just open the fridge and help himself with whatever caught his eye (he was the CFO.....). Until one day, when he stole my food, confrunted him, and made him buy treats (cake) for everyone he stole lunch from. Never happened again after that. Proudest day of my life so far 😅
I am an old fat guy. If you are broke and hungry, ask, I will help you out. Steal my food, I am going to embarrass at the very least. Cuss your thieving ass out?? possibly. Slap the stupid out of you?? Maybe.
Sometimes you just can't slap that hard.
Load More Replies...Was the OP female or why did people have the nerve to tell her to be 'nicer'? And what on earth is wrong with people who walk around stealing other people's stuff??? A whole self-cooked meal - what kind of a*****e does that?
Would still like to that answer to "who does he think he is?" If he doesn't work in the studio he at least knew someone who worked there. Did someone say oh just grab anything lunches go on attended? It's such a juvenile thing to do. Yes label your lunches or even carry a little ice bag and keep your lunch with you.
It irks me to no end that her colleagues had the audacity to tell her SHE was rude! Seriously? No. You're just misogynistic ass who thinks women should bow their head and be meek and submission. Gross.
I actually cannot believe people have the audacity to steal food. OP handled it very well. NTA!
I've noticed if people get second-hand embarrassment from an altercation, no matter how minor, then the person who "started it" is *always* labeled "in the wrong." Even if the person "starting it" is calling out someone who is being abusive. Like if a man whispers something gross to a woman, and she tells him he's disgusting, loudly, then she's in the wrong, for making it public. It's ridiculous. "Don't make waves" because it's embarrassing to see someone else be embarrassed.
it is like will smith and the slap. will is in the wrong. he did apologise while chris didnt. and will got punishment while chris didnt even though he started it. if anything they should have apologise to each other. will maybe shouldnt have slapped chris but it was just a warning slap its not like he beat him and he fell to the ground it wasnt even a punch. they are both men it is not like a stronger person attacked a weaker one they are equals. is it really that hard for chris to apologise? this is a joke you can make among friends if you share this type of humor but it is not a joke for oscars. i will never understand the yo mamma joke culture in the US and in general this humuliating type of humor. in some countries you could get beat up for insulting someones mom
Load More Replies...To me this is no different than if the lunch thief walked over opened her wallet and took $5-10 out. She shopped and paid for the ingredients, prepared it and brought it fot her - not to be shared. She deserves a medal!! From all of us who were on tight budgets, had our lunches stolen then went hungry because we could not go for take out or even afford the vending machine I offer standing ovation.
Been there. Had 5$ to my name. Someone went in my purse and took it. I was so sad I worked with a thief.
Load More Replies...I took someone's lunch once. By mistake though. Mine was wrapped in tin foil, so was theirs. I took what I thought was mine and walked half a mile to the other office I was working in that afternoon. Unwrapped it, discovered my mistake and walked the half mile back to swap it back round again. Even if he didn't know it was hers, like she said, he knew it wasn't his, so he was stealing. I'll bet it's not the first time either. So hell yeah, call out that thief. If she'd had gone to HR it would have been worse for him. He might feel shame but at least he doesn't have that on his HR record.
NTA. I would have been more straight forward about it - "That's my food. Don't take other people's food." - but that's just me. I would mention it to my immediate supervisor, just in case trouble comes around. I never waste time with HR.
I worked with a girl who thought nothing of helping herself to other people's food and wasn't even embarrassed when she got pulled up about it. Her reasoning,,,, well there's no way they were gonna eat it all themselves I stopped it from going to waste!!!! The food in particular was for a girl who had specific dietary issues and the food was also quite expensive. The food thief was told on many occasions to stop but probably still does it to this day.
If I stole a lunch from a restaurant, cops would be involved. I think she was nicer than she had to be. He has no criminal record, stemming from this incident anyway.
J don't know when lunch thieving became so mainstream, it's basically always joked about on television, it's like taking some one's groceries. I would lose my s**t. It is notnjust taking a splash of milk for your coffee.
exactly like what is so funny about it it is presented as a joke in television?
Load More Replies...No def NTA, I’d have done the same. Where does he get the nerve to steal someone else's lunch like that! I doubt people will ever f**k with you again. Sometimes confronting someone head on like that is the easiest solution because now people saw that your not a push over and there will be major consequences if they trifle with you again. So they wont.
A co-worker was fired from my workplace for taking someone else's can of soda. While some thought it was an overreaction by management, apparently it wasn't the first time this person had "borrowed" someone else's Pepsi, and the owner marked the bottom of the cans to prove ownership. Also, it's actually in our company's site rules that any theft, including food from shared refrigerators, is means for dismissal.
I'd bet good money OP is a woman. People don't like it when women show anger, especially toward a man. If a man was that assertive, he'd be called exactly that: Assertive.
He doesn't even work there!!! You done right by calling him on it. Fkn cheek to eat food he KNEW wasn't his
I know how she feels. Back at the office there were so many food thieves I resorted to just getting takeaway every day. Everything would get taken. Utensils, cups, containers, a pack of hotdogs I had bought on the way to work that was supposed to be my supper for the week. People would encourage others to "just use someone else's things to use".
I've had this happen so many times. I started to bring a lunch box with ice packs. I never had the balls to approach the thieves in front of others but I did confront them if I knew who it was. I guess it depends upon the type of business whether it's a good idea or not. It wouldn't have flown in my conservative office.
Worked with a dipwad of a nurse 20 years ago who just plain and simply did not want to pay for anything she could otherwise steal, and she stole parts and pieces of food out of multiple lunch bags in our breakroom, every single night she worked. One nurse finally got tired of it, took it upon himself to doctor the pieces he knew she'd take, and within a matter of minutes of her bringing "her" food out to the desk to eat it (midnight staff had to eat at the desk, it being the ICU), she had tears running down her face. She'd bitten into a sandwich that had a large amount of wasabi sauce added to it. She apparently felt the need to cool her mouth down a bit, so she took a swig of the Coca-Cola she'd pilfered---and immediately gagged. Nurse had carefully opened it and poured in a large amount of lime juice (the nurse thief hated lime!), then recapped it tightly. Tried to eat a stolen jelly donut, but other nurse had injected it with the hottest hot sauce available. Thief was fired next day
I'd love to see someone steal my lunch, haha. The thing is: I absolutely LOVE spicy food and always use a lot of habanero chili powder and even splash on some chili sauce when it's time to eat! I even grow my own chili, so that's how much I love spicy food! Haha! Come on! Steal my food, I dare ya! :D (Picture: Bhut Jolokia chili) bhut_jolok...9e7da6.jpg
So what was he doing poking his nose in your refrigerator if he didn't have his own food in there? He must have been LOOKING to steal someone's food in the first place.
First off, OP is NTA. The person who helped himself to her lunch deserved to be shamed. Never the less, this should be a learning experience for OP. If you avoid using the common frig and/or break room, you will avoid lots of headaches. Every work place has its share of a***oles who steal lunches, use other people's coffee mugs, don't clean up after themselves, leave a half inch of coffee to evaporate and burn, abandon food to rot in the fridge, etc. Break rooms are also breeding grounds for gossip and cliques. Buy a good lunch box and keep it at your desk. If you drink coffee, buy a good thermos. Believe me; you will save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
I think she handled it better than I did. He would have been wearing the lunch if it was me. This person is a thief. If he steals lunches he probably shoplifts as well.
Who the hell thinks it ok to steal a co-workers lunch? Someone is bound to find out and then they're gonna suspect you of stealing other things?
NTA. You're a woman, so immediately him and his friends view that you should just be servile and hand the guy your handmade lunch. He knew what he was doing and flat out didn't care, then didn't have the decency to own up to being a jackas*, instead they gaslight you as being the bitc* by standing up for yourself. Since you said shi*e instead of shi*, i'm going to assume you're british (maybe even a fellow scotswoman?) in which case ABSOLUTELY DO NOT BACK DOWN. I've had this crap from British guys, put them in their place once and they'll learn not to fuc* with you. You did the right thing. Now you need to note the date and time this happened, who was there involved/witnessed the altercation. Write down any future instances that happen, make detailed logs of this s**t. If it does get worse, escalate it to the manager and tell him you're about to open a discrimination/harassment suit against the company and employees. It will end there.
Tupperware. The product is called Tupperware. I wouldn't bother, but clearly, the OP doesn't know that it's not "Tuppaware".
Theft is theft. I don't care what it is. This jerk has NO integrity and as he does this I guarantee he lies as well as steals. And the people who "defended" him are no better. I have "dropped" people who have lied to me because when someone lies to you they are saying "you are so freaking stupid you will believe anything I say."
I got back at a lunch thief by filling two chocolate bread with half a bar of Exlax in each. For tose who don't know the brand, there's LAX in the name... Needless to say that I saw someone leaving the assembly dept. running and leaving a trail behind his soiled pants. He got fired later because someone reported him for stealing stuff from lunch boxes.
The balls he had to sit right there where whoever he stole it from could walk right in and see him eating their food! You were nicer about it than most people would have been. I guess you're lucky that the guy didn't bring in the same dish that you had made in a disposable container. We had a coworker doing this where I used to work plus they would help themselves to beverages people brought in. That's why I never kept anything in the breakroom refrigerator I kept a small cooler in my office. Whats just as bad was people leaving moldy nasty food forever then freaking out when it was thrown out weeks later.
If it had been me he would have worn it but I am a known b***h and don't take s**t from anyone! Stand up for yourself probably some one will fid fault with this but they will all realize they should not mess with you! Just a question was this guy of normal intelligence?
A hangry person does what is necessary and she did...she put him in a shaming box and he deserved every ounce of thieving shame that followed..just concerned that her coworkers thought it was rude..they are the assholes too...its also weird that the guy didnt even work there like wtf dude!!
Now they all know what to expect so I doubt she'll have problems with lunch thieves again 😁
Let's rephrase "stole your lunch" and say what it is. Stole your property. I wonder how they would feel if it was their phone or idno, lipstick was used by some stranger. Thievery is thievery no matter the magnitude, and unless he was 3 days starving, i wouldn't excuse it. And shaming is a great deterrent, i was stealing in my student years, if they didn't catch me i might still be doing it. An adult like this guy has to get a grip on his life and be ready with his own food too...i mean COME ON. It's not like you need to go out hunt, butcher your prey daily
She should have told his "mates" to go fork themselves. Unfortunately, she should also start looking for another job. This place sounds toxic and clique-ish.
this is why i can't work in a large office. if someone stole my lunch when i was hangry, they'd be in danger. thinking find them and smash their face in to my lunch
You were nicer than I was two times! In each instance, I came up behind the person and slammed their face full force into my food. I broke one guy's nose in the process. I was fired both times for assault but won my unemployment case. Touch my food and I will put you in the hospital.
The better way to go about it would have been to actually be rude to him. He's a thief. He deserved an absolute bollocking.
Load More Replies...Lol "truth". I have actually worked for HR and your comment is ludicrous. Yes they probably would have told her to inform her manager. No they would not have fired her over this. And for you to say "most" when you likely haven't even worked at many companies at all is just... ignorant. You are NOT required to inform your manager before going to HR.
Load More Replies...Idk why people think shame isn't a good deterrent. I think it works better than punishment sometimes. Having to shamefully admit what you did then punishment is probably better.
You usually see lots of comments about making spicy or laxative laden foods for the food thieves, which can be categorized as assault if given the right circumstances. I'd much rather face it head on and nip it in the bud. They deserve to be called out in front of their peers, so everyone knows just what type of person they're working with.
Load More Replies...Why in the world is lunch thievery even a thing?! I get it if you have two identical Tupperware and you grab and eat the wrong thing (assuming poor labelling as well, which does happen). But to take something you *know* isn't yours? WTF is wrong with people?
How do you not see if not the food you packed tho? Mashed potatoes vs pasta, i think I'd notice even without tasting
Load More Replies...She was rude?! SHE was rude?! He bloody stole her damn lunch! Never be nice to people like that.
I love how ppl think HR departments are like ubiquitous magical work fairies
Whenever I had reported anything stolen, including my purse one day, managers would just say "Was your name on it?" as if that justifies your belongings to be stolen.
Load More Replies...Oh it's totally because she was a woman putting a man in his place despite the fact he was in the wrong as the thief. Men really do expect women to prioritize their feelings at all cost
So, if she handled it better, per the other co-workers, would it have solved the issue? Maybe yes, maybe no. He had the nerve to ask her what she was doing taking the food from him, that he had already stole. So I'm not sure he would have stopped stealing from her or anyone else in the future. She said they have no HR, so no reporting it there. The fact that he was called out, and in front of people, makes me think that's going to be a better deterrent and he won't steal lunches anymore.
Definitely doing it front of other people was the reason it worked, if she confronted him 1on1 you can be 100% sure he would have continued stealing food.
Load More Replies...Everyone in our office was regularly having food going missing. I walked in the kitchen one morning to find 2 women from the other end of the office (they had their own kitchen) going through the fridge selecting their breakfast. I told the guy who's food they'd just stolen who was friends with them. He very nicely confronted them and asked what were they doing with his food. They laughingly said they couldn't bothered to go out and grab food so just took whatever they fancied we reported it and nothing was done but they were never left alone in that kitchen again.
I have never understood why so many people think it's worse to call out someone who is stealing from you than it is for someone to steal from you. I absolutely hate people who will steal my food. It happened to me constantly when I was going to school and didn't stop until I was willing to actually punch people for doing it. The people I've seen who will steal peoples' food in the workplace never showed any sort of remorse or indication they understood human ethics at all. Screw those people.
This person is my hero. Also if this person ever reads this, process this whole encounter like a dog would. Someone crossed the line, you bit back in no uncertain terms, now go back to just being you and don't give it a second thought.
I'm not sure why all the upvotes on reddit for the at least TWO commenters saying she should have gone to HR when she says right there THERE IS NO HR. There is no HR. Good for her for what she did, but she's not got a long career there, she should just get her resume polished now. It's not going to last.
NTA and honestly I don't even feel like they were that rude, tbh. After reading the title I expected to read a full on meltdown, this person however very effectively put that person in their place.
Yes, she could have smashed the whole plate on his nose for example ;b
Load More Replies...Whoever said she was rude was just shocked to see a woman stand up for herself. Men don’t like it when women aren’t submissive. I love this because I only wish I would caught the food thief at my old office job. He was real sneaky though (was a manager, of course). I recently had a somewhat similar situation with my fruit trees. They are glorious in harvest season - big plum tree with 3 varieties, cherry tree with 2 varieties, and an ancient Granny Smith apple tree. They’re well inside my obvious property line, but people can’t resist trespassing to steal the fruit. One such instance was a group of construction workers. Through a window I watched them traipse across my yard and yank at the branches. One guy looked right at me, hesitated for a sec, then continued eating and spitting the pits on my manicured grass, all while staring at me. So, I let my dogs out and watched them run for their lives. (my dogs wouldn’t hurt them, but they sound and look scary as heck) it was great
Oh god I can't even imagine the social outrage if someone was caught stealing a coworker's lunch in my country. I'm pretty sure the thief would also get fired.
3 or 4 years ago, at my office, we had a dude who did the exact same thing: he would just open the fridge and help himself with whatever caught his eye (he was the CFO.....). Until one day, when he stole my food, confrunted him, and made him buy treats (cake) for everyone he stole lunch from. Never happened again after that. Proudest day of my life so far 😅
I am an old fat guy. If you are broke and hungry, ask, I will help you out. Steal my food, I am going to embarrass at the very least. Cuss your thieving ass out?? possibly. Slap the stupid out of you?? Maybe.
Sometimes you just can't slap that hard.
Load More Replies...Was the OP female or why did people have the nerve to tell her to be 'nicer'? And what on earth is wrong with people who walk around stealing other people's stuff??? A whole self-cooked meal - what kind of a*****e does that?
Would still like to that answer to "who does he think he is?" If he doesn't work in the studio he at least knew someone who worked there. Did someone say oh just grab anything lunches go on attended? It's such a juvenile thing to do. Yes label your lunches or even carry a little ice bag and keep your lunch with you.
It irks me to no end that her colleagues had the audacity to tell her SHE was rude! Seriously? No. You're just misogynistic ass who thinks women should bow their head and be meek and submission. Gross.
I actually cannot believe people have the audacity to steal food. OP handled it very well. NTA!
I've noticed if people get second-hand embarrassment from an altercation, no matter how minor, then the person who "started it" is *always* labeled "in the wrong." Even if the person "starting it" is calling out someone who is being abusive. Like if a man whispers something gross to a woman, and she tells him he's disgusting, loudly, then she's in the wrong, for making it public. It's ridiculous. "Don't make waves" because it's embarrassing to see someone else be embarrassed.
it is like will smith and the slap. will is in the wrong. he did apologise while chris didnt. and will got punishment while chris didnt even though he started it. if anything they should have apologise to each other. will maybe shouldnt have slapped chris but it was just a warning slap its not like he beat him and he fell to the ground it wasnt even a punch. they are both men it is not like a stronger person attacked a weaker one they are equals. is it really that hard for chris to apologise? this is a joke you can make among friends if you share this type of humor but it is not a joke for oscars. i will never understand the yo mamma joke culture in the US and in general this humuliating type of humor. in some countries you could get beat up for insulting someones mom
Load More Replies...To me this is no different than if the lunch thief walked over opened her wallet and took $5-10 out. She shopped and paid for the ingredients, prepared it and brought it fot her - not to be shared. She deserves a medal!! From all of us who were on tight budgets, had our lunches stolen then went hungry because we could not go for take out or even afford the vending machine I offer standing ovation.
Been there. Had 5$ to my name. Someone went in my purse and took it. I was so sad I worked with a thief.
Load More Replies...I took someone's lunch once. By mistake though. Mine was wrapped in tin foil, so was theirs. I took what I thought was mine and walked half a mile to the other office I was working in that afternoon. Unwrapped it, discovered my mistake and walked the half mile back to swap it back round again. Even if he didn't know it was hers, like she said, he knew it wasn't his, so he was stealing. I'll bet it's not the first time either. So hell yeah, call out that thief. If she'd had gone to HR it would have been worse for him. He might feel shame but at least he doesn't have that on his HR record.
NTA. I would have been more straight forward about it - "That's my food. Don't take other people's food." - but that's just me. I would mention it to my immediate supervisor, just in case trouble comes around. I never waste time with HR.
I worked with a girl who thought nothing of helping herself to other people's food and wasn't even embarrassed when she got pulled up about it. Her reasoning,,,, well there's no way they were gonna eat it all themselves I stopped it from going to waste!!!! The food in particular was for a girl who had specific dietary issues and the food was also quite expensive. The food thief was told on many occasions to stop but probably still does it to this day.
If I stole a lunch from a restaurant, cops would be involved. I think she was nicer than she had to be. He has no criminal record, stemming from this incident anyway.
J don't know when lunch thieving became so mainstream, it's basically always joked about on television, it's like taking some one's groceries. I would lose my s**t. It is notnjust taking a splash of milk for your coffee.
exactly like what is so funny about it it is presented as a joke in television?
Load More Replies...No def NTA, I’d have done the same. Where does he get the nerve to steal someone else's lunch like that! I doubt people will ever f**k with you again. Sometimes confronting someone head on like that is the easiest solution because now people saw that your not a push over and there will be major consequences if they trifle with you again. So they wont.
A co-worker was fired from my workplace for taking someone else's can of soda. While some thought it was an overreaction by management, apparently it wasn't the first time this person had "borrowed" someone else's Pepsi, and the owner marked the bottom of the cans to prove ownership. Also, it's actually in our company's site rules that any theft, including food from shared refrigerators, is means for dismissal.
I'd bet good money OP is a woman. People don't like it when women show anger, especially toward a man. If a man was that assertive, he'd be called exactly that: Assertive.
He doesn't even work there!!! You done right by calling him on it. Fkn cheek to eat food he KNEW wasn't his
I know how she feels. Back at the office there were so many food thieves I resorted to just getting takeaway every day. Everything would get taken. Utensils, cups, containers, a pack of hotdogs I had bought on the way to work that was supposed to be my supper for the week. People would encourage others to "just use someone else's things to use".
I've had this happen so many times. I started to bring a lunch box with ice packs. I never had the balls to approach the thieves in front of others but I did confront them if I knew who it was. I guess it depends upon the type of business whether it's a good idea or not. It wouldn't have flown in my conservative office.
Worked with a dipwad of a nurse 20 years ago who just plain and simply did not want to pay for anything she could otherwise steal, and she stole parts and pieces of food out of multiple lunch bags in our breakroom, every single night she worked. One nurse finally got tired of it, took it upon himself to doctor the pieces he knew she'd take, and within a matter of minutes of her bringing "her" food out to the desk to eat it (midnight staff had to eat at the desk, it being the ICU), she had tears running down her face. She'd bitten into a sandwich that had a large amount of wasabi sauce added to it. She apparently felt the need to cool her mouth down a bit, so she took a swig of the Coca-Cola she'd pilfered---and immediately gagged. Nurse had carefully opened it and poured in a large amount of lime juice (the nurse thief hated lime!), then recapped it tightly. Tried to eat a stolen jelly donut, but other nurse had injected it with the hottest hot sauce available. Thief was fired next day
I'd love to see someone steal my lunch, haha. The thing is: I absolutely LOVE spicy food and always use a lot of habanero chili powder and even splash on some chili sauce when it's time to eat! I even grow my own chili, so that's how much I love spicy food! Haha! Come on! Steal my food, I dare ya! :D (Picture: Bhut Jolokia chili) bhut_jolok...9e7da6.jpg
So what was he doing poking his nose in your refrigerator if he didn't have his own food in there? He must have been LOOKING to steal someone's food in the first place.
First off, OP is NTA. The person who helped himself to her lunch deserved to be shamed. Never the less, this should be a learning experience for OP. If you avoid using the common frig and/or break room, you will avoid lots of headaches. Every work place has its share of a***oles who steal lunches, use other people's coffee mugs, don't clean up after themselves, leave a half inch of coffee to evaporate and burn, abandon food to rot in the fridge, etc. Break rooms are also breeding grounds for gossip and cliques. Buy a good lunch box and keep it at your desk. If you drink coffee, buy a good thermos. Believe me; you will save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
I think she handled it better than I did. He would have been wearing the lunch if it was me. This person is a thief. If he steals lunches he probably shoplifts as well.
Who the hell thinks it ok to steal a co-workers lunch? Someone is bound to find out and then they're gonna suspect you of stealing other things?
NTA. You're a woman, so immediately him and his friends view that you should just be servile and hand the guy your handmade lunch. He knew what he was doing and flat out didn't care, then didn't have the decency to own up to being a jackas*, instead they gaslight you as being the bitc* by standing up for yourself. Since you said shi*e instead of shi*, i'm going to assume you're british (maybe even a fellow scotswoman?) in which case ABSOLUTELY DO NOT BACK DOWN. I've had this crap from British guys, put them in their place once and they'll learn not to fuc* with you. You did the right thing. Now you need to note the date and time this happened, who was there involved/witnessed the altercation. Write down any future instances that happen, make detailed logs of this s**t. If it does get worse, escalate it to the manager and tell him you're about to open a discrimination/harassment suit against the company and employees. It will end there.
Tupperware. The product is called Tupperware. I wouldn't bother, but clearly, the OP doesn't know that it's not "Tuppaware".
Theft is theft. I don't care what it is. This jerk has NO integrity and as he does this I guarantee he lies as well as steals. And the people who "defended" him are no better. I have "dropped" people who have lied to me because when someone lies to you they are saying "you are so freaking stupid you will believe anything I say."
I got back at a lunch thief by filling two chocolate bread with half a bar of Exlax in each. For tose who don't know the brand, there's LAX in the name... Needless to say that I saw someone leaving the assembly dept. running and leaving a trail behind his soiled pants. He got fired later because someone reported him for stealing stuff from lunch boxes.
The balls he had to sit right there where whoever he stole it from could walk right in and see him eating their food! You were nicer about it than most people would have been. I guess you're lucky that the guy didn't bring in the same dish that you had made in a disposable container. We had a coworker doing this where I used to work plus they would help themselves to beverages people brought in. That's why I never kept anything in the breakroom refrigerator I kept a small cooler in my office. Whats just as bad was people leaving moldy nasty food forever then freaking out when it was thrown out weeks later.
If it had been me he would have worn it but I am a known b***h and don't take s**t from anyone! Stand up for yourself probably some one will fid fault with this but they will all realize they should not mess with you! Just a question was this guy of normal intelligence?
A hangry person does what is necessary and she did...she put him in a shaming box and he deserved every ounce of thieving shame that followed..just concerned that her coworkers thought it was rude..they are the assholes too...its also weird that the guy didnt even work there like wtf dude!!
Now they all know what to expect so I doubt she'll have problems with lunch thieves again 😁
Let's rephrase "stole your lunch" and say what it is. Stole your property. I wonder how they would feel if it was their phone or idno, lipstick was used by some stranger. Thievery is thievery no matter the magnitude, and unless he was 3 days starving, i wouldn't excuse it. And shaming is a great deterrent, i was stealing in my student years, if they didn't catch me i might still be doing it. An adult like this guy has to get a grip on his life and be ready with his own food too...i mean COME ON. It's not like you need to go out hunt, butcher your prey daily
She should have told his "mates" to go fork themselves. Unfortunately, she should also start looking for another job. This place sounds toxic and clique-ish.
this is why i can't work in a large office. if someone stole my lunch when i was hangry, they'd be in danger. thinking find them and smash their face in to my lunch
You were nicer than I was two times! In each instance, I came up behind the person and slammed their face full force into my food. I broke one guy's nose in the process. I was fired both times for assault but won my unemployment case. Touch my food and I will put you in the hospital.
The better way to go about it would have been to actually be rude to him. He's a thief. He deserved an absolute bollocking.
Load More Replies...Lol "truth". I have actually worked for HR and your comment is ludicrous. Yes they probably would have told her to inform her manager. No they would not have fired her over this. And for you to say "most" when you likely haven't even worked at many companies at all is just... ignorant. You are NOT required to inform your manager before going to HR.
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