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mattyb · Dec 10, 2008, 05:18 AM

There's a guy at work who is retiring after 35 years working for the same company. There's been a collection for him - 700€. Yesterday somebody went into the secretary's office and stole the envelope.

We're less than 200 people in the datacentre. Up until this event, I left my iPod Touch, my mobile and my wallet on my desk when going for a cigarette or having a coffee or going to meetings.

Everyone is obviously shocked, and what was already a fairly bad ambiance has turned into one of suspicion and mistrust. This is the first time that I've had the displeasure to work with a thief. Hopefully he or she will be caught soon.

brassplayersrock² · Dec 10, 2008, 05:24 AM

It was the guy who's retiring pulling a prank on you.

ebuddy · Dec 10, 2008, 06:02 AM

A friend of mine had been repeatedly getting sandwiches stolen out of the "community" refrigerator at work. The first sandwich that got stolen angered him. The second one enraged him so for the third one he carefully prepared it with a nicely-sized spittle. It was also stolen. He sent an all-employee email detailing his sabotage. We were hoping to see someone vomit upon receipt of the email, but no such luck.

brassplayersrock² · Dec 10, 2008, 06:04 AM

it was the janitor

ebuddy · Dec 10, 2008, 06:18 AM

All joking aside, which of those 200 employees has long been suspected of drug use? Whoever stole this money has put the need for that money above a great many things including his/her own job. This degree of recklessness is indicative of someone who's gotta get their fix on.

*sited from personal experience of spouse's friend who had money and prescription drugs stolen from her purse in a call center. The guy who did it had to get his fix on.

davidbk1 · Dec 10, 2008, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by ebuddy

All joking aside, which of those 200 employees has long been suspected of drug use?

One personal anecdote is not evidence that thieves are drug addicts. It's entirely possible to need the money urgently for other reasons (who's been suspected of having a medical condition or a credit card?) or to simply feel that the risk of getting caught is low enough that it's worth the attempt to steal the money, even if it isn't needed badly.

olePigeon · Dec 10, 2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by ebuddy

A friend of mine had been repeatedly getting sandwiches stolen out of the "community" refrigerator at work. The first sandwich that got stolen angered him. The second one enraged him so for the third one he carefully prepared it with a nicely-sized spittle. It was also stolen. He sent an all-employee email detailing his sabotage. We were hoping to see someone vomit upon receipt of the email, but no such luck.

Lace it with ipecac and wait for the fun.

SpaceMonkey · Dec 10, 2008, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

it was the janitor

More likely the assistant janitor.

Laminar · Dec 10, 2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

More likely the assistant janitor.

Most likely the drug-addicted assistant janitor.

Dakar V · Dec 10, 2008, 12:57 PM

It was the butler. It's always the butler.

starman · Dec 10, 2008, 01:00 PM

...in the office with the laptop.

In all seriousness, that blows. I hope there aren't serious long-term trust issues over this.

Chuckit · Dec 10, 2008, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by davidbk1

One personal anecdote is not evidence that thieves are drug addicts. It's entirely possible to need the money urgently for other reasons (who's been suspected of having a medical condition or a credit card?) or to simply feel that the risk of getting caught is low enough that it's worth the attempt to steal the money, even if it isn't needed badly.

Druggies aren't the only ones who might need money, but they are more likely to be thieves. Addiction has that effect on people more than credit cards do. Based on my personal experience and the experience of others I know (security guards, branch managers of businesses, etc.), I would look for an addict before I'd look for somebody with credit card debt.

Jawbone54 · Dec 10, 2008, 01:16 PM

ort888 · Dec 10, 2008, 01:21 PM

I suspect you.

Laminar · Dec 10, 2008, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Fantastic work.

Jawbone54 · Dec 10, 2008, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Fantastic work.

So realistic, yes?

I finally got the jaggies out of the needle.

olePigeon · Dec 10, 2008, 01:47 PM

Looks like I picked the wrong time to quit sniffing glue.

Rumor · Dec 10, 2008, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

It was the butler. It's always the butler.

mattyb · Dec 10, 2008, 02:42 PM

Well the envelope still hasn't turned up. The topic of conversation is of course who it could be and all sorts of rumours have already started. Some people aren't even sure if the secretary can be trusted.

The coke sniffing butler and the heroin addicted cleaning woman were together at the time and have given each other alibis.

SpaceMonkey · Dec 10, 2008, 03:55 PM

Are you sure it wasn't the French government?

Railroader · Dec 10, 2008, 04:18 PM

At the Remote Controlled race track I go to we recently had a theft incident. This is the kid of environment where people could have up to $3k-4k worth of small easy to pocket items sitting in a pit space. I have small motors worth over $100, and pocketable speed controls costing over $200 in my toolbox. Even a small battery can be $100 plus.

Needless to say, I empathize with you and your office mates. A lot of us watch over each other's stuff now, but I also have to wonder if the guy I am trusting isn't the thief.

ThinkInsane · Dec 10, 2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Lace it with ipecac and wait for the fun.

We had a lunch room thief once upon a time. I left a bowl of chili in the lunch room fridge poisoned with half a bottle of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce. We found our boss on his knees with tears running down his cheeks and trying to wipe his tongue with paper towels. Mystery solved.

Laminar · Dec 10, 2008, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

We had a lunch room thief once upon a time. I left a bowl of chili in the lunch room fridge poisoned with half a bottle of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce. We found our boss on his knees with tears running down his cheeks and trying to wipe his tongue with paper towels. Mystery solved.

Diabolical!

Rumor · Dec 10, 2008, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

We had a lunch room thief once upon a time. I left a bowl of chili in the lunch room fridge poisoned with half a bottle of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce. We found our boss on his knees with tears running down his cheeks and trying to wipe his tongue with paper towels. Mystery solved.

Discovery, revenge, and hilarity all in one fell swoop.