The Sandwich Bandit
We have a new issue at work. In fact, when I discovered this my mouth hung open wide enough to let all the flies congregating at the local horse barn to fly in and set up residence.
Someone in my workplace has been stealing sandwiches.
At first, it was thought that this was a practical joke (and in poor taste) on one particular fellow, as he would go to the kitchen to get his lunch from the fridge and discover a bite taken from one half of the sandwich.
But we've since discovered that this is happening to others, as well. Someone has the gall to steal other people's lunches. And not only that, they taste test them first. If the bandit likes the sandwich, half the sandwich will disappear entirely. And if the bandit doesn't agree with your culinary selection, he will take a single bite and then return the sandwich half to the Ziploc bag and the Ziploc bag to the lunch bag.
Seriously, who does something like this?
I am quite disturbed on a number of levels.
First of all, we can have no food at our desks (more on the issues behind this in another post), so we can't protect our lunches by keeping them with us.
Second, someone thinks it's OK to steal from coworkers. And not that I really understand, but I sort of understand the attraction to stealing purses and the like, but stealing people's food? What on earth has to go through someone's mind to think it's OK to steal food? That's somehow even more personal than a purse.
Third, who tries out the sandwich and puts it back if they don't like it? The sandwich is ruined anyway -- at least it is for me. There's no way I'd be able to eat any of my lunch knowing that some unknown person has been pawing through it. But to put it back? Dude, if you don't like it, just toss it. Seriously.
Lucky for me, I pack leftovers that aren't easily stolen. I bring in my extra chicken briyani or homemade chicken noodle soup or lasagne or whatever I've eaten the night before. It's not really in the Sandwich Bandit's wheelhouse. Unless they're using a spoon to try it and then not taking the rest of it. Now I'm grossed out.
Next time I go in, I'm putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat and staking out the kitchen area.
11 comments:
EWWW EWWW EWWW!
I only unknowingly stole someones lunch ONE TIME... it was a day I thought I had packed my lunch, so not thinking I went the the fridge, got the brown paper lunch sack, and ate the food inside, that was a sandwich and chips... only when she came looking for her lunch did i realize my mistake. I had to give her 5 dollars to go buy her lunch! I would never knowingly do that! EWWWW
Good gravy! That would skeeve me out, too. Here's hoping your sherlock impression sniff's out the bandit.
Sounds like someone needs to start going out to lunch...
Yuk, that IS gross! And you're right about not wanting to eat any of it. Who knows what else he's touched or tasted in the lunch bag.
That's disgusting. And weird.
Put up a nanny cam!!!!
Weird and disgusting - and ewww. . . I think I would take my lunch in a small ice chest and leave it at my desk somewhere.
Yuck!! What is with some people anyway?
EWWWWW is nothing sacred!
Eew. I can't even imagine. I would probably, the day after someone's sandwich was stolen, post a note to everyone on the frig that says that the sandwich had something in it (something gross) and maybe that will teach them a lesson? Ick.
That is gross and way too weird. My hubby suggested making a special sandwich containing a hidden laxative for the thief. Not enough to hurt the person but enough to make them miserable for the afternoon.
Mabunny - Yeah, I think that about sums it up. And good for you to pay for the other woman's lunch. We did have a discussion on maybe it was an accident, but we all decided you'd KNOW if you made the sandwich or not. Maybe we're wrong! :)
Melissa - Right. Because I need more of an excuse for eating out, right? :)
Jeff - Totally gross. And I don't want to find out the hard way that he tried someone's chips and didn't like them so spit them back into the bag. Yuck!
Mama's Losin' It - Ooo I like the nanny cam idea. I have a feeling though that my work wouldn't go for it. We're very buttoned down and rules up the wazoo based.
edbteach - Yeah... no food at your workspace allowed, even if you aren't eating it. And I'm pretty sure that includes ice chests, etc.
Megryansmom - Apparently not. I get queasy every time I think about this!
I totally understand and sympathize, because we've had some of these issues in our office too. It's so bad I finally got my own little mini-fridge for my office (thank God we don't have a ban on food). So I keep everything that will fit in my fridge. For larger styrofoam (like leftovers) I have to put them in the break room fridge, but now I tape them shut so at least, if someone has opened it, I will know. But before I got my own fridge I mostly kept milk (for cereal) and half and half (for coffee) in the break room, and people were constantly stealing it. Then once I had a tub of cream cheese in there. The thief scraped the inside clean, with knife marks left behind, and then put the container back. I was Sooooooo mad!!
Angela - That's just wrong, particularly with the cream cheese. Bad people! Unfortunately we aren't allowed any plug in items at our areas either (white collar professionals but treated like kindergarteners and they wonder why we're all miserable), no matter who we are. Bleh.
Post a Comment