You could put a cyanide pill in there. Or maybe wedge a primed hand grenade in there. Or what about a ferociously hungry rat? Or punji stakes?
Just how big is this purse anyway?
Another vote for a hidden camera.
Stealing is wrong but this girl has my sympathy more than the average thief would. I’ve been in pain (pleurisy) and had a doctor refuse to help me. I didn’t steal someone else’s pills, of course, but when you’re in agony I can see how someone could get desperate.
I’m not saying she’s not wrong; she is. And she obviously needs help. But I just can’t put her in the same category as, say, a crack addict or a garden variety thief that goes through peoples’ purses.
So with that in mind, I’d catch her on video somehow. Then I would quietly confront her – privately. “Look, I have you on tape so don’t deny it. I don’t want you to lose your job and I’m not looking to get you in trouble. I just want you to stop stealing my pills and I want you to get help. I haven’t told anybody about this and I won’t as long as you stop NOW. If you do it again, however, I will take the tape to the boss and the cops.”
If she has a brain cell in her head, she’ll stop and also be very thankful that you’re not out for blood.
If she does do it again, make good on your promise. I think there are pain pill addicts of opportunity, and then there are the hardcore ones. If she does it again after being given a chance to save face, she’s in a bad way and getting fired might be a wake up call.
That is a fantastic idea.
It’s not your job to catch criminals. Make a police report and lock your stuff up or carry it with you.
How did she even know you had pain meds?
Had she seen you taking the pills, and knew it was what she wanted, or was she randomly going through purses, looking for something?
Cat did you even read the OP?
** I stupidly told her I’d bring in a few pills for her until she could get in with her specialist. Now, I realize you aren’t supposed to share prescriptions, but she seemed really upset and I know what it’s like to have chronic pain. I brought her about five pills, she asked me for a few more one more time, and that’s the last I heard from her about it. I assumed she got what she needed from her doc.**
Hide a bear-trap in your purse. Then, when you leave work that day, make sure to shake hands with all your co-workers before leaving. The co-worker who has no hand is your thief.
Foolproof!
I’d specifically leave a note wherever they’ve been taking the pills from, clearly marked “To Whoever is Taking My Pills”:
“I know who you are.* If you are taking pills from my purse and my desk, it is clear to me that you have a problem. Please, please seek out the proper treatment for this, and if there is anything I can do to help you set that up, let me know. Meanwhile, if I ever find another pill missing, I will involve both the company and the authorities.”
- You probably do. If it isn’t her, then it’s still OK to make them think you know who it is. Keep it nice and generic.
Samsonite Motion Alarm for handbags, luggage, carrying cases, etc. With remote control. $4.99 after rebate.
Sorry, I must have skimmed through that part.
Have you missed money, too? Is there any reason to think she’s gone through any one else’s purses or desks?
I’m 99.5% sure it’s her. I’m very discreet with my medication because I know it’s the kind of thing others might want. She knows all about it and knows that I bring it every day.
I am really angry about it. She’s never really been on a high enough dosage to develop a serious addiction. I think she’s just at the point where she’s not getting them prescribed, but still wants to take them. I doubt physical addiction has that much to do with it.
Today I put my real meds in my pocket and in the bottle I put two anti-inflammatories that kind of look like what I take. I’m just going to wander away and see if I can spy from another cube. That’s all though. From now on I’m just going to try to remember that I have to keep the pills on me if I don’t want them stolen. And I plan to distance myself from this girl.
If you go with the bear trap or the punji stakes, smear them with feces first.
Much more effective.
Or just smear the pills with feces, then see whose breath stinks.
Whoa! That’s really cool. I may buy one of those just to have for the fun of it.
Dangit, you took my idea!
Heh…I love the “Product Requirements” for this: *The need for this motion alarm *
Nothing like stating the obvious. 
Awesome. I just bought it. Now I just have to wait for it and decide if I really want to be that mean. Either way, it will be a cool gadget to own.
It’s not being mean in the least. Any embarassment or consequence suffered are strictly the result of the actions of the pilferer.
I’ve been waiting for a conclusion to this story!
Anything?
My alarm just came in the mail, so I am going to try it on Monday. I’ll report back then.
So your plan is to kill her by ging her a stroke when the alarm goes off? I like it. 
Oops, I meant to ask… how big a pool of suspects is there? How many other people have the access?
If I were you. I would not sneak a camcorder into the workplace and set it recording. You don’t know what you might pick up of other people’s behavior, and you might be violating the expected privacy of more than one person. You need to have an HR or security person – or a cop – take the lead in investigating and gathering proof with your informed consent.
btw, as my stilted used of quasi-legal terminology mught suggestm IANALaywer, I’m only suggesting that electronic spying in the workplace may have broader implications and/or consequences than providing evidence about your thefts.