# People stealing my lunch, is it ok to make a cat food sandwich? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169 "2009-09-07T16:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/21 "2009-09-07T17:58:07Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Someone keeps grabbing my lunch of the fridge despite repeated signs and requests to stop, and i want revenge. Revenge is childish. If the person needs the food that badly,make another lunch for them. Or hide it. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/22 "2009-09-07T18:08:01Z")
[[QUOTE=fmylife.com](http://QUOTE=fmylife.com)] Today, I realized the person I had been habitually stealing bag lunches from at work made me a canned dog food sandwich. FML [/QUOTE] Lunch thieves kinda get what they deserve, in my opinion. I’m not sure how I’d feel about someone hungry and desperate, but you know, there are weeks when I’m rather low on cash myself, and if you eat my lunch, I literally have no food for the rest of the day, and I had my breakfast at 6:30 a.m. That would leave me hungry and irate. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/23 "2009-09-07T18:25:33Z")
Stealing because you are hungry might be understandable if you are an indigent person in Somalia, but not if you are an office worker in America. I find it hard to believe that someone with steady employment would not be able to budget for rice and beans, ramen noodles, or other cheap eats. But even if you are impoverished, there are food stamps, food banks, and soup kitchens…or even **asking** your coworkers if they would mind sharing because you’re struggling! I think the majority of lunch thieves do it just because they’re very selfish, inconsiderate, and think they can get away with it, not because they have to. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/24 "2009-09-07T18:54:17Z")
Please please \*\*please \*\*make the cat food sandwich. You will be my hero forever. Cat food is edible (according to my father) albeit not very palatable. Hopefully it’ll teach the lunch stealer a lesson and if worst comes to worst you can claim that you actually enjoy cat food sandwiches and you would appreciate it if the culprit would stop depriving you of your tasty meals. \*\*PapSett \*\*is awesome, I have to add. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/25 "2009-09-07T18:55:49Z")
Is the fridge in a semi-public area? Maybe try this. Go get one of those greeting cards that make noise when you open them. I’m sure there’s a ton of them out there for halloween. Take apart the card and remove the noisemaker. Rig the noisemaker in your bag so when the food is removed, it is turned on. That might help you catch who’s doing it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/26 "2009-09-07T19:05:32Z")
Don’t store your lunch in the fridge. Put it at your desk. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/27 "2009-09-07T19:34:55Z")
Gosh, I love the “bring two sandwiches” suggestions. What pussies. First, what makes you think the thief won’t steal both? Second, why should the OP willingly pay to feed thieves on a regular basis? Hey, I’m currently a bit short on groceries. Mind if I come over and help myself to your pantry? I assure you, I’m in dire financial straights and could really use the food. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/28 "2009-09-07T19:58:26Z")
I once replaced the label on a gravy dog food can with one from Dinty Moore Beef Stew. It was swiped at work. I never discovered who, but theft stopped. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/29 "2009-09-07T20:11:36Z")
Get some creepy crawler rubber bugs and put one in your sandwich. Whoever lets out a shriek as they pull it out is the villain. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/30 "2009-09-07T20:15:55Z")
TMI alert: Some of you might remember [this old thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=198659&highlight=semen). It’d make a tasty sandwich, maybe with some cheese and mustard (or pickles & mayo might be a little more appropriate). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/31 "2009-09-07T20:37:50Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Your best bet is to make a sandwich that you might conceivabley eat yourself. I must agree with Attack, and wish I’d thought of it instead of the dog food. Whatever goes on Wassabi (sp) peas would be good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/32 "2009-09-07T20:52:13Z")
That would be wasabi powder. You can also buy it in paste form. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/33 "2009-09-07T21:04:25Z")
Even those that love horseradish would probably get a pretty rude surprise if they bit into a sandwich made with a dollop of horseradish paste mixed into (spicy) mustard or mayonnaise without realizing it’s there, but it’s still edible and delicious. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/34 "2009-09-07T21:15:40Z")
Vegamite… that’ll learn 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/35 "2009-09-07T21:18:27Z")
I find it difficult to believe that someone who works for a living needs to steal lunches. I would prefer to know who is doing it and interact with them on their level. I like the idea of a nanny cam followed by the placing of an anonymous (and tasty) lunch on that person’s desk. Then they would know that someone knows (but not who). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/36 "2009-09-07T21:36:04Z")
Is it reasonably possible that the person stealing the food really needs it and isn’t just a dick? It never would have been in any of my work environments in the past. Unless your workplace is somehow different, I would totally make a revenge sandwich. Catfood + habaneros perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/37 "2009-09-07T21:39:55Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Or you could get these: [Anti-theft\_Luch\_bags](http://thinkofthe.com/products/lunch_bag.php) I think, for me, those would work a bit _too_ well. Mold disgusts me so much that even the mere thought of it is enough to put me off my food. What would happen is that I’d put my sandwich in one of those bags, take it out at lunchtime, and then get so hung up on the _idea_ of a moldy sandwich that I wouldn’t be able to eat it. In other words, it’s a damn good idea and you should most definitely invest in such a thing, **DigitalC**. 😃 Either way, whatever you end up doing, give us updates! ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/38 "2009-09-07T21:58:13Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > Either way, whatever you end up doing, give us updates! [http://www.personalsecurityandsurveillancesystems.com/product\_196\_130db\_Personal\_Alarm\_cat\_31.html](http://www.personalsecurityandsurveillancesystems.com/product_196_130db_Personal_Alarm_cat_31.html) my thoughts if a wasabi sandwich is not an option. Just clip the pull string to the shelf in the fridge or something else so that it is concealed by the bag/box. When they grab it, most of the block should know it. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/39 "2009-09-07T22:22:38Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Don’t store your lunch in the fridge. Put it at your desk. Its way too hot to keep something like a tuna sandwich at my desk. If i can find a hot enough sauce by tonight i will go with that, otherwise its cat food. I will let you guys know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169/40 "2009-09-07T22:28:23Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Its way too hot to keep something like a tuna sandwich at my desk. You could use an [insulated lunch box](http://www.amazon.com/Ensign-Deluxe-Insulated-Lunch-Cooler/dp/B000J67XW8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1252362434&sr=8-8). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-stealing-my-lunch-is-it-ok-to-make-a-cat-food-sandwich/509169.md?page=3)