I’m just venting about someone who doesn’t even post here, but I’m so mad I just want the world to know.
Someone stole a wad of money out of my desk drawer. I’m in charge of our used book sale, a fundraiser for the office Christmas party (some people were disappointed in last year’s party–snobs–so we’re getting an early start on collecting funds this year so we can have a really big bash). I confess, I was keeping the money in an unlocked drawer, but, sheesh! There are only 20 people in our office, I never figured one of them would actually go through my stuff. I should have known better, because we used to have snack boxes in our break-room that were taken away by the candy company that owned them because it was always coming up short. We weren’t sure if people were taking candy without paying for it, or actually taking money from the box, but most of us suspected the latter.
But this is just low. They didn’t steal from me, they stole from all their co-workers who’d contributed their salaries toward having a nice Christmas party. And I blame myself for being so careless. I thought I was being clever because the money was in an unmarked envelope in a drawer full of personal papers, and I tried to make sure no one saw me putting money in it, but I guess it was too obvious.
I just feel so guilty, and so angry. I feel betrayed by the co-worker (whoever she was) that took the money, and I feel I betrayed the co-workers that trusted their money with me. People suck.
Yep, some people do suck, I have been cheated myself, so we live and learn and others pay the price, I like to think what goes around comes around and maybe in the future the thief in question will get their house robbed.
There may be details I don’t know about, but it’s not clear from what you wrote that a co-worker is necessarily responsible. Presumibly other people have access to the room, especially during off hours, when they can take their time to do a careful search. A good thief knows how to sneak into a building and will look in the places where people think no one would think to look.
It could have been the cleaning crew. They were suspected during the candy-box fiasco, so we hid the key but money and/or candy kept disappearing. The building is pretty much inaccessible after hours; the outside doors lock automatically at 5:30 and the gates at 6:00, and a key with a computer chip is required to open them. Then our office has a cypher locks on the interior doors so you need to know a number code to get in regardless of the time of day. When thieves did recently break into the building, they ripped off the cafeteria and the offices of the other business we share this building with, but our cypher-locked offices were unharmed. And it’s drilled into everyone’s brain that you never ever never let strangers just walk into the office behind you; visitors must be escorted by a co-worker who knows them.
So… there are 3 possibilities: cleaning crew (very likely), co-worker (very very likely), or stranger some dumb bunny let in after hours (possible but not probable). Finally, other co-workers have reported within the last week or two the theft of dishes, hamburger buns, and personal items, so it doesn’t look like an outside job.
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
With all that security on the doors, you obviously have the outside theives covered. What about setting up hidden security cameras to capture the inside theives? This is a common practice in many places, a few well placed cameras can capture your whole office area, I would say they should be hidden and installed without the other employees knowledge, you would have a better chance of capturing the perp. It seems to me by your comments that this is getting out of hand and some action needs to take place. Try mentioning it to your boss, (unless you are the boss) I forgot to even ask, do you have cameras?
Someone stole a wad of money out of my desk drawer. I’m in charge of our used book sale, a fundraiser for the office Christmas party (some people were disappointed in last year’s party–snobs–so we’re getting an early start on collecting funds this year so we can have a really big bash). I confess, I was keeping the money in an unlocked drawer, but, sheesh! There are only 20 people in our office, I never figured one of them would actually go through my stuff. I should have known better, because we used to have snack boxes in our break-room that were taken away by the candy company that owned them because it was always coming up short. We weren’t sure if people were taking candy without paying for it, or actually taking money from the box, but most of us suspected the latter.
But this is just low. They didn’t steal from me, they stole from all their co-workers who’d contributed their salaries toward having a nice Christmas party. And I blame myself for being so careless. I thought I was being clever because the money was in an unmarked envelope in a drawer full of personal papers, and I tried to make sure no one saw me putting money in it, but I guess it was too obvious.
I just feel so guilty, and so angry. I feel betrayed by the co-worker (whoever she was) that took the money, and I feel I betrayed the co-workers that trusted their money with me. People suck.
I think that maybe you should write up a memo or flyer and post it in the office where everyone will see it…perhaps on the door to the office. This may actually guilt the person into not turning themself in but possibly returning the money when nobody is looking. It’s worth a try…
Finally! A sensible solution to the ONE TOUGH QUESTION the SDMB couldn’t figure out. Congratulations! I think we’re done here! Ignorance has been defeated!
Fifteen years I followed her. I never gave up. Cost me everything. My wife begged me to stop, then she left me, taking the kids. Job, friends, all gone. But I couldn’t let her get away with it. She had to pay for what she’d done. Thought I had her a couple of times. Caught a glimpse in Wichita, but it was just someone who looked like her. Heard a rumor she was laying low in Juarez, but a rumor was all it was. Then, just as I was at my lowest, thinking of ending it all, I found her in the very thread where it all started!
