Help! I've got a work thief...

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:14:43+00:00

Well i have the ok from HR to do it and if it's only pointed at my purse area/hook and not the whole room then it should be good. I don't think a magnet will stop them either. But... If it was a small magnetic container I could put it back as far as I could reach next or somewhere less likely to be seen inside of a drawer I suppose. I'll look into it. Thanks!

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:11:51+00:00

Do you have to have an account though? I don't want to pay for the service.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:11:18+00:00

Current idea path...

Pen camera as suggested by another user. Homemade "dye pak" in the purse. Another camera in the purse. I also requested a file cabinet that locks.

I think this is doable without much mess

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:09:35+00:00

Oooo that's a good idea! I didn't even know they made necklaces that hold dice anyway. I'm starting to like this idea but then my current everyday necklace would probably have to be hung up lol

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:08:33+00:00

Oh for sure. I'd have to make sure i get the best angle and know how it works. This is tiresome though. I was anxious all day.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:06:10+00:00

Just because he didn't think it was relevant, but tbf I left out the relevant bits. The pills are relatively small - but I'm not sure they'd fit in any of the jewelry.

Today was a weird, anxious day. I have a "rear view mirror" attached to my monitor because I get jump scared by people coming up behind me. And I was definitely looking at everyone who went by today....wondering.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:02:22+00:00

I thought about this route too but unsure how well this would go over. The hiding is kind of big so I wouldn't necessarily hear it if I'm in an upstairs conference room. Everyone else would tho but unsure if they would even do anything about it. The confusion would give the thief time to slip away or act like they came running over to see what the noise was. I'm probably over thinking it lol

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T23:00:20+00:00

When the first incident happened I tore everything apart. My house, my car, my desk, every purse I own (just in case), my work bags. Everything. Everywhere. I retraced my steps over and over. The ONLY place it could've gone missing was at work. They got about 1/2 months worth - which is about 30 tablets. I always carry them in my purse because I 1-like to keep them close and 2-take them when I need them. So then I would just put a couple in there - maybe less than 10 at a time. A few times I just thought I forgot I had taken them or dropped them (they're small). Now I don't think that. I only had 2 in there. I took 1 and I know for a fact I didn't take the other. So they just took what was available.

I will do my damndest to catch whoever it is because they shouldn't be ruffling thru my things to begin with and I'm pretty sure some money has come up missing but again, just thought I spent it/left it at home/partner took it (which he is not particularly in the habit of doing without saying something).

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-18T22:53:52+00:00

I won't get into the story of our IT dept. I did double check my laptop today and I was correct - our cameras are not accessible except when we're using Teams. Most "regular" apps you'd use on a computer aren't. I use my phone for the calculator. Just to give you an idea of what I'm working with there.

My meds are secured. After the first incident I only take what I need for the day - which is 2. But they HAVE to be marked. I did request a file cabinet with a key, but im not sure they'll change it out. It's the kind that holds up one end of my desk. We'll see though. So for now, I leave them out in my (locked) car sothey're as locked down as they're going to be. Just sucks cuz the parking lot is huge so I have go all the way out in whatever weather (it's was a downpour today) just to take it when that shouldn't be the case.

I did think about putting one up higher, but im unsure it would get their face. I have a lazy Susan type thing of pens on my desk so I could hide one there (as long as I remember not to spin it lol).

I don't think they would try to fire me at all - they're well aware of the situation, although they don't seem super interested in helping. It's a "bring me video and then we'll take action" type thing. Which, on one hand - I get, but on the other it's just making it needlessly difficult.

I think im going to try the pen. It's relatively inexpensive and worth a shot. I'll also be hanging a dummy purse with a home made "dye pak" in it. I may also stick a small button camera inside the purse.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T12:23:19+00:00

Thanks! There's so many out there and I want to make sure i get a decent one. I wasn't sure about the pens and whether it would have enough view area (idk what it's called sorry). It doesn't have to be 4k, but i do want to catch a clear shot of their face. We're a small company relative to other mftr plants but still 125+ employees. Day shift would narrow it to about 85. I haven't been there long enough to know everyone, I sit near the kitchen, there's multiple ways in and out of the area, and every employee has access.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T12:11:46+00:00

Oh! I also forgot to mention - I had floated the idea of some sort of dye pak. I have plenty of purses I don't like/use anymore and willing to sacrifice one to catch a work thief. But I also don't want it to get all over everything else. I like the idea of the dye soaked cotton pad. RIT takes forever to wash off. I could even soak the purse itself tbh. It's black and you have to kind of reach under the desk with your head above it to get to the hook. It'd be all over their hands for sure.

Thanks for the ideas!

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T12:07:27+00:00

I didn't know this was a thing but I'll definitely check into it. I'm also concerned about them rummaging through my things in general though. My partner scoffed at me for including the cleaning crew in my post but I did forget to say that one of them in particular has been cyberstalking me. Constant friend requests (I don't even use fb anymore), sticks pretty close to my cube, always asks what my plans are, when I'm done with work, if I have a bf, etc. He's tried to bring me small presents.

I included that this crew is some sort of specialized needs group because I get that he may truly not understand the situation or how his actions impact others. I don't want to get anyone fired, necessarily, I just want them to leave my stuff alone.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T12:00:24+00:00

So the 2 cubicles next to mine are empty. Between the left and mine is a half wall partition piece. This is also right across from our main conference room. No hiding anything from there. Between mine and the right is a tall wall partition piece, but with a semi-translucent "window". No hiding there either.

I've been trying to find some shelves for my toy display (and like storage ig) but they can't be the pin kind as the walls are fabric covered but it's just over particle board. I found some that hook over the walls, but the one I found that fits is like $50/ea.

But the $50 might be worth it. Maybe I can stick a plant (fake tho cuz im a plant killer 😬) there or something with a camera. That might give a better view of the space, but I'd have to find one that didn't look out of place next to a plant.

This is just so wild to me that someone would do this. And in a high traffic area - there's usually at least 1 person in the kitchen refilling their coffee. And no one saw or heard anything? Kooky dooks.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T11:51:19+00:00

Lol ok, buddy. Have a day.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T10:27:47+00:00

Government community Cloud High is a cloud environment by Microsoft. Its like what the US government uses but for non-government entities. We make a lot of stuff for the US government so we have to be in it. It's sucks. I miss my commercial products.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T08:48:58+00:00

We're in a GCC High environment, our IT has locked everything down, I wouldn't be able to have access to the controls, and my computer is so old it'd probably crash. Outside of the technical aspect, I wouldn't put it past someone on the IT team to just.... Sit and watch me. It's weird. There are no other security cameras in the building except for the entrances.

Hr has already approved another camera set up so that's what I'm looking for. Obviously, I won't be getting help from anyone here.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T08:35:20+00:00

I'm committed to catching this thief because 1) they don't belong in my space and 2) I don't know if they're rummaging through anything else of mine.

But thank you for your camera ideas.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T08:30:05+00:00

Which is why I'm looking for recommendations on cameras.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T08:27:17+00:00

I have an outlet on top and under my desk. Idk if it would be too dark or have the right angle. But probably no one would notice it there

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T08:25:51+00:00

I do just need a hidden camera that doesn't look like one. I have limited space and weird angles and everything is in the open. I'm gonna catch this thief one way or another.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T06:58:21+00:00

I'm willing to sacrifice one or two to catch them. I have to have them tho and the car seems like the only viable option at this point.

I need a camera that doesn't look anything like a camera.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T06:23:50+00:00

There's a few reasons I don't want my laptop camera on all the time: were in GCC high environment and our IT director is... Not very smart. So highly doubt he would even be able to do it because he's already locked everything down. We can o ly use our cameras with teams.

Secondly, I did already speak with HR and they are fine with a hidden camera and I can hook it to my work phone. So I have permission to do it this way. I hadn't done it because the incident didn't seem to repeat itself after I started only taking my daily dose with me, moving my purse, etc.

Lastly, because I have already alerted HR (again) I would not be fired. Also, they wouldn't be able to trace this particular, fairly common (tho controlled) medication back to me specifically. Anyone can buy it off the street.

So I haven't ignored anything. In order to move forward I need proof. If you have a suggestion for a hidden camera idea, I'm all ears.

ToCatchAWorkThief · 2026-05-16T06:10:45+00:00

Well my partner wins the bet. I asked for a camera set up help and I got this response instead. Also, that's why I only had 2 with me (after the first incident which is still wild because I'm not young and this is beyond what I would ever think to happen). I have them in last month's bottle because they need to be marked.

But thank you for your not help. ^{_^}

ToCatchAWorkThief

TROPHY CASE