Someone at my office stole my headphones off my desk. Anything I can do?

I’d blame the cleaners before your co-workers.

Cleaners maybe wrote:

I’d blame the cleaners before your co-workers.

Honestly that thought did cross my mind. They are here at somewhat odd hours when there aren't as many people at the office, and I suppose they have more incentive to steal something than the people making $60k+ annually.

So, the question is, is there anything I can do about it? The child in me fantasizes about buying some sort of hidden camera and leaving $20 on my desk to see if someone takes it.

Frustrated Accountant wrote:

So, the question is, is there anything I can do about it?

Report this to the supervisor / boss, and ask if there's a way to find out who took them, i.e. cameras etc.

Tell your co-workers, and ask if anyone has any idea of who might have taken them.

Sometimes people brag to their buddies, who don't like what they did.

Going forward, always lock your valuables in your desk, or take them with you when you leave.

Check the security footage for a clue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd4fj9Efl4s&sns=em

Company wide email asking for their return and noting that you have a bacterial ear infection. No questions asked return, note when you'll be gone for lunch

Either that or Head lice.

Just report it to your boss and go buy a new set, If you're a millennial, then start a GoFundMe campaign to get a new set of headphones.

Vaporflyer wrote:

If you're a millennial, then start a GoFundMe campaign to get a new set of headphones.

You could always go and destroy his Strava CR

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=8335761

Vaporflyer wrote:

Just report it to your boss and go buy a new set, If you're a millennial, then start a GoFundMe campaign to get a new set of headphones.

Nothing will come from reporting it. Maybe an email will be sent out, but that will be it. Besides, I don't really care about dropping $20 measly dollars for a new pair of headphones. It is the principle of it that bothers me, that people in an adult setting like an office would do something as childish as steal a $20 set of headphones.

Frustrated Accountant wrote:

Vaporflyer wrote:

Just report it to your boss and go buy a new set, If you're a millennial, then start a GoFundMe campaign to get a new set of headphones.

Nothing will come from reporting it. Maybe an email will be sent out, but that will be it. Besides, I don't really care about dropping $20 measly dollars for a new pair of headphones. It is the principle of it that bothers me, that people in an adult setting like an office would do something as childish as steal a $20 set of headphones.

To clarify, I'm not looking for a handout or reimbursement; my point is someone like this doesn't belong in a setting like this where people regularly leave much more valuable items on their desks. So I'd like them outed so other people know they work with a lowlife POS who is willing to steal things off peoples desks.

Problem is that anything you do to out this person is just going to end up getting you in trouble, probably more trouble than them. I'm not sure why you are surprised at this when asshats have been stealing $3 sandwiches our of company refrigerators for ages. Someone just stole my leftover chicken the other day. I fantasize about putting a dye pack in my food and leaving it in the fridge for this fart muncher and laughing when he/she has a blue mouth.

So I'd suggest figuring out a way to out them without it being traceable back to you.

3 options as I see them

1) Nothing, complain around the office to some people

2) Report the cleaning person to the cleaning company and have her fired

3) Setup a hidden cam - easy enough with a computer with a built in webcam and some software, capture the cleaning person stealing something else off your desk then report to the cleaning company with video evidence.

$20 don't matter wrote:

3 options as I see them

1) Nothing, complain around the office to some people

2) Report the cleaning person to the cleaning company and have her fired

3) Setup a hidden cam - easy enough with a computer with a built in webcam and some software, capture the cleaning person stealing something else off your desk then report to the cleaning company with video evidence.

#3 is what I am leaning toward. See above

Go for the hidden camera bait trap route and report back. This option will surely make your life the most interesting.

CandidCamera wrote:

Go for the hidden camera bait trap route and report back. This option will surely make your life the most interesting.

Yes. Literally nothing could go wrong with this.

Frustrated Accountant wrote:

Vaporflyer wrote:

Just report it to your boss and go buy a new set, If you're a millennial, then start a GoFundMe campaign to get a new set of headphones.

Nothing will come from reporting it. Maybe an email will be sent out, but that will be it. Besides, I don't really care about dropping $20 measly dollars for a new pair of headphones. It is the principle of it that bothers me, that people in an adult setting like an office would do something as childish as steal a $20 set of headphones.

We used to have a supplies drawer at work for all the salaried people and mysteriously it was always low. We just happened to be in the office late one night and caught an engineer leaving with a box filled with post-it notepads, pens and tissue boxes. Could not believe it. I'd have loved to see his house with post it notes and little office tissue boxes sprinkled liberally about the place.

Frustrated Accountant wrote:

Frustrated Accountant wrote:

Nothing will come from reporting it. Maybe an email will be sent out, but that will be it. Besides, I don't really care about dropping $20 measly dollars for a new pair of headphones. It is the principle of it that bothers me, that people in an adult setting like an office would do something as childish as steal a $20 set of headphones.

To clarify, I'm not looking for a handout or reimbursement; my point is someone like this doesn't belong in a setting like this where people regularly leave much more valuable items on their desks. So I'd like them outed so other people know they work with a lowlife POS who is willing to steal things off peoples desks.

Actually you got that WRONG thieves do really well in corporate america especially accountants .

Since you seem really a nail it is too late to help as you probably have already voiced your concerns

mature veneer hiding your immature anger.

What I would have done is NOTHING except for one thing. Keep your stuff secure. You boss is already having doubts about you and your carelessness.

Gravy wrote:

CandidCamera wrote:

Go for the hidden camera bait trap route and report back. This option will surely make your life the most interesting.

Yes. Literally nothing could go wrong with this.

Clue me in, what exactly is it you think could go wrong? Are you suggesting my employer might have some problem with me putting a hidden camera on my desk? If anything, I would think they would be far more concerned with the existence of someone at the office who is willing to steal anything they think they can get away with.