How to stop flatmates stealing food?

4

So I'm in my second year and living away from halls with different people from my first year uni halls. Last year we always had food taken by people (the odd things like milk or butter or ketchup, nobody really minded about) but when people were nabbing things like whole packaged meat it really got on your nerves. Anyway since I move into my new communal flat that shares a kitchen with many other people, I've been having people/person greedily help themselves to food.. expensive and hard to find food that doesn't belong to them.

At this point, I've tried everything from labelling things to informing the landlady who sent an email insisting that anybody caught stealing would be packing their bags. Apparently the culprit didn't really care about the email and quite frankly is a bit of a c**t because they have been taking food from myself and several other flatmates I'm close to. As it's such a big communal kitchen with pretty easy access to local shops, I really don't understand the logic behind why I have to fund other people's diets using my budgeted money. How do I make it stop without causing a scene? I suggested getting CCTV in the kitchen or planting a camera but we could get done if our landlady finds out...
Cheers

Reply 1

username3150658

15

Put all of your food in one cupboard and p a d l o c k it. Change the combo everyweek.

If you want, share with those who are getting their food stolen.

With regards to food to be fridged - mini fridge?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 2

marple

15

I knew someone who used a lockable box like this

https://lockabox.com

to keep their food in. A bit of a nuisance but they said it worked.

Reply 3

mattm08

7

Try to budget for living in a studio? no flatmates no problem. You only have to clean up after yourself as well.

Reply 4

PhoenixFortune

21

Original post by tg814

So I'm in my second year and living away from halls with different people from my first year uni halls. Last year we always had food taken by people (the odd things like milk or butter or ketchup, nobody really minded about) but when people were nabbing things like whole packaged meat it really got on your nerves. Anyway since I move into my new communal flat that shares a kitchen with many other people, I've been having people/person greedily help themselves to food.. expensive and hard to find food that doesn't belong to them.

At this point, I've tried everything from labelling things to informing the landlady who sent an email insisting that anybody caught stealing would be packing their bags. Apparently the culprit didn't really care about the email and quite frankly is a bit of a c**t because they have been taking food from myself and several other flatmates I'm close to. As it's such a big communal kitchen with pretty easy access to local shops, I really don't understand the logic behind why I have to fund other people's diets using my budgeted money. How do I make it stop without causing a scene? I suggested getting CCTV in the kitchen or planting a camera but we could get done if our landlady finds out...
Cheers

The trouble is with food thieves is that if they are the type of people to steal food in the first place, it's unlikely they will take any notice of notes/discussions/threats etc.

Do you know who the thief is? If so, you can start stealing their food in retaliation perhaps. Otherwise, your only other option is to make it impossible for them to gain access to your food, i.e. put everything in a lockable cupboard/container as another poster said, or move everything into your room (and get a mini fridge for things that can't be left out).

How to stop flatmates stealing food?

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