We’ve all had that co-worker who can’t resist the temptation of stealing food from the office fridge. Maybe they think no one will notice, or maybe they just don’t care. But for those who take pride in our snacks and treats, the office food thief can be a real annoyance.
Fortunately, some people are willing to fight back. In this collection of stories, people share the time they got even with the office food thief. From clever pranks to spicy surprises, these tales of revenge are sure to inspire anyone who’s ever had their lunch stolen. So sit back, grab a snack (and be sure to label it), and enjoy these tales of comeuppance.
All content has been edited for clarity.
The Empty Container
“There was a guy in our office who had a reputation for being a food thief. He would take anything and everything from the communal fridge, and he didn’t seem to care if it belonged to someone else. My co-workers and I tried going to HR about it but of course, ‘There was nothing they could do about it unless we had proof.’
After hearing this, everyone pretty much resigned themselves to the fate of getting their food mooched on every single day. But not me.
The next day, I brought in a container of cookies that I had made. I labeled the container with my name and put it in the fridge, knowing full well that the food thief would be eyeing it all day.
Sure enough, when I went to retrieve my cookies later that afternoon, the container was empty. I was pretty upset, but I had a plan. I took the empty container and filled it with a few sheets of paper towel, making it look like there was one cookie left.
I labeled the container with a note that said, ‘Sorry, you missed out!’ and put it back in the fridge.
The next day, I came into the office to find the food thief fuming. Apparently, he had seen the container and assumed that there was still one cookie left. He had opened it up, only to find it empty. He had even complained to our boss about it, outing himself as the office food thief.
After that, the food thief kept his hands to himself when it came to other people’s food. And I made sure to bring in plenty of treats to share with my co-workers (but I made sure to keep a few for myself, too).”
A Lesson In Hot Sauce
“I used to work in a small office with a communal kitchen where people would bring in their own food to store in the fridge. One day, I decided to bring in a batch of homemade chili for lunch, and I was excited to dig in. But when I opened the fridge, I realized that someone had taken it. I angrily DoorDashed my lunch that day and silently told myself, ‘Never again.’
I went home and made another batch of chili, but this time, I added a few drops of really hot sauce. I labeled it with my name in big letters, and I left it in the fridge. Sure enough, the next day, I heard someone yelping in pain from the kitchen. It turned out that the guy who had stolen my chili had taken a big spoonful of the spicy batch.
I didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing my chili after that.”
A Moldy Surprise
“I used to work in a busy office where people were always bringing in snacks to share. One day, someone brought in a big box of donuts and left them in the kitchen for everyone to enjoy. But when I went to grab one, I noticed that there was a note on the box that said, ‘Don’t touch these! They’re mine!’
I was infuriated that someone had the entitlement to claim the entire box of donuts for themselves. To the point that I decided something needed to be done about it. A few weeks later, I brought in a batch of homemade brownies, but I tried a unique cooking method: letting the brownies go bad and mold. I labeled the container with a fake name and left it in the kitchen.
Sure enough, a few hours later, I heard someone violently retching in the kitchen. When I went to investigate, I saw the person who had claimed the donuts hunched over the sink. Not only did everyone in the office know who the jacka*s was that claimed the entire box of donuts but he was also exposed as a food thief.”
The Fake-Out Lunch
“I used to work in an office where everyone brought in their own lunch to store in the fridge. One day, I brought in a really nice sandwich for my lunch, but when I went to retrieve it, I found that someone had eaten half of it. I was upset but I decided to bide my time and wait for the opportunity to strike back.
The next week, I made another sandwich, but this time, I stuffed it with a bunch of spicy peppers and onions. I labeled it with a fake name and left it in the fridge. Sure enough, a few hours later, I saw a guy run through the office to the bathroom with tears streaming down his face.
After that, the food theft in the office plummeted.”
A Special Cup Of Coffee
“I used to work in an office where people would often take each other’s food or drinks from the communal kitchen. It was a massive problem and management did nothing about it. One day, I decided to bring in a special blend of coffee that I had roasted myself. I was excited to share it with my co-workers, but when I went to pour myself a cup, I noticed that the bag of beans was already half-empty.
I was upset, to say the least. I had spent a lot of time roasting those beans and someone treated them like they were generic sh*t coffee that they could just steal from their co-worker. I tried to be the bigger person but I just couldn’t let it slide. The next day, I brewed a fresh pot of coffee, but this time, I added an entire bottle of laxative to the pot. I labeled it with a fake name and left it in the kitchen.
Sure enough, a few hours later, everyone in the office heard a loud commotion in the bathroom. When I went to investigate, I saw the same guy who had taken my coffee running out of the bathroom with a look of horror on his face. Mission accomplished.”
The Spicy Surprise
“There was a guy in my office who would constantly steal food from the communal fridge. It didn’t matter if it had someone else’s name on it or not, he would just help himself to anything that looked appetizing.
One day, I decided to teach him a lesson. I made a sandwich with bread, cheese, lettuce, and a healthy dose of hot sauce. But this wasn’t just any hot sauce – it was a homemade blend that my friend had given me, and it was extremely spicy.
I labeled the sandwich with my name and left it in the fridge. Sure enough, a few hours later, I heard a scream from the break room. It was the food thief, sweating and crying from the intense heat of the sandwich.
After that, he never stole anyone’s food again. And I got a good laugh out of it every time I saw him reach for the fridge door.”
