My food is stolen... perhaps frequently.. ;_:

[Sciencelovah]

I now live in a student dormitory with about 20 students per floor and 1 big common kitchen in each floor. To store the food, each of us has our own small containers inside few big refrigerators and 1 common deep freezer. The containers inside refrigerators are equipped with keys, but the deep freezer are not, the foods in the deep freezer are mixed; in this deep freezer, the only way to differentiate our foods from others is by labeling the plastics that wrap the foods.

Few weeks ago, in a kitchen meeting, some of us reported that they lost their pizzas which they put in the deep freezer! As I never buy pizza, I don't lose any, and didn't realize that I lose anything yet. However, two days ago I found that my french fries (including its packing) is gone. My fish is still there, but I'm not sure whether some of them are also stolen or not, because I didn't count them, there is still few left.

Today, as I want to eat my ice cream which I put two days ago (the day I found my french fries was gone), I found that somebody has already opened my ice cream box and took 2 out of 6 packings

Fyi, my food in the deep freezer is stored in a plastic which is tied with a rope, and on the rope I hang a label (laminated paper) with my name and room number written on it. There is no way people would have mistaken my plastic for theirs, so I am sure this is done in purpose.

I don't think there is any use if I report it in the next meeting. My question is, how to protect my food? If I put the deep freezer food in refrigerator, it will be damaged soon. Also, is there any possibility to trap the thief? Please let me know if you have any idea, thanks!

[Mrs.Lucysnow]

Is it possible to buy one of those small refrigerator w/freezer and keep it in your room?

Maybe one like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HNSE05BB.../dp/B000P9T1B0

They have a few others at the bottom of the page. It sucks when you live with other people and they don't respect your space and belongings. I think you should complain about it and then explain this is why you are thinking getting a compact one for your room.

The only way to trap the thief is add some semi-permanent dye to the food products so the stain is all over their mouth and hands after they've finished gouging on stolen food.

Some people I guess can't get out of the habit of opening the fridge and taking what they want like they did at mom and pop's.

[Japarican]

Set up a hidden camera and catch the food thief!

[cosmictraveler]

Insert some very hot spice into the food and see who starts to yell when they bite into it. You know its there so you can remove it before you eat it but no one else does!

[Sciencelovah]

Is it possible to buy one of those small refrigerater w/freezer and keep it in your room?

Maybe one like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HNSE05BB.../dp/B000P9T1B0

Omg!! I haven't thought about it, thanx a million, Lucy! I plan to live in this dormitory for next three years, so it would make sense to actually buy my own freezer, I guess I'll buy one of those refrigerator which has small deep freezer on top of it, I'll have no more worries

Danke dir billiarden mal!

[Mrs.Lucysnow]

No problem

[Sciencelovah]

I haven't seen your edit when I typed my reply:

The only way to trap the thief is add some semi-permanent dye to the food products so the stain is all over their mouth and hands after they've finished gouging on stolen food.

Is there such thing?? And would the suspect not noticing the color before he takes it? My problem would be solved as soon as I buy one freezer for myself, but I kinda pity for others who'd still lose their foods, lol.

Set up a hidden camera and catch the food thief!

I might try it... I have a digital camera, but I guess the battery will only last for a couple of hours. Actually, the kitchen door is very heavy and make noise when someone close it. Sometimes when I have just sleep a couple of hours (perhaps around 1-2 AM), I could hear someone open and close the kitchen door. I wonder who'd have dinner at those times Tomorrow I'll take a pic of the kitchen to look for best spot to put my camera. I don't wanna do it now because now is nearly mid night. If somebody sees me in the kitchen around this time, perhaps they'll also suspect me

Insert some very hot spice into the food and see who starts to yell when they bite into it. You know its there so you can remove it before you eat it but no one else does!

That's kind of difficult. I'm sure whoever took the foods, eat them in their room, hiding from people. I'm still upset about my french fries and my magnum ice cream :/ Thanks anyway for your suggestion.

[Mrs.Lucysnow]

I haven't seen your edit when I typed my reply:
Is there such thing?? And would the suspect not noticing the color before he takes it? My problem would be solved as soon as I buy one freezer for myself, but I kinda pity for others who'd still lose their foods, lol.

I'm not sure but there must be. I'm sure another member could probably suggest something. The hidden camera is also a good idea but make sure you know what they are handling so there aren't any false accusations.

[Sciencelovah]

Sorry I reply slowly because I'm also replying some PMs.

I'm not sure but there must be. I'm sure another member could probably suggest something. The hidden camera is also a good idea but make sure you know what they are handling so there aren't any false accusations.

Ok, thanks for the reminder. I'm just thinking... If I buy some pizza, put it in a unique plastic (like plastic from boutique where I shop for cloth), then put it on top of all other foods, put on my camera tomorrow near midnight, I'm sure my pizza will gone in one-two nights and I can catch the culprit taking out my pizza from my unique plastic! But then, how do I know if there are only one culprit, what if there are more? (btw, somehow I started to feel kinda pity, maybe these guys are too poor!!). Also, what to do once I got an evidence? I'm afraid somebody will harm me in the future >.>

Ok, nevermind, at least I got one solution already. I'll check ebay for new freezers :-P Thx again. Btw, I am off now, ciao.

[S.A.M.]

Buy a personal freezer or a mini refirigerator [you get dorm sized ones]. I've lived in hostels and dorms and you really cannot stop people from stealing food, unless, like me you can eat a lot of chillies. I just used to double the amount of chillies I put into anything [and even then, it would still be stolen]. Even raw food is not "safe"

[Mrs.Lucysnow]

Inzomnia:

Yeah I see what you mean, it might get complicated and you can't notify the whole dorm and still carry it out. You can also go to places like Target or Walmart to purchase on if you want to check out a few models for the best buy.

[S.A.M.]

I bought mine for a few bucks from a graduating student. There may be a discussion group online for students to sell their stuff.

[takandjive]

Also, in the meantime, what about a small lockbox you can put in the freezer? You keep the key with you.

[draqon]

I used to steal food from fridges a lot...like by a lot I mean every day...I feel shameful. I no longer do it.

Just put a lock on it or like get a mini freezer.

Or put a camera that is everyone can see is there. =) that way their shame will be too much to bear.

[Mrs.Lucysnow]

Was it a feeling of entitlement or because you sometimes didn't have enough money?

You J. Wellington Wimpy

[Orleander]

Omg!! I haven't thought about it,....

really? Its kind of standard here. In fact I've never been in a dorm room that didn't have a mini fridge.

[MacGyver1968]

Poison your food, and then see who dies.

[visceral_instinct]

Poison your food, and then see who dies.

LOL!

Seriously, there is a reasonable alternative to actually poisoning it. Just put a LOT of laxative in something and then see who gets diarrhea. Not illegal, since it's your own food.

[Enmos]

I now live in a student dormitory with about 20 students per floor and 1 big common kitchen in each floor. To store the food, each of us has our own small containers inside few big refrigerators and 1 common deep freezer. The containers inside refrigerators are equipped with keys, but the deep freezer are not, the foods in the deep freezer are mixed; in this deep freezer, the only way to differentiate our foods from others is by labeling the plastics that wrap the foods.

Few weeks ago, in a kitchen meeting, some of us reported that they lost their pizzas which they put in the deep freezer! As I never buy pizza, I don't lose any, and didn't realize that I lose anything yet. However, two days ago I found that my french fries (including its packing) is gone. My fish is still there, but I'm not sure whether some of them are also stolen or not, because I didn't count them, there is still few left.

Today, as I want to eat my ice cream which I put two days ago (the day I found my french fries was gone), I found that somebody has already opened my ice cream box and took 2 out of 6 packings

Fyi, my food in the deep freezer is stored in a plastic which is tied with a rope, and on the rope I hang a label (laminated paper) with my name and room number written on it. There is no way people would have mistaken my plastic for theirs, so I am sure this is done in purpose.

I don't think there is any use if I report it in the next meeting. My question is, how to protect my food? If I put the deep freezer food in refrigerator, it will be damaged soon. Also, is there any possibility to trap the thief? Please let me know if you have any idea, thanks!

Poison your food !

Who of your fellow students has recently bought something new, or needed the money otherwise ? Someone is taking a free ride..

[Enmos]

Poison your food, and then see who dies.

Damn it.. you beat me to it