Sharing a frig with a thief... Need some payback.?

Basic office style situation, several dozen people share a breakroom frig, but lunches and snacks disappear on a fairly regular basis.

What would be a good additive to food to make the thief sorry that they swiped a lunch. It should be non life threatening and non MAJOR illness causing, and otherwise un-detectable, when placed in something like lasagna or tamale pie.

Discussions have been had, everyone has been advised and warned that there could be ramifications, if this continues.

Any suggestions??

My husband has this problem with some of his staff.
So I gave him some dog chocolates (the round flat ones).

He left them in the luchroom in a bowl, and yes, someone ate them.

He later mentioned in front of everyone that they were dog chocolates and one of the guys immediately went green and rushed for the bathroom, he later admitted he'd eaten them.

If there have been any problems since then, I haven't heard about them. :o)

EDIT:
They have no sugar, so they must taste awful, but that idiot really got into them.

Just read your question again. You need something really bitter and nasty. How about bitters, or that stuff you paint on your nails to stop from biting them ? It lasts for AGES ! hehehe. I do enjoy a good plot because I am evil :o)

Something good laced with hot hot hot sauce!

Horse Laxative!!!

Buy psyllium and make muffins with it. Decorate it really nice and make it smell delicious. The psyllium will make them jolt to the restroom in no time.

Well, have a decoy bag,one with gross food like rotting eggs, or liver,and kidneys,with stinky cheese,and one with good food (yours),hide that in the car in a cooler,or lunchbox.,the person who has the funny face from smelling that is the culprit,just don't forget to start labeling bags with names on them.

CHEYENNE PEPPER! OR GET SOME OF THAT HOT SAUCE THAT COULD KILL YOU, LOL, BOY I WISH I COULD SEE IT!

I agree on the super hot peppers sauce,then you should be able to tell who they are right away,,,blend habinero,jalapino,and a few others and make a sauce that you can put in the center so they will feel comfortable in taking a big bite and BAM its gonna hurt for at least 15 min or so


ohh and there is a super stinky cheese you can get at a german grocerie it stinks so bad it can make you sick and you cant get that smell to go away lol

Some practical jokers did this at work once (not funny, though). THey bought a box of plain cake donuts and frosted them with chocolate flavored ex=lax. Like I said, it wasn't funny but it could work for you.

-visine added to anything will make the person start throwing up. it's because of the salt.
-also, make cookies with salt instead of sugar and corn meal instead of flour. my mom did it on accident once because she lacked labels and they were quite awful. start leaving such creations out in the open so that anyone can see them.
-make your tamale pie with jelly instead of spaghetti sauce. it will taste awful but look good.
-you cold get some fake fur and put it on the top of what ever dish you wanted to stage. you could say that you say this rabbit that had died in your yard and though rabbit stew would be great.
-start telling people that you cook naked, you can't help it if a few armpit hairs make it into the mix...it's natural right?
-start telling people that you are shopping at a really expensive import store and are starting to experiment with organ meats and brains. then ask if they would like to try a new recipe that you plan to bring in next week.
-start putting road kill in bags and put it in the fridge.
-put a sticky note on your lunch that says you licked this container and you have herpes simplex 1.
-wear a mask to work telling everyone that your vacation to asia last year may have exposed you to SARS. you can't be sure....

Get a fake cockroach or severed finger or something really gross that looks authentic but won't cause any illness (look in your local Joke Store or somewhere that sell knick-knacks). Put that in something that looks irresistably tasty and wait for the scream. Alternatively, stick around after everyone leaves and set up a video camera somewhere it can't be seen. Run it past the boss first, if he doesn't like the idea it's probably him!!!
Also you can get fake surveillance cams for about $20 from Electronics stores - install one and tell everyone its real - that might stop the thief doing it.

Baby laxative {liquid and tasteless} would cramp them up and send them charging for the bathroom repeatedly, distinguishing them as the food thief. { w/ no detrimental long term effect} It may have to be done more than once to increase their chances of picking the contaminated lunch. Good Luck

u can get luch boxes wit locks on them...I would say laxative but that means they get a paid day off...make ur sammies wit dog food n add some herbs to it so it doesnt smell like dogg food...or put dye in ur mix that ur gonna put on ur sammies so there teeth go that colour then u know who it is...

I would suggest a video camera placed strategically and on automatic recording. At least you'll KNOW who is behind it, and then catch him or her.

I think the most effective, as well as mature way to handle this is to catch them and expose them in front of the other employees. ( hidden camera perhaps??) Embarrassing them in front of their co-workers would be the most effective without you putting yourself in legal jeopardy.

We had a communal fridge in the college dorm. One guy drank from any contanier that had been opened. Let's just say he was not a happy camper when he drank from the one that was labeled "Apple Juice" because another yellow liquid had been substituted for apple juice.

I'd stick a lump of wasabi (from a sushi bar) somewhere in the sandwich. That'll light him up pretty good.