Food theft from pantry fridges

Send us your ideas for tackling this problem to suggestions@connaught-hall.org.uk.

We are aware that theft of food from pantry fridges is a problem. It is selfish, ignorant, and childish to say the least. And enormously frustrating for those whose food is stolen. A very small minority of residents are responsible for this, I know, but I still find it quite extraordinary and very disappointing that adults at some of the best higher education institutions in the world engage in such petty theft.

Sometimes, your fellow residents keep food in the fridge because they are unwell and can only muster an appetite for certain foods, or because they have special dietary requirements. They might have to go hungry if someone else takes their food. And whatever the reason for having food in the refrigerators, it is really upsetting to find it stolen by someone else. So please only take food or drink from the fridge if you bought it.

This has been a problem every year, at least since I lived at Connaught Hall in the 90s as an undergraduate. I know from speaking with wardens in the other intercollegiate halls, as well as LSE, UCL, Imperial, and Kings halls, that it is just as much a problem elsewhere.

Some halls have combated this problem by having fridges with lockable compartments. But this only works when a kitchen is shared by 5-10 people, not 30-40 people. We cannot have lockable fridges here, as there isn't enough space on each floor for fridges to contain 40 compartments.

CCTV is not the answer. We have tried it before, and it was completely ineffective at both deterring and detecting thieves: the thefts continued, and we didn't catch anyone.

But you might have an amazing idea that will help us stop this very frustrating problem. If you do, write to us at suggestions@connaught-hall.org.uk.

CCTV to be installed in pantries this week

Sadly, I receive many complaints about food being stolen from the pantry refrigerators. A very small minority of residents are responsible for this, I know, but I still find it quite extraordinary and very disappointing that adults at some of the best higher education institutions in the world engage in such petty theft.

We already have one tested, effective method for detecting food thieves. But its efficacy depends upon the technique being kept secret, and it is very time-consuming for staff, so we cannot operate that method all the time. That is why, from this week, we will be placing mobile CCTV cameras in the pantries. Some cameras will be hidden; others will be more visible as a deterrent. Not every pantry will be monitored all the time: we will rotate the cameras between different places.

Anyone who is caught stealing food will be subject to disciplinary action.

I am very disappointed that it has proven necessary to take this step. I have argued many times against installing CCTV in common rooms, pantries, and the bar because I very much dislike infringing your privacy in this way. But the number of complaints recently has made it plain that we simply must do something more.

Ideally, we shall not catch anyone stealing food: much better that those responsible simply stop doing it! For sometimes, your fellow residents keep food in the fridge because they are unwell and can only muster an appetite for certain foods, or because they have special dietary requirements. They might have to go hungry if someone else takes their food, whether we catch the thief or not. And whatever the reason for having food in the refrigerators, it is really upsetting (and can be expensive) to find it stolen by someone else.

So please only take food or drink from the fridge if you bought it.

I thought it important to write to you about our new CCTV initiative because you may wish to dress or behave differently when using the pantries if you know you may be being recorded. We have ensured that clear signs are displayed to remind you that CCTV may be in operation.

As always, come to an open office session (openoffice.connaught-hall.org.uk) or write to me if you have any concerns or if anything is not clear.

Please only take food or drink from the fridge if you bought it.

Please only take food or drink from the fridge if you bought it.

The number of complaints about food being stolen from the pantry refrigerators has skyrocketted this term. I find it quite extraordinary and most disappointing that adults at some of the best higher education institutions in the world engage in such petty theft.

Most of us who live here in Hall would not dream of stealing food from someone else. Yet it seems there is a very small minority of inconsiderate, dishonest, self-centred delinquents who have no qualms about engaging in theft from their neighbours and supposed friends. It really is extremely sad. This behaviour has no place in our Hall community.

I want to express my absolute condemnation of this selfish behaviour, and my sympathy with anyone whose things have been stolen. I am open to suggestions as to ways in which we can combat this pernicious behaviour - warden@connaught-hall.org.uk.

Food theft from pantry fridges

It is a sad fact that every year I receive many complaints about food being stolen from the pantry refrigerators.

There is of course no realistic chance of us finding out who takes others’ belongings from the fridges as they are unsupervised and accessible to anyone 24 hours a day.

But the complaints I receive about this relate so much frustration, disappointment, and distress from those who have had their things stolen that I implore all of you to:

a) label anything you put in the fridge, so you know which items are yours
and there are no accidental mix-ups; and

b) only remove things from the fridge that belong to you: for however
you might try to justify it to yourself, taking someone else’s things is theft
and is extraordinarily selfish.

I know this request only need apply to a handful of residents, as the
very great majority of you already respect each other and each other’s
property.

Sometimes, your fellow residents keep food in the fridge because they are unwell and can only muster an appetite for certain foods, or because they have special dietary requirements. They might have to go hungry if someone else takes their food. And whatever the reason for having food in the refrigerators, it is really upsetting to find it taken by someone else.

I sincerely hope that I shall receive no complaints about food theft this year.

Pantry fridges

I am disappointed to report that I have received several complaints recently about food being stolen from the pantry refrigerators.

There is of course no realistic chance of us finding out who takes others’ belongings from the fridges as they are unsupervised and accessible to anyone 24 hours a day. So this cannot, in practice, be a disciplinary issue.

But the complaints I receive about this relate so much frustration, disappointment, and distress from those who have had their things stolen that I want to make a plea, on behalf of everyone who uses those refrigerators, that you should:

a) label anything you put in the fridge, so you know which items are yours and there are no accidental mix-ups; and
b) only remove things from the fridge that belong to you.

Sometimes, your fellow residents keep food in the fridge because they are unwell and can only muster an appetite for certain foods, or because they have special dietary requirements. They might have to go hungry if someone else takes their food and they cannot get out to replace it straight away. And whatever the reason for having food in the refrigerators, it is really upsetting to find it taken by someone else.

So please – and I know this request only need apply to a tiny minority, as most of you respect each other and each other’s property – be considerate of your fellow residents and do not take anything from the pantry fridges if it doesn’t belong to you. For however you might try to justify it to yourself, this is theft and cannot in good conscience be called anything else.