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.

Fridge thieves beware!

A large number of comments in the residents' survey talked about theft from the pantry fridges.

College Hall recently introduced a new scheme, using a a bit of technology and some decoy food items to catch fridge thieves. They caught three people red-handed in a week and appropriate disciplinary action was taken.

I propose to introduce the same method to catch thieves at Connaught Hall in April 2013. I really very sincerely hope that we shall not catch anyone: that this message will be enough to remind people that stealing others' food is not OK; and that the now very real threat of being caught might be a deterrent.

In the past, I have been limited to making pleas not to steal, but had no realistic means of detecting the culprits. That is no longer the case. And this has been such a persistent, insidious problem this year that I will apply harsh penalties to anyone who is caught stealing.

This is one of a series of posts responding to the results of the residents' survey. You can see all the posts here: http://connaughthall.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Survey%202013. 

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.

Milk theft

Unfortunately, theft of milk and sugar from the new coffee machine has proved to be a problem already.

In the last 48 hours, 34 drinks have been sold - many were hot chocolate or fruit teas which do not require milk.

In the same period, 60 milk portions have been taken.

The drink prices on the machine are set just to cover our costs on the optimistic assumption that nothing would be stolen. We cannot afford to subsidise this level of milk theft. We have to do something: the options are (a) the restrict the supply of milk; (b) to increase the cost of drinks to factor in the losses due to theft; or (c) acknowledge that the Club has to subsidise this cost and use our money on milk instead of parties, televisions, newspapers, sports, and games.

I have replaced milk with powder whitener in the hope that this is perhaps slightly less likely to be stolen, and because whitener sachets are less expensive than milk, so our losses will be smaller. If this does not work, then milk will be placed behind reception and one tube of milk given upon request after a drink has been purchased from the machine.

I am sorry this has been necessary.