Petty 28-year-old woman punishes office food thief by soaking tea bags in fish sauce overnight, coworkers think her ploy crossed a line: "I did what any mildly unhinged office girlie would do"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jun 28, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

I am grateful to work in an office environment where people actually respect things like sticky note warnings on tupperware in the shared refridgerator. I've never heard of anyone stealing others' snacks or food here. I do, however, have experience with food thiefs from back when I lived with roommates. One year, I lived with a really sweet Swiss girl who had a strange diet. I never quite understood what she could or couldn't eat, but she made it very clear to me that she was not to be eating bread. So, she never bought a loaf for herself. Peculiarly, I would find that my bread would finish much quicker when I lived with her, despite portioning it out so that it lasted a full week.

In our tale of comeuppance today, our brave and petty protagonist rigs her tea bags in order to expose the coworker that has been stealing them despite the clearly-labeled box they reside in. To find out how the ploy transpired and how the office reacted, scroll down below!

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  • 01

    AITA for embarrassing my coworker by "outing" her as the one who keeps stealing my tea?

    "It tastes like a literal fish tank"
    via nicoletaionescu from Getty Images

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    So I (28F) work in a pretty chill office. We've got a shared kitchen area with a "take one, leave one" vibe for snacks and drinks. People leave extra granola bars, packets of oatmeal, all that. Cool. But the unspoken rule is: if it's labeled, leave it alone.
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 03
    Anyway, I'm kind of a tea snob and I bring my own imported stuff from this place my grandma used to order from in the UK. I keep a little box of it in the kitchen cabinet with a big label on it that says "My Name's Tea PLEASE DO NOT TAKE "
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 04
    Except... someone's been taking it. Not just one or two bags. Half the box disappeared in a week.
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10521910016
    via FlamingoImages

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    So I did what any mildly unhinged office girlie would - do I slipped a few decoy bags into the box and soaked the tags in fish sauce overnight. Dried them. Resealed the wrappers. Waited.
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10521909760
    via Mike Jones

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    Two days later, one of my coworkers (we'll call her Tina, 31F) comes storming out of the kitchen gagging and asking if someone "tampered with the
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 09
    tea." I stayed quiet until she said, "I don't know who buys that weird brand, but it tastes like a literal fish tank."
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 10
    And I said, "Oh, that's mine. The one with my name on it?" She went pale. De d silent. And then mumbled something about not seeing the label.
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 11
    Now she's p ed, telling everyone I set her up and that it was a "malicious prank" when all I did was booby-trap my own tea. HR hasn't said anything yet, but some people think I crossed a line.
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988
  • 12
    I didn't put anything dangerous in it. I just made it gross. And honestly? If you're gonna steal tea from a labeled box, you deserve the fishy consequences. So... AITA for basically tricking her into exposing herself?
    via u/Realistic_Durian9988

  • This could have gone really sideways if her coworker had a fish allergy. However, she really shouldn't have been stealing people's things. 

  • 13
    badtowergirl NTA. I hate entitled people who steal food. I solve this problem by never using shared areas because if you can contaminate your own food, other people can cough, touch or steal your food. Too many years working with gross people, I just can't do it anymore.
    via u/badtowergirl
  • 14
    Mand125 Why isn't the next step asking HR the following: "If they steal food from coworkers, what else will they steal from the company?"
    via u/Mand125
  • 15
    Pixes|Nomadd she brewed consequences in her own cup. poetic, really.
    via u/PixesiNomadd
  • 16
    Floral Flutter Exactly! Nothing like a self-inflicted sip of justice.
    via u/FloralFlutter
  • 17
    Sunny Mossy Totally get that. Office kitchens can be wild, some people really have no boundaries.
    via u/SunnyMossy
  • 18
    granite34 yeah, I always keep this stuff at my desk???!!!... | don't mind sharing, but why leave YOUR stuff in na place where anyone can take it??? and if the argument is that's where the hot water is, how hard is it to carry A tea bag?
    via u/granite34
  • 19
    formerflautist57 I have my own office. The fridge is shared and is in a common area. I bought my own mini fridge because I just didn't trust leaving my food in there anymore. It's a worthy investment.
    via u/formerflautist57
  • 20
    Cheezburger Image 10521910272
    via DragonImages

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 21
    ΝΤΑ Auroraburst That's hilarious and save allergies, not dangerous. If she was concerned about allergies she wouldn't be stealing tea anyway.
    via u/Auroraburst
  • 22
    FloralFlutter Exactly! If you're worried about what's in it, maybe don't steal it in the first place. Actions have... fishy consequences AA
    via u/FloralFlutter
  • 23
    MehX73 Allergies was my first thought because I am. allergic to fish. But then again, I dont steal food, so I'm good!
    via u/MehX73

  • If you don't go around eating food that isn't yours, this won't happen to you! Simple as that. 

  • 24
    EarlyElderberry 7215 NTA, you labled it by the rule of the kitchen it was not up for grabs. It like she stole your lunchbox same rule apply.
    via u/EarlyElderberry7215
  • 25
    VelvetLullabys Exactly! If it's labeled, it's off limits, same as someone's lunchbox. Simple respect.
    via u/VelvetLullabys
  • 26
    OneAd2988 NTA- folks gotta stop stealing other peoples things
    via u/OneAd2988
  • 27
    NTA Square_Band9870 "That's how I like my tea. Fishy. It's an acquired taste. If you asked me, I would have mentioned it.”
    via u/Square_Band9870
  • 28
    Telaranrhioddreams Some health issues get recommended a variety of fish oil suppliments for the omega 3s. "Oh it's a new diet I'm trying to get my daily dose of fish oils"
    via u/Telaranrhioddreams
  • 29
    mocha_lattes_ This is what OP says to HR if they get pulled in then ask what they are going to do about coworkers theft of her personal item.
    via u/mocha_lattes_
  • 30
    SweetBekki She wouldn't have fishy breath if she kept her fishy hands to herself.
    via u/SweetBekki
  • 31
    What exactly can HR do? She helped herself to something she knew didn't belong to her then complaint that someone bought something disgusting just to backtrack that she didn't see the label. She KNEW. HR should be having words with her.
    via u/SweetBekki

Tags

terrible coworkers Food Thief workplace-stories Female Empowerment adulting work coworkers coworker bestie human resources workplace entitled coworker girlboss thief entitled people
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