Catching a theif. [CAUGHT!]

[Machine]

Not sure if I mentioned this but at work 3 sets of my little in ear headphones have gone missing, all times they were plugged into my desktop box.

FIrst time, nice set of in ear headphones go missing.

Second time, basic set of in ear headphones gone

This last time, whoever is doing it has had the cheek to return a set of previously stolen headphones (Second cheap set) and taken mine, the returned set, BROKEN. So I'm fucked off beyond all recognition.

Anyway, I've concealed a camera on my desk pointing outward on motion detection using a little application called YAWCAM, it trialled last night...

So far I've learnt that the cleaner doesn't really "clean" as such, he just waves the cloth at the desk, also he seems to be in the building for half the time he claims and not at the times he claims to be! Also discovered when Guy / Doug / Martin leave for the night... So... surveillance continues...

I've planted a pound coin on my desk in view, since my objective is to catch anybody who would steal from me... if they take that I'm pretty sure I have my headphone thief!

Any other ideas to improve my chances?

EDIT : Case solved : Video here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHtjAZ3lT_8
- Consequences to come!

[Chainsaws]

I wouldn't leave an obvious trap like leaving a pound coin out. Especially if there is any chance of them seeing the webcam. If they suspect you're onto them they'll be really wary and you'll never catch them.

Also, I hope it's not a webcam that lights up when it's active

Edit: Also, you =

[Fix]

I think you've left it a little too long. I'd have set the web cam up after the second time something went missing.

I'd stick with the headphone trick for now though... maybe invest in some semi-decent ones and leave them out again, purely to catch the culprit. Personal satisfaction of confronting them would be payment enough for me personally, but I guess I like confrontation, I get a kick out of it and I love making people feel shit.

Leaving money out is to obvious like Chains said. However if you are going to use another trap because this thief has enough earphones to last him the next 6 months, leaving a pile of money, like in a plastic cup of short change on your desk will seem more genuine than leaving single amounts. Some coppers, silvers, maybe a pound in there will arouse temptation for the thief, and will make it look like 'it wont be missed' a single pound looks like it has a purpose, such as a lottery ticket or something - again whatever the thief takes you probably wont see again, but personal satisfaction of naming and shaming would be enough for me.

What you'll need to appreciate is that you'll never be able to prove whoever you catch taking anything from your desk has taken your previous items (although it would be beyond reasonable doubt, and will hi-light the persons morals and integrity to the rest of the office) Also you will need to be extremely careful as to who sees your webcam evidence. If the person is a real arse and have some knowledge on their rights, they could get data protection involved and you could get into trouble. Stick to just you and the MD.

If you really want to have fun with this, let them take a few things over the course of a month or so. Then you will probably be able to get the person sacked, and also arrested, which could possibly lead to you getting some of your earphones back... err if your still bothered about wearing tainted earphones that is.

So, have you got a list of suspects? Who's there when you are not, who's near your desk that isn't normally, body language - anyone acting slightly different around you? What you could do is speak to people around the office and watch their responses. Lies can be detected quite easily if the person isn't ready - like talking to them when they don't expect it.

[Aggamemnon]

This all depends entirely on whether the thief is an opportunist or is digging around for stuff to take.

Opportunist could be anyone in the office, they may even think headphones are office stock and free for anyone to use. (or just use this excuse if confronted)

Someone digging around would have to be able to take their time, so a cleaner/security/manager would be more likely.

If you find out it was an equal or a manager, I'd leave a cheeky note stating to leave your stuff alone.
If it's someone you could punish easily, I'd either bring it up with the boss, or 1 to 1.

Again, as the others have stated, leaving a single object is way too obvious a trick.

The cup of change is a good one, new headphones also decent (but may have enough as stated). You should leave silly things out, like half decent pens, bits of stationary, a scarf, gloves.
If you wanted to up the scale a bit, some random keys, a fake five/ten/twenty (with change left next to it) other bits of cheap electrical accessories.

[Chainsaws]

Yes, you want them thinking "what a chump! I've pinched all his stuff and he's still leaving things out!" not "hmmmm...he's left an obvious trap with his untraceable POUND COIN I must be being watched...."

[Machine]

The cup of change is an excellent idea, I don't expect to get anything back if it's taken. I am Tex Murphy! I have blue tacced over the light on the webcam.

I'm not worried about data protection nonsense, as far as I'm concerned if I name and shame them I'm happy, it would be nice to get my phones back but I don't expect it. Once I'm more confident in the ability of the camera (maybe a week or two of running) I will invest in some better headphones and use them as normal.

I didn't expect the first or second time, the third I was annoyed because I should have expected it, and further fury ensued because they'd RETURNED my broken 2nd pair.

The action I take will depend on who it is, I hope it's nobody I like but if it is I hope I catch them.

Cheers for the tips, I'll put a few of them in place this week.

My list of suspects so far :
The Cleaner.

EDIT : LoL at the Spy vs Spy Avatar!

EDIT2 : Having thought about it more, your right, motivation and justification for stealing I read on-line is generally "They won't miss it" i.e I'll get away with it. They don't actually think through the consequences of what they are stealing - oppertunists and petty theft that it, what this is. So I need to create than environment, a pile of money is easier to take from than a single item so I'll do this.

[Fix]

That fits the cleaners bill quite well. The rest of the office staff will have a good idea of what will and what wont be missed, whereas the cleaner might not be in tune as to how big the company is, and what is office stock, and what isn't.

Don't let that be a conclusive line of thinking though.

Just had a thought - does the cleaner listen to music whilst cleaning?

Also it would be worth seeing if anyone else has anything missing from their desks. Careful though, you don't want to spook the thief completely.

[Machine]

I wondered if he wore headphones, I can't tell from the footage I have so far, twice out of the 3 times my stuff has gone has been over the weekend, so I'm wondering if say, he brings his kids in whilst he cleans? That would be interesting....

I'm not mentioning this to many people, Sal knows I've got the camera, as does steph, but nobody else, i don't as you say, want to give away to the thief that I'm watching...

[bigd]

Not to rain on your little passive-aggressive parade here, but why didn't you ask around after the first set went missing? A friendly "some stuff has gone missing from my desk, if you borrowed it could you please return it" email/note often goes a long way. If someone in the office is the culprit, you're just driving the ridiculous politics even further by trying to record things.

[Machine]

I did exactly that. I even contacted the cleaning agency and asked them to have a word with the cleaner (Since we always have the same guy each night). Of course that's the first avenue to explore, do you think I'm some kind of crazy impulsive freak! Geez D, calm down! Those queries returned nothing, just "no, I can't believe they've gone!" and other aghast quotes.

The time for words is over!

[bigd]

It was a reasonable inquiry! And besides, you guys are crazy!

[Fix]

This thread is a little crazed, but hey, its fun!

[Machine]

Last night he spent longer there, emptied bins.... Guy was on the camera for ages talking to sal... no crimes yet!

[Chainsaws]

I'm just waiting for horrified tales of hot man-on-man action that make it really uncomfortable for you to work there! That would be hilarious!

Also D is correct, you are crazy!

[Machine]

I've spent a fiver on some new sennheiser headphones... so far nothing fancy on the camera but the weekend is a-coming!

[Chainsaws]

What news, Tex?

[Fix]

I suspect the cleaner comes in Friday evening and doesn't need to come in until Monday evening... so I'm guessing nothing new.

[Machine]

Your wrong, I've caught him on camera stealing my pound coin, clear as day. The file is an MOV so I'll upload it to you tube shortly (it's also 380 meg so I'll trim it to the interesting parts)

I also found out he comes in at 18:00 on Sunday, with his kids as I suspected, his kids run riot around the office whilst he cleans, his girl sat at my desk and a little lad was spinning around in one of the accounts chairs, I think THEY took my headphones but clearly he's a t-leaf....

I feel a bit sick now because I have to go to Brian with this, it's a small amount of money but it's the principle, I wanted to find out who had it in them and now I have I don't feel as good about it as I'd thought I would!

[Machine]

Update : Video Hover over the squares during playback. There is no sound.

[Fix]

SNAAAAAP! So cool.

Let us know what he says!

[Machine]

I'll fill you in tomorrow, I need to tell Antonia since Guy is useless. I've put the video on a laptop to show them both in the meeting room but I won't learn anything new today. I've turned the camera off for now and hidden it, I think I'll continue to host it later in the week since it's quite fun learning how to do all this.

I feel better now I've had a chance to think about it, I'm not screwing him over, he's screwed himself over.

[Fix]

You can clearly see, there is no contemplation on taking the pound coin - what's your is now his. That could have been anything; a pound coin, micro SD card containing company info, headphones... anything really.

[bigd]

For your next thrilling surveillance, might I suggest the camera shaped spy camera? Bastards won't know what hit them.

[Machine]

Some of the pen cameras are cool, I just used an old webcam with YAWCAM and a pound coin. Low cost!

[Machine]

Just given this to the lady who manages the cleaning contract here, Brian is our MD.

This is her reply to me...

I have spoken to the manager at eagle, she has asked if we are going to prosecute. I am not sure at this stage and will speak to Brian about this, however, I have told them I do not want mohammed cleaning here again with immediate effect and I will also be considering if we remain in contract with Eagle. She is going to see him later and we have agreed she will advise we are going to prosecute, however, if he gives all the stuff back we may reconsider. We will see what that brings up. The fact that his kids were here just added insult to injury and the bigger picture around the insurance etc etc.

I will keep you updated, keep hold of the clip.

The saga continues...