To catch the Nalgene bottle thief in my office---need some ideas

[Bob98SR5]

Hey guys,

The motherf###r. So I try to stay hydrated at work, so in the last few years, I've bought those Nalgene bottles. They're about $9-10 now at REI. I also bought the fancy screw top that allows you to drink from it w/o ice hitting you in the face. Those are $6 a piece. So I'm out $48 now on top of the bastard 3 years ago who stole my most prized Patagonia jacket ($100).

Some motherf'r at work has been stealing mine. I would from time to time leave them on my desk. I mean really. who the f'k steals water bottles? Apparently some POS who has now claimed 3 of mine. And for those wondering, yes, I've looked all over the house. And no one is stupid enough to steal them from me at the gym. It's literally within feet of me wherever I am in the gym.

So my thought is to set up a motion activated hidden camera somewhere on or near my desk. The problem though is that the office mgt turns off all the light. I am afraid that there won't be enough ambient light from my desk's overhead florescent lights to illuminate the bitch. I guess i won't know until I buy one and test one out.

Anyone ever done this? I need creative ideas. So some basic requirements:

- motion activated
- good IR/night vision
- run off laptop

one thing i was thinking of was to tie the bottle to a light fishing line, that when pulled, would set off a homemade claymore mine....no...sorry...just fantasy talk. ok, the line would be attached to some kind of flash that would illuminate the f'kr and provide just enough light to get the money shot.

[fenrisx]

one thing i was thinking of was to tie the bottle to a light fishing line, that when pulled, would set off a homemade claymore mine....no...sorry...just fantasy talk. ok, the line would be attached to some kind of flash that would illuminate the f'kr and provide just enough light to get the money shot.


That's probably the best way.

[4x4mike]

Can you leave your computer on? Set up a cheap webcam.

When I worked at REI everyone had multple Nalgenes but each was covered with stickers. At ome time I had near 15 bottles all colors and sizes.

[Ric]

sorry, I cant stand people that steal... I personally use one water bottle at work, but Ive put my name on it with a marker, in big print, both on the side making it easily seen, and on the bottom, had the same bottle now for about two years.

SuperGlue ??? :headscratch:

[CJM]

Webcam maybe. Its probably the cleaning crew.

Me, I would buy a cheap nalgene-and paint it with ink and leave it there for the jerk to grab. Or maybe slow setting epoxy.

[Seanz0rz]

super glue works so well because it is pressure activated. it can sit there a few hours and then poof! stuck like a mofo.

i agree, it is likely the cleaning crew. most people won't steal from a coworker for fear of getting caught, etc.

a flashing camera will alert them to the picture being taken, and they will likely steal the camera too!

does your office have a camera system? you could ask them to look into it. or rig something that logs the time the bottle is lifted, so you have a lead on where and when it was taken (at 3am, cleaning crew, and 5:01pm, your cube mate)

[stormtaco]

fill it full of bleach and eye drops and turbo lax, you will know then fallow the poop and vomit :rofl:

[Obi..]

Fill one up with water and, a-hem, wink-wink, put your "tea bags" in it. I mean really, really steep it, until the water takes on just a tinge of the yellow from the "tea bags" and let it sit somewhere safe at home for like a week or two just so your "tea" can ferment.

Bring it into work one random day, preferably in a bag until the end of the day so you won't accidentally drink out of it, and towards the last part of the day leave it on the desk to be grabbed.

I don't care how hard someone tries to clean it out, if they use them and ever plan on using it, that taste will be there forever and combined w/ the camera shot you then get to tell that person...


"Dude/Gal, :angel: you just drank my "tea". :flipoff: Do you know how precious those "tea bags" are? You got tea bagged!".

:spit: :clap:

*Yes, I am good at this sort of stuff.

[Bob98SR5]

Can you leave your computer on? Set up a cheap webcam.

When I worked at REI everyone had multple Nalgenes but each was covered with stickers. At ome time I had near 15 bottles all colors and sizes.


Mike,

I have a laptop that never stays at work.

[Bob98SR5]

sorry, I cant stand people that steal... I personally use one water bottle at work, but Ive put my name on it with a marker, in big print, both on the side making it easily seen, and on the bottom, had the same bottle now for about two years.

SuperGlue ??? :headscratch:


Going forward, I'll mark it up. For now, I need some tech savvy ideas here.

[Bob98SR5]

super glue works so well because it is pressure activated. it can sit there a few hours and then poof! stuck like a mofo.

i agree, it is likely the cleaning crew. most people won't steal from a coworker for fear of getting caught, etc.

a flashing camera will alert them to the picture being taken, and they will likely steal the camera too!

does your office have a camera system? you could ask them to look into it. or rig something that logs the time the bottle is lifted, so you have a lead on where and when it was taken (at 3am, cleaning crew, and 5:01pm, your cube mate)


My boss gets back tomorrow (Fri), so I will ask him what can they do.

[troyboy162]

setting up a secret video camera is likely not legal. How about just locking up anything you dont want stolen? If you have cleaning crew that's going to be the end solution anyway, though not as fun.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Going forward, I'll mark it up. For now, I need some tech savvy ideas here.



Boo, you don't need tech savvy, you need low tech solutions.

You are going to need some rubber gloves and some pepper spray.

1.Spray that bottle down with pepper spray, inside and out (especiall inside), put it in a big sealed bag and carry it to work.
2.At the end of the day, set it out (with rubber gloves) on the edge of your desk pretty as can be.
3. ???
4. Profit

[paddlenbike]

I would go the webcam route so you can possibly get the person fired. I have a $25 Logitech that does motion-sensed recording. Just leave your computer on with the monitor off and disable sleep mode for the night.

[fenrisx]

If it's the cleaning crew, then they're probably bringing them home, and not using them while on the job.. so they probably won't care whether or not it's marked with your name.

Honestly, the best bet is just to lock it up if possible. Although, that is the least fun manner.. no justice served. :(

[Ric]

Chris for the WIN :clap:

[Obi..]

Chris for the WIN :clap:


Chris, even I gotta admit you got the win on this one. So much simpler and less attacking than my idea.

I wonder what sort of ideas we'd be able to come up with if we were to ever work together, likely similar to my good friend and I designing things that go boom. :D

[Bob98SR5]

ken, im gonna explore the webcam idea. thanks for the suggestion. the other cams are pretty expensive.

[Bob98SR5]

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-960-000045-720p-Webcam-C905/dp/B000RZNI4S

after reading a ton of reviews, this is the one i got. i'm gonna have to make it more stealthier than this and not mount it on the monitor b/c no one in the office has or uses a webcam. it would stick out of place. i'll make some kind of innocuous housing for this

[Seanz0rz]

Make sure to put a sign on your desk that says "This desk monitored by video surveillance equipment" to avoid any unnecessary legal issues. that being said, there is no real right to privacy in an office environment.

[Obi..]

Tell that to the boss and secretary? Drum-Riff.

[fenrisx]

Set up a stream for us, so we can watch it live!

[CJM]

^ yep yep!

[Obi..]

^I want someone to tape it since I goto bed way too early these days. Insert the BITD story here, I rarely am up past Midnight w/ the Lil'One's room so closeby.
http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/22573iB5E31DDDB1300A8E/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1
Yes, I have been waiting for just the right time to bust out this gif. ;)

[mastacox]

Make sure to put a sign on your desk that says "This desk monitored by video surveillance equipment" to avoid any unnecessary legal issues.


I don't think this is necessary:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7452958_put-do-need-post-sign_.html


No laws in the United States require signs giving notice of hidden camera surveillance, particularly when surveillance takes place in a public setting where citizens have no expectation of privacy.
...
Federal laws do prohibit hidden cameras in places where citizens have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms and locker rooms. In workplaces where employment contracts include a clause requiring employees to consent to surveillance, employers often reinforce that agreement with a sign warning that surveillance cameras are operating.

[Seanz0rz]

While i agree that you probably don't legally need the sign, you may want to include one just to cover your butt.

Bob, you may also want to check with your boss/HR on recording fellow employees. There may be some internal regulations on this.

The sign can be small and rather inconspicuous. The sign alone may deter the future theft itself. I would just hate to see you lose your job over something very stupid.

[Bob98SR5]

sweet baby jesus guys, make up your mind. from live streaming view of a trigger activated, pepper spray allah akbar bomb to warning labels all over my cube? :shake:i'm just gonna do it. :hillbill: if i catch the bastid, ill decide then and there after consultation with some of the people in the know that i know in the company.

[oly884]

http://www.amazon.com/Primos-Truth-Cam-46-Camera/dp/B003K6W9G4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347893414&sr=1-1&keywords=trail+camera

I've used these before, works good on deer and any other critters. It's a bit obvious, but if you hide it right, they'll likely not even pay attention since it has an IR flash.

[Obi..]

So long as we get to watch the play by play and eventu8al smackdown do whatever ya gotta buddy. :D

[paddlenbike]

Bob, that looks like the same camera I have. I would just go for it--if you catch the perpetrator on film at least you'll know who did it and you can advise management who did it. Even if they refuse to use the footage to fire the person, it's not going to help that employee's reputation in the office--the word will get around and it won't be good for that employee.

[4x4mike]

Bob, have you considered putting the Nalgene in your desk drawer when you leave for the day? It probably doesn't even have to lock. More of the out of site, out of mind. At work I use big reusable cups from soda fountains for my water. Cheap and large capacity. They are not much to steal but open at the top. I'm trusting and hope people don't spit in them.

[Bob98SR5]

yah ill need to be better at hiding my stuff going fwd. but i really want to catch the thief and have his/her ass fired.

[paddlenbike]

I'm trusting and hope people don't spit in them.


Done and done.

[Bob98SR5]

talked with corp security, looks like (my gut feeling) is taht they will install a camera soon to monitor activity. nice.

[CJM]

Oh no fun. I liked the pepper spray idea.

[Obi..]

:ban: :D
http://www.realestateradiousa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Bookem-300x197.jpg








Oh no fun. I liked the pepper spray idea.


*ADVISORY*Shane's "Official" Long Winded Speech, the same one he gives his underlings.*

IMHO, ;) Marc and Bob, :angel:

..you're both reading into that too early. Did they specifically tell you "..no shenanigans..." ;) or did they simply state that they're aware of things, it's probably "smartest" to let them install the cameras and catch the person because there's more than bottles going missing"?

Maybe they want to be a part of the action and catch the person or simply want to start a betting pool on who it is, whether or not the person(s) is security or someone else, or both, or want to look like the hero's themselves?

Just saying, I know I've been admonished more than once for taking risks and catching perp's in the act, even done my share of Citizen's Arrests and seizures. Whether or not they were the right things to do at the time, I took the risk and all worked out, luckily for me. That said I have an old employee with a dent in his noggin from a thief smacking his dome with a Kryptonite Forgetaboutit shackle.

Make the decision to do either, wait and watch, or become involved. Just be aware each carries inherent risks that if it becomes an escalated situation you become at risk of endangerment or culpability.

Me, I'd install the camera anyhow, heck, I'll paypal you $5** towards it for the entertainment value alone. You'd be surprised at how many times I've had to have P.I.'s and P.D. come in and escort our inhouse maintenance as well as security individuals at the same time out the door and into a squad car for questioning and follow-up Miranda Rights and Cuff-n-Stuffs.

**Note: My $5 also entitles me the rights to copy, distribute, and sell, for profit any and all Office-Nookie caught during the running of the camera.

[Bob98SR5]

my boss pretty much told me that if i do my own camera surveillance, it would be violating my coworker's privacy rights and that state laws would take over in prosecuting little ol' me.

so last night I set up a trap for the thief...and it worked. So i brought home a box of a hard drive enclosure. smallish type box. i laid it on a calendar, i drew the outline of the box on the calendar, and i moved the box a little so the lines would be covered. i left at 7pm and i can assure you i was only one of 3 people in the office at the time. the janitor came at around 645pm to dispose of my trash. it could be the janitor, who knows. but in terms of office people, i doubt it is my hot asian milf coworker. omg, shes hot...but i digress. anyways, i came to work at 8:15, went to my desk, and guess what? the f'g thief picked up the box and of course it was outside the outline of the box. that was pretty good evidence that my cube is a favorite target of this idiot. so i emailed the corp security person and thats why i got the response that i did. i think it'll be easy for them to narrow it down b/c there would only be a handful of people i imagine who swiped into our office from 7pm to 7am. if those clowns cant at least figure this out with this info, then I can see why most of us in this company think our security is a joke. i'm totally down to participate in whatever they have up their sleeves.

we'll see. i'll keep you guys posted.

and no you pervy beotches, no photos of the hot asian milf. thats for only me to enjoy :drool: :smokin:

[CJM]

and no you pervy beotches, no photos of the hot asian milf. thats for only me to enjoy :drool: :smokin:


WAHHH!!! :(

[kafene]

I have a couple of motion sensor LED lights in the garage by both doors. It's not 100% reliable, but works pretty good. I got them at Costco for cheap. It looks something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Electric-JB5293-Battery-Operated-Motion-Sensor/dp/B0018SMM7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350547124&sr=8-1&keywords=motions+sensor+Led+lights

I'd buy it at Costco and test it out to see if it meets your needs. If not, you can always return it. :)

[04 Rocko Taco]

Updates?

[CJM]

Yea whatever happened?

[Bob98SR5]

i emailed the head of security in our office, he flatly told me if i set up my own survellance, i'd get canned. then i said "so what are you going to do about it?" he said 'they'd investigate and just hide your stuff and that they'd increase patrols'. so i wrote back, 'so what does that mean? obviously patrolling doesnt work...so are me and my peers here on the 1st floor ever going to know what happened?" since then, no response. f'g jackasses. i'll bring it up to my boss and his boss in our next staff meeting.

[CJM]

^ Id say they obviously arent doing thier job.

[Bob98SR5]

Exactly. I know when I'm being blown off.

[DHC6twinotter]

Maybe it's the security people who are stealing your bottles?

Reminds me of what my uncle did when somebody kept stealing firewood from his campground. He took a log, drilled a hole in it, and put 1/4 stick of dynamite in the log. Sure enough, somebody stole the wood. A few days later, word got around that somebody blew up their wood stove, and he was able to figure out who the culprit was.

At least that's how the story goes. :hillbill:

[Bob98SR5]

Dan,

That's funny! Assuming no one got hurt :p It could be embarrassing if it were one of the security people. I have not seen 1 guy in particular for a loooong time. Maybe it was him. But he was ultra cool to me, so I dont think it was him.

[fenrisx]

Bob! Just stumbled across this video and instantly thought of this thread!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J4GAq_9Isc