I hate thieves!

[Saint Jude]

I didn't mention this earlier today, because I was still too mad to trust myself with expressing it even here...
But last night, when I was getting ready to leave work, I discovered that someone had already emptied my tip cup. Our tip cups are kept up @ the front desk near the cash register. In the past 2 years of working @ the cafe, I've not had a problem with this (except the one time I caught the bus girl red handed... putting my tips in her pocket!)

Anyway, it was a slow night, only 3 of us working on the floor, other than the Mgr... who I totally trust. Also there's another waitress I've worked with for years I trust completly, who was there.

BUT... also another that has not been there long, .... I've tried to give the benefit of the doubt. Even though, other people have told me she's stolen from them, {hundreds of $$ from her former employer who golfs w/ my Hubby & warned me about her}
(this is a VERY small town)
The other girls I work with have expressed concerns about this person possibly doing meth. She's very hyper. Says she has ADHD...(believe me if i catch her in the act of stealing.. that'll be the least of her worries)I think it's just drug induced BS! Not to mention $$ mania! She's always counting her tips, before her shift is even over...(probably 1/2 of them are somebody elses!) I hate thinking that way... but my money didn't get up & jump out of the cup all by itself.

I'm starting to think she has no real grasp on reality. I can't believe someone would be so stupid & obvious as to steal from other workers... I went in & worked for her on Tuesday night on my day off for her.

I didn't see it actually happen. But there's very little doubt in my mind what happened.

Needless to say. I'm Pissed.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[happydog]

I hate thieves!

Wow saint jude,
sound like you really work hard and knowing you covered for her on tuesday night.
I think i would be well pissed off I work hard for my little bit of money i get every week going towards mortgage and bills. I would have to confront her would not let her get away with it.
All the best.x
Love
TEardrop.x

[Waves 2]

I hate thieves!

I'm disgusted at her. Does the manager know? Cos if she steals your tips she may be stealing other monies too.

[Guest]

I hate thieves!

Am sorry this has happened to you Judie.........kinda destroys some of our faith in human nature. Obviously, you can`t keep an eye out to see who is nicking your tips as you`re too busy working. I would just casually mention it to her and say to her if you find out who is stealing from you.......you will wipe the floor with them!!! That should do the trick. :H

Hope you get this sorted.

Starlight Impress x

[fickle]

I hate thieves!

Hey Judie,
I'm so sorry you got hurt by that woman. You will probably think I'm nuts but... I think thieves are way down on the karma ladder.. like they are somewhat impaired - there is a brilliant song by a US artist "Lazyboy" called "Underpants go on the inside". This will give you a laugh and put this person in perspective. She would not be doing this shit if she had half a brain basically. Tell the management she is a problem and I'm sure she will be on her way out fast.
Love

[hippie37]

I hate thieves!

I think some people when they get no satisfaction from their job etc they tend to abuse their position with the thinking of "I'll get out of this what I can without putting any effort in." This may be what is being reflected in her light handiness with the tips etc. On the other hand If she does have a problem with 'meth' she will not see what she is doing as wrong. It was the same with me when I was drinking. My partner could not buy drink and leave it in the house safely without me drinking it; or anyone for that matter. It was still theft in everyone else's eyes but mine. I couldn't see that because my excuse was that I would replace it. I never did of course because every time I went to buy a new bottle I would end up drinking that. Family members used to have to hide drink from me but I would still go routing round my mum's house and find bottles of vodka etc that were bought as presents for them. When I finally admitted to myself I was an alcoholic and went for counseling I got a real insight into how my mind was working during those years, something this girl hasn't had the luxury of doing so yet concerning her own problem, if she has one that is!.

At the end of the day Saintly Jude I was no better than her myself when I was drinking and I can relate to her if you're right about her addiction. I know you're 'pissed' at her right now which is the obvious reaction anyone would have but take a step back for a minute and put yourself in her shoes for a minute, and your own if you were anything like me, and think about the tolerance that was shown to us all those years of being deceitful about our drinking habits.

You obviously need to make some positive steps towards your tips from going missing but do that when you have all the facts concerning this girl. It may be a subconscious cry for help at the end of the day. It will make you feel a whole lot better inside knowing that your actions, whatever they may be, were the RIGHT ones.

Hang in there Jude and try and be the better person over this situation.

Love and Happiness
Hippie
xx

[Saint Jude]

I hate thieves!

Thanks for the replies on this.

Hippie, I know what ya mean about being desperate for a drink. I've been there & done that myself, more times than I'd like to remember. You're right. I didn't actually see it happen. I did bring in a different cup last night with a lid on it with s slot on top, so money can only be put in, but not taken out. It's just ridiculous. I've worked there off & on for 9 years.... never had to do this.

Thank God it wasn't a busy summer night. It could've been over a $100 in there!

But the only people left @ the end of the night was myself & the Mngr., who is the cashier. She told me she put at least $15 in credit card tips in my cup plus a few other tips from other tables, so there's no doubt, that IT was there.
I usually just grab it off of my tables as I clean them, but sometimes when people pay @ the register or with a credit card, it goes in my cup.

It's not a lot of money this time of year. But it is my livlihood. And just the principle of it... not being able to trust who I'm working with.

I talked to the other girls last night & said they have mistrust issues with this same person. She WAS in a huge hurry to leave when I pulled into the parking lot to work yesterday..she was just pulling out...Humm(she worked the day shift & I worked last night) As opposed to the night before.
I only work with her on Fridays. But I think I'll put in a request for that day permamntly off if she continues to work.
I'm sure we'll be having an employee meeting soon.

She usually is real talkative....

Trying to be the better person... BUT, I'd certainly enjoy some good old fashioned BUTT KICKIN right about now!

[lushy]

I hate thieves!

Wow, that is bad Jude. I hope the manager will take the appropriate measures if you all feel the same way about her. Does not sound like a trustworthy employee....

[Saint Jude]

I hate thieves!

Unfortunately, the bus girl that I caught stealing my tips last summer was re-hired this summer. I was sad to see.
I do believe in 2nd chances though.

I'm living proof that some of us are worth it!

It's a tuff call. But I do believe this person is still using meth. And not to be trusted. I just hope we can catch her in the act & soon.

[Saint Jude]

I hate thieves!

This same person was recently ...within the past year, fired from the assisted living facility for stealing & "sharing"(distributing) prescription drugs without having the license to do so.

She's burning some BIG bridges in a small town! Better start buiding a boat!

[betty boop]

I hate thieves!

Jude, go kicking butt .........

I can totally understand where you are coming form ...........

Stand up for yourself ..........

[sammys]

I hate thieves!

Judie, have had people steal from me and it sucks. Lots of people are so messed up they do not consider what they did stealing, she is bad and having her around is like poison.


Sammys

[MKR]

I hate thieves!

I totally agree with Sammys, in my business it is stealing a design idea and manipulating it to be the idea they submit.

May I just say? . . so be it, I FEEL so woefully sorry for the person that can not and does not know enough to design around it.

Sammys, did I ever tell you, how incredibly amazing I think you are??

Well, you are!!

Hugs and Love to all MODS,
Mary

[eustacia]

I hate thieves!

:l Dear Judie,

I am sorry that this has happened to you. When I was in college, I left my purse in an office with two girls from underprivileged backgrounds. They stole $40--all of the money I had to my name. They didn't know me well enough to recognize that I had no more money than they. The loss of the money was horrific but what was worse was how depersonalized I felt. It was eerie and creepy.

Every now and then a stranger tells me to "watch my bag." I say thank you and then reenter the "real world" where not everyone is nice. After all of these years, somehow I still have the presumption that people are kind and honest as my default. I should probably start to develop some street smarts.

Judie, what happened to you must feel far worse because your coworker knows you. I can imagine that it feels like an assault.

Nail down those tips, ok?

:heart: E

[Saint Jude]

I hate thieves!

Eustacia,:l
You nailed it. I almost feel violated in a way. I feel like this IS MY work place. It's almost like FAMILY there.... I've worked with & known everyone there for years...
One of the other girls that works there, just had her son working @ my brother's house helping re-roof his house! She just called me to get the # so he could let him know he was running late.


What's crazy or maybe not.. if she had asked to borrow $20 bucks.. I'd have probably have loaned it to her.