Stop Pilfering!!!

When my cheap factory outlet lunch wallet went missing from my office drawer with S$10 in cash, warning bells went off in my head.

I'm not the sort to lose my things without knowing where exactly I left them.

This lunch wallet stays in my lunch bag, stashed deep in my office drawer all the time with nothing more than S$10 in it. Well, even though I'm silly not to lock the drawer always, I never quite expect it to simply vanish overnight.

2 days ago, it finally did.

And only then, did I make the connection.

My actual office space is under renovation. For the month of August, I'm squatting elsewhere in the building that's accessible by anyone with an access card. Perturbed, I recalled the things I had seemingly misplaced only in the past week.

# 512MB thumbdrive with Georg Jensen charm - Apparently sprouted wings and flew off.
# 1 box of Meiji Black - Vamoosed.
# 1 small bottle of Eu Yan Sang bird's nest - Poof-ed into thin air.
# 1 Mobilegear baby laptop laser mouse - Nowhere to be found.

To think I was rather puzzled why I suddenly became so careless.

Seriously. Inanimate objects don't go inexplicably missing.

So next to a goblin running amok at my desk, I'm looking at a kleptomaniac who can't keep his hands off my stuff. No one else lost anything.

The bosses persuaded a reluctant imp to make a police report as a deterrent to future incidents. Frankly, I thought it a little ridiculous to file a report for an item that was so insignificant.

Really, I probably tempted said goblin by not locking my drawer!

With no video evidence or suspect, I have no wish to have police officers down at the office to, ummm....investigate a non-lead. Seriously, do you really think the police can do anything in this case? Goodness. I thought I already made it clear right from the start that I just wanted Office Admin to know the going-ons.

But Office Admin strongly encouraged me to file an official report. "Standard Operating Procedure." they said. Comforting. But I doubt there's anything that could be done.

At the police station, I stated my intent clearly. I felt so stupid sitting there narrating the chain of events in about 5 sentences. My time, petrol, effort and energy cost more than the value of the item lost!

I realized that there were investigative reports that could be filed and would launch a full-scale investigation, and there were reports that were filed for record purposes, only to be acted upon in event of further incidents. Of course I chose to file in the category of the latter. It fulfilled Office Admin's criteria. They did not expressly state that I had to file an investigative report! So, 2 sentences formed my official statement. Oof!

Jerk. Do I look like I own a supermarket and you can freeload off me?!!! Go buy your own things. Or better still, go get a life!

The ever-practical friends solemnly warned me to lock my drawer from now on. Fervently so. The cheap-thrill-seeking could turn bitter:- Said goblin could filch other colleagues' stuff and plant them in my drawer.

Dammit.

There are 2 more weeks at this desk before I move back to my secure, nicely renovated office.

Maybe I shouldn't lock my drawer at all and put a webcam to greet you the next time you pull this stunt. With your face captured on my computer screen, I wouldn't feel so daft going to the police station then.

Well, I have a basic but snazzy stereo set sitting quietly on my office desk. Now, it can make itself more useful and be goblin bait.