Stealing from a Restaurant

Wow. Steak knives from Outback? That's definitely crossing a line.

I'm not going to pretend that I don't take more napkins than I need at Dunkin Donuts so I can have a stash in my car, but "non-consumables" are off limits!

Ugh. We have friends that do this type of juvenile thing all the time. Thankfully they moved far away from us. It is really embarrassing.

I take the honey packets they give us for DD's chicken at Chick-Fil-A because I have watched them throw all the unused napkins/condiments away when they clean the tables. Wasteful!

I've totally done this accidently numerous times... I've got quiet the little collection of random shot glasses (yeah, I don't know how that happened either), steak knives, forks, etc... Oops ;) It's never intentional, but it certainly does happen.

I had a drivers ed instructor who told us a story about the time he had to take a lie detector test for something (I forget), but one of the questions asked was 'have you ever stolen office supplies?'... He answered 'no', and it came back as a lie. When thinking it over carefully, he said 'well sometimes a pen or sticky note manages to make it's way home with me, totally on accident'... that was what set off the lie!! Again.. Oops ;)

Um... no I wouldn't do that. I think some people think this is okay because they are stealing from "rich" businesses, but they don't account for the fact that these businesss pass losses on to future customers. People like this are partly to blame when the prices go up. He's stealing from every person that goes to that restaurant. He's just as bad as someone that walks into a store and steals a CD or DVD.

S.-

My grandmother (god rest her) used to ROB a restaurant (or hotel) BLIND!! Especially anything with the 'name' on it...She rationalized it was free advertizing for them! I was always MORTIFIED!

I almost died when I was at her house years ago...and the priest who married my parents (and later me and ex) was there. With out batting an eye, she brought out the nice stainless steel ice bucket and tongs (hilton engraved on each)...and had ashtrays from literally all over the world...all over the house!

I am sure she had towels and robes as well...lol

The priest never said a word...and she swore til the day she died it was advertising...

Go Figure!
Michele/cat

I went to work as a police officer. I would occasionally find a company pen in my pocket when I needed one at home. I went to an office supply store and bought two boxes of the kind of pens we used and put them in the supply closet at work along with two reams of paper. Then I ceased to worry about whether the pen I was using was a company pen or not.

I like hot sauce on my tacos from Del Taco and my hamburgers from various hamburger joints. So I put enough hot sauce in my bag to spice up my meals. How ever if my kids end up with one they don't like hot sauce as much as I do. So I end up with extra occasionally.

I have had restaurant silverware end up in my doggie bag, but only once that I can remember. I took it back to the restaurant when I went their way or went in to eat again.

I have also given back the money I received back that was extra from grocery store cashiers, bank cashiers, and hotel cashiers. If my kids are around I use that as a teaching moment. They usually give me change for a twenty when I gave them only a ten. I love seeing the shock and surprise on their faces when I give the money back.

Good luck to you and yours.

I could see it happening on accident, but intentionally doing it I think is inappropriate. I did one time put the little dipping sauce in my box not thinking about it. Heated up my food the next day and realized that the little red dish was in there....ooops. But I wouldn't do it on purpose.

Now taking a handful of ketchup or taco sauce, or an extra fork, or extra napkins or something so that you can keep them at work for the next time you go through the drive through and they don't put a fork in your bag and now you have nothing to eat your food with.....ok, I will stop now, but you see where I am going with that. I think that is totally different than intentionally taking a steak knife.

LOL. My husband has actually pilfered a steak knife from Outback. I was so embarrassed when I noticed it in the dishwasher. Just to spite him I should bring it back there someday. So ridiculous! I don't take anything from anywhere that I didn't pay for, period.

Now that said, I have a lovely wrought iron cafe table and four chairs that my MIL gave us. Her brother and his drunk friends stole them from a restaurant one night many years ago, they ended up at her house and we got them when they no longer used the set. They look great by my pool!

Paper napkins I might take if I am taking food "to go"... but only a couple... not a stash.. basically only enough for the meal. Also, I usually only take napkins if we are on a trip and will be eating in the car or hotel... I have my own napkins at home.

Silverware... only if it were plastic! (and only if I needed it to eat my meal) hehehe... I would never walk out with a steak knife in my pocket!

I really hate stealing, and if you have to be "sneaky" then you know what you are doing is wrong. I don't have to hide a set of bamboo chopsticks when I take out chinese food... they don't mind you taking them, they expect it... If you are "hiding" something... you probably shouldn't do what you are doing.

I know plenty of people who seem to think that you are only stealing if you get caught! I don't hang out with people who I know steal or shoplift...

My family owns a retail store. When people steal things, it hurts real people. Not every business owner has tons of spare cash, and goods equal money... which goes to pay employees who have families, children... Business insurance helps, but the fact of the matter is that stealing has a much greater impact than people realize. In the end SOMEBODY has to pay.

So, I won't apologize for taking a paper napkin or a pad of butter... but I won't be sneaking out the silverware!

-M.

to Molly: hahahaha! What the heck, they charged you extra for the toiletries??? Honestly I have never though twice about taking the shampoo... because I am pretty sure they don't reuse them (unless they are in glass containers or something) I also don't mind taking a notepad, especially if I have already written on it. obviously the ice bucket, towels, and bed linens are off limits... but the shampoos??? I have never heard of anyone being charged extra for those unless they requested more than what the room "came with".

I've never done it on purpose, but I've gotten home to find a fork or a knife or something in the container and that's when the waitstaff has boxed things up for us. It happens.

The more they have to replace silverware, the higher the price the meals will become.

I dont know why I find this funny, but I do. For some reason everytime I hear about someone stealing from a restaurant, its ALWAYS Outback. Lol, poor Outback. I guess we will all know why if they go under.
But no, I dont steal. I do love it when the waitress gives me tons of wet wipes though, I stick the extra ones in my purse.

Well, I guess I have accidently stolen. When we stayed at the Hilton, they had little lotions and soaps in the bathroom, and I took them. I mean, sorry, what were they going to do with them if I left them there? Reuse them? I thought they were complimentary!! They charged my credit card $10 for every 2 oz bottle! I was pissssed!

I wouldn't feel bad about a few ketchup packets or something, but steak knives? Wow, that's gutsy.

We used to joke that my grandmother should convert the sugar in her recipes from cups to numbers of packets because she took enough packets of sugar to pretty much never have to buy sugar. I don't think she was stealing, I think she grew up during sugar rationing and the depression and as long as she paid for a meal in a restaurant, she felt entitled to whatever was on the table!

Tabasco packets from Chic-fil-a, extra napkins from everywhere for my car glove-box stash, extra sweet-n-low & splenda packets for my wallet stash. That's the extent of my restaurant thievery.

Haven't taken knives, silverware, or candle holders from restaurants. I have my own really nice sets at home!

However, my hubby & I both took the coffee mugs we used from the Hilton Puerto Rico room service because they had cool logos. And also the coffee mugs from the resort we hosted our wedding at, cool logos too!! Both were very expensive resorts, although I know that doesn't justify me taking the mugs!! ;-P

I usually ask for ketchup even when we're not going to use it. My husband takes them to work with his lunch. I also grab some extra dipping cups when we go to Long Johns. I use those at home for my kids.
I don't go out of my way, but if I'm there, I grab a few.

In my early 20s I had quite an entitement complex. So I would. I also littered & generally treated people poorly. As I've matured out of that I am so embarrased of myself. If it isn't yours, and you didn't directly pay for it, don't take it. People who come up w/ rationalizations means they had to figure out how to rationalize it to themselves first.

I have definitely stolen a beer glass or 2 in my time, as well as the little cups they put sauces in like at Friday's, but never silverware. IDK, I know it's stealing, but....well, I guess that doesn't stop me. I certainly have never stolen anything other than the things listed, and not from any type of store other than a restaurant.

Well, I wouldn't take a steak knife I don't think! LOL

Packets of ketchup, mustard, salt & pepper packets I would take (5 maybe tops).

I do steal sweetener if we're on vaca, have already been to the grocery store & I forgot it or didn't bring it. 10 packets will get me through a week at the beach. Although now I'm only using the Stevia stuff.....so I better remember to pack it!

The only thing I ever regularly 'take' are the crayons that are presented to us at a restaurant. This is after my kids have colored with them and used them, and I know they won't 'recycle' them. Personally, I don't feel right taking other items that do not belong to me or that I haven't paid for.

Wow, no, that is definitely stealing. As is taking forks, glasses, spoons, sauce cups, anything. I had a Grandmother who ALWAYS took creamers from restaurants. Not the type in the plastic container with the lid, but the actual creamer pitcher. Drove me up a wall.

I will take extra (paper) napkins, but I honestly usually end up using the amount I take. Six kids equals a lot of napkins!

I don't ever take ketchup packets anyway, because they have high fructose corn syrup in it and I don't let my kids eat that.

That's pretty trashy & low. Does he go to his friend's houses & steal their fine china when they're not looking?!

Having worked in restaurants, paper and individual serving things are a 'loss' unless they charge for them. "Endless supply" sorts of things. Unless someone dumps the entire container of dozens - hundreds of single servings into a bag (or worse, walks off with the container) they are provided for free consumption for anyone who purchases from them.

Glassware, Stoneware, Flatware, Cutlery are NOT provided gratis. That's stealing, and in the case of steak knives, the knives cost more than your meal. Often, if in a nice establishment, so does the Flatware. (Most meals only cost the establishment 1/10th or less the menu price, although Outback is a statistical rarity with a 40-50% food cost). However... (to assuage someone's grandmother)... many establishments used to GIVE away engraved items upon request (ashtrays and glasses in particular, claiming advertising pre TV days). Now, they all SELL them. It's very easy to buy nearly any item in a restaurant or hotel from chairs to robes to glasses to olive oil. Even things that aren't advertised for sale, the manager usually has a price list in back.

For myself? Hon, if I'm going to steal, it's going to be jewels, art, or bonds. Something I could attach a little bit of pride to. Not shoplifting or connivence stores or homes.

Let me say that STEALING IS WRONG.

That said, I've done it. LOL Well, not exactly, but I was an accomplice, of sorts...

This was easily 15 or more years ago, not that that excuses it... My ex and I were eating at Red Lobster, and I said I liked and would like to have a set of salt and pepper shakers like theirs (they look like beer bottles)... And *somehow* the set on our table made their way home with us. LOL I promise, "I" didn't take them!

Sad thing is, I still use them today. Have used them ever since. LMAO!

No, I do not steal from restaurants or other places. Growing up in the environment that I did I have a very *un-healthy* fear of the police and of getting in trouble. *My husband has spent years trying to teach me that the police work for me, I shouldn't be nervous around them.

~I will say that one time when I was in my early 20's I was at a bar once w/a ton of girlfriends and we jokingly took all our bar stools (loudly proclaiming our intentions as we hobbled out the doors) with us out one bar and down the block to another bar and then came back with replacement bar stools from the other bar...we thought we were HILARIOUS at the time!

Oh, like Molly, I find this funny. Not right I agree, but it struck my funny bone.

My grandmother used to empty the sugar packet holder on the table at the restaurants when we went out to eat. Drove me crazy. I would usually move it and place it near me so she could not get to it.

I occasionally take an extra pair of chopsticks from the Chinese buffet.
And I do grab a handful of napkins to put in my glove box from fast food places. Oh, and I tell the counter people at Chik Fil A that I need two packets of special sauce so I can take one home. I am addicted to that stuff and you have to ask for it to get it. :(

Fun post - thank you.

My "stealing" ends up with extra packets of ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and a stack of napkins. Probably more napkins than the restaurants would like me to take, but I like keeping extra ones in my glove compartment. Just a stack between 5-10. Can't say that I've ever swiped steak knives :-/

I have some of those knives and the Huge forks that they have. I also have a nice collection of beer and wine glasses from certain places (only take the ones that have markings on them ex: Sam Adams)

Other than that I dont steal..............

Nope, I don't steal knives. yes, I take extra ketchup....so often they FORGET to put ketchup in my bag that if I have a small stash in my car I don't have to worry about it. I don't take extra napkins, they always give me too many anyways.
I don't think taking extra ketchup is stealing, I think taking silverware is! same with plates, cups, bowls...ect.
L.

No, but I did know of someone that would take salsa bowls from a mexican restaurant around me.

Extra ketchup or paper napkins....I don't consider stealing. Actually pieces of silverwear, dishes, cloth napkins or anything that is supposed to stay at a restaurant would be stealing.

AFTER READING YOUR SO WHAT HAPPENED:

If one works in an establishment and their spouse comes in and steals and it is found out, chances are the employee would be let go unless there are circumstances that the management wishes to consider.

Stealing is stealing. My question to you is how did you "just find out" that your co-worker's husband takes steak knives? If you report this to management there is a chance that your co-worker could lose her job, so if you care about this, I would go to her first and tell her he needs to stop. Take care what you report to management, unless you have proof, you may be the one getting the pink slip or worse, the ill feelings of "your" co-workers.

Blessings....

Yeah that's fine...sometimes I accidentally take a knife or a napkin. What do you guys think of that?

I wouldn't do it now, but I'll confess that when I was in my 20's, my coworkers and I (professionals in a large marketing firm) used to nip something from the table at client dinners. It started with the sugar packets to see if anyone would notice, then someone took the whole sugar bowl. That bowl traveled around the office as a joke. It was later joined by a fork, then a knife.

The coup de grace, though, was played on me as a joke: I carried an obnoxiously large purse back then. One evening we had a dinner at a nice restaurant and everything seemed normal. But when I got home and dumped out my purse, there was an ENTIRE PLACE SETTING in there! My coworkers had put it in while I was in the bathroom to see if the purse was too big for me to notice (sadly, yes).

Of course, there is no rationalizing that or making it ok, even we did spend a fortune on drinks and food. And I certainly wouldn't do it again. But it was good for a laugh for a long time.

On a side note, for my first wedding, one of my younger brother's friends (around 18 or so) gave me a surprising gift, not just because he actually was kind enough to give a gift, either. He worked at Friendly's and our gift was four Friendly's ice cream glasses stuffed with cash. I'm pretty sure I know where/how he got the glasses but the cash was a mystery I just let slide!

it's not stealing to take a few extra packets of ketchup. I do take an extra pair of chopsticks at chinese restaraunts when I know I'll have leftovers, but I dont consider that stealing, since a lot of times they'll put them in with them for me.

We like take out chinese and I'll swipe a few extra soy sauce packets every now and again. But I use the packets for the 2tbsp of soy sauce that are in a chicken wing recipe that my kids love. I might make the wings once a month, so its really not worth buying a whole jar of soy sauce. Haven't found another recipe that uses soy sauce that my family enjoys yet, and those chicken wings just don't taste the same without it, lol!

The only other time we purposely swipe sauce packets is the mild hot sauce packets from Del Taco (mexican place) so we can eat it with our midweek homemade burritos and quesidillas. Now if I could find the sauce in the store... I'd just buy it.

Can't say we've taken anything more expensive though...

Here is my line: I think taking a few extra consumables (sugar packets, ketchup, napkins, etc) are OK. But other than that, everything is off limits!

To Xine - So you do steal, except when you don't?

OMG~ The steak knife?? I haven't ever deliberately stole something. One day that we were out to breakfast, I put the little butter cup in with the take out box. But that was the extent of my restaurant pilferage :)

M

.

It is never ok to steal, period.

Why would anyone want those knives? They are too big and never sharp anyway...lol

Nope I try not to take any of the things that are set out for us to use, such as catsup, napkins, or shampoos and ,lotions in hotels. If I need to use it, yes I use it, but I leave the rest there.If Im in Wendys getting food to go, I will stick the sauces and some napkins in the bag if we are going somewhere else to eat the food. . If I go thru the drive up windows, they usually do it for you. If I get home and dont need to use it all I save it,, but usually end up with a pile of sauces to toss in a few weeks. Ive told them to not give me sauces sometimes because I know I have a lot at home. I do have catsup and mustard in my fridge that is easier to open and squirt out and then theres no little gooey packets to throw out.
Now what is really weird to me is how years ago when our son was moving out for the first time, I cleaned up his left over junk and found a Denneys menu! How in the world (why in the world) would he take a huge big 6 page plastic coated menu? I never did anything about it since I had no idea how long ago he had taken it. Its been about 15 years now and last weekend going thru stuff in the garage for a yard sale, I came across this brown bag and there was that silly Denneys menu again! I didnt toss it and am thinking of having it framed for a piece of art to give my son for Christmas.

I am guilty of stealing a beer glass on a couple of occasions back in my 20s...I was always the one in the group with the big purse. I wouldn't do it now and definitely not now that I have kids and have to teach them right from wrong - I just hope I never have to explain to them why I did it!