10 Clever Ways To Protect Your Food From The Office Lunch Thief
Updated: Jan. 14, 2022
Sharing isn't always caring—especially when it comes to food at work. From the subtle (put your name on it!) to the extreme (yes, a fridge locker exists), these are the top ways to keep your lunch safe from the common office thief.
Fridge Locker
Big enough to fit your average container but small enough to slide into the lunchroom refrigerator, this refrigerator lock box ($28) has a three-digit combination lock and sturdy bars to keep out any hungry hands.
Moldy Bags
Protect your PB&J with a fake mold sandwich bag ($8). While the black splotches make your lunch look like it was made five months ago instead of five hours ago, don’t worry: the resealable bags are completely food-safe! P.S. If you’re bored of peanut butter and jelly, try one of these 48 sandwich recipes.
Silly Stickers
Let your lunchbox do the talking by sticking one of these hilarious labels ($5) on the outside. After all, if your coworkers are willing to eat something labeled “bacteria growth experiment,” more power to them. Speaking of icky things, avoid eating these 11 foods as leftovers—they can actually make you sick!
Alarm Lock
You might not see the refrigerator robber but you’ll definitely hear them thanks to this anti-theft alarm ($35). When tampered with, the lock beeps at a volume of 130 dB, which, if you’re wondering, is the equivalent of a jackhammer.
Cockroach Clips
These plastic insects ($4 each) pull double-duty. Not only will they seal your snack bags to keep your food fresh but they’re also so realistic that they’ll give quite the scare to anyone who dares to reach inside your lunchbox.
Mini Fridge
You’ve locked it, you’ve labeled it, but nothing seems to deter whoever keeps nabbing your mid-day meal. The only solution? Bring your own fridge to work with this 10-liter compact cooler ($80), which will fit perfectly underneath your desk. Psst: Here are seven tips to help keep your new refrigerator organized.
Bad Beans
If you find that someone’s been dipping into your stash of sweets, stick a Bean Boozled bag ($5) in as bait. The culprit will bite into a mouthful of jelly beans in disgusting flavors like rotten eggs, barf and spoiled milk. We bet that’ll be the last time they ever steal something from your lunch again!
Book Safe
Looks like a dictionary, acts as a secret storage spot. This metal safe lock box ($14) is expertly disguised so it will blend right in on your office bookshelf. Fill the hollowed out center with non-refrigerated food like these easy, energy-boosting snacks.
Multiple Containers
Here’s the thing: An already-tossed salad or an expertly-made sandwich is easy for a food filcher to grab and go. Decrease your chances of losing your lunch by packing all the components separately in these assorted plastic containers ($22), then preparing your meal right before it’s time to eat.
Name Labels
Plaster your name on every container, bag and bottle in your lunchbox with these personalized, waterproof stickers ($10). It would be pretty suspicious if someone saw Karen eating a container of yogurt that said “Amy,” after all. You could also take it one step further by writing directly on your containers with a permanent marker.
Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Originally Published: April 11, 2019
