Opening the fridge at work only to find that your spicy
crunchy tuna roll or lovingly crafted sandwich has mysteriously disappeared is
a surefire way to ruin the rest of your day at the office. The first time this
happens, you might write it off as a simple mistake; perhaps someone thought
your food was expired and tossed it out. But if the problem continues—as it so
often does—there is usually a simple but disturbing explanation: an office
lunch thief.
While teenagers often commit petty thefts as means of
testing boundaries, it's difficult to imagine what would compel a grown adult
to repeatedly engage in such antisocial and potentially damaging behavior. If
caught, that individual risks the wrath of coworkers and could even lose his or
her job.
Indeed, for many who chronically commit thefts at work,
money has nothing to do with it. Nor, contrary to popular belief, does thrill.
"A lot of these people can go on holidays where they can have all the
thrills in the world—helicopter rides, bungee jumping, downhill skiing," said
Will Cupchik, a psychologist based in Toronto, and author of Why Usually Honest
People Steal. "Why they take the risk of losing their job for
peanuts—either literally or figuratively—is a very worthwhile question."
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