Food-Stealing Roommates

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Your son should just go ninja on them and snatch their meal plans in the dark of the night.

Yeah, this is square, and definitely needed.

I'd also:

1 - Have friends over (preferably after a cocktail, if that's their thing) and eat literally everything in the house. Top to bottom. Don't spare any peanut butter, don't even leave a water bottle. Clean every condiment out, and throw shit away. We're talking sparkling clean.

2 - Wait a week or three before buying anything else, period. Send him a couple extra bucks and have him buy sandwiches and eat them in the common area. Wait for them to purchase.

3A - If whining or bitching continues, then move onto cat piss and pubeburgers.

3B - If the others break down and buy food, eat it. Not all of it - just a bit, just a meal after a late night studying or a can of soup here and there.

Either way, the point will be proven.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Ex lax in brownies.

I take it these are just roomies he ended up with through luck of the draw and not people he actually knows.

Or, maybe your son should go ahead and get a meal plan. Aren't they mandatory anymore?

I admit it - I've made the Exlax brownies. Didn't think I had it in me, did you? Just melt the Exlax, then stir into brownie mix and bake. It helps if you take one brownie out - then everyone thinks they're fair game.

I also posted a sign, "If you ask first, I'll probably let you have it. If you don't, careful what you eat."

[FHwku]

Originally Posted by carnation

When he has confronted his roommates, they get angry and say they don't have any money so why shouldn't they eat his, etc.

are ramen noodles still like $0.10 a packet? and water is free.

if they can't afford the dime, just have his roomates fill out an i.o.u. each time they need a dime. it'll probably help if there are girls around when he does.

surely if you embarrass them in front of their friends and other people enough times, they'll quit. or better. become subservient for a ten cent allowance.

[chickenoodle]

Originally Posted by FHwku

are ramen noodles still like $0.10 a packet? and water is free.

More like $0.17

[Munchkin03]

Is there a way that he can put non-perishables in his room and lock the door?

Even though I was an RA in college and officially do not condone skirting University policies, I would say that the mini-fridge in his room might work as well.

Good luck! We had a food thief in the sorority house and it was terrible.

[chickenoodle]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Is there a way that he can put non-perishables in his room and lock the door?

Even though I was an RA in college and officially do not condone skirting University policies, I would say that the mini-fridge in his room might work as well.

Good luck! We had a food thief in the sorority house and it was terrible.

Your university did not allow mini fridges? That's interesting. I thought all did.

I guess it would be important to check the rules since the student can get fines assessed for breaking policy. If enough fines are assessed, the student can be removed from housing (depending on the university of course).

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by chickenoodle

Your university did not allow mini fridges? That's interesting. I thought all did.

I guess it would be important to check the rules since the student can get fines assessed for breaking policy. If enough fines are assessed, the student can be removed from housing (depending on the university of course).

No, my college did. There wasn't much that was verboten at my school. Carnation's son's school does not allow mini-fridges in the dorms.

[xxstardust]

Originally Posted by chickenoodle

Your university did not allow mini fridges? That's interesting. I thought all did.

I guess it would be important to check the rules since the student can get fines assessed for breaking policy. If enough fines are assessed, the student can be removed from housing (depending on the university of course).

My best friend's school doesn't allow students to bring mini-fridges, either. Smaller, traditional dorm rooms come with a microfridge (a mini-fridge and microwave attached to each other) which was shared between the roommates and paid for in your tuition; most if not all upperclassmen live in housing with communal kitchens and thus big, shared fridges. And since they have bi-weekly room inspections (no, I'm not kidding on that one either!) if the RA sees a mini-fridge they can confiscate it/fine you.

Me? I love my mini-fridge. We have two in my dorm room! (One for food, one for .... liquid necessities. )

I'd suggest getting a smaller mini-fridge you could put under a bed that's got bed risers, and throw a towel over it. Generally RAs can't look under your bed and search for stuff. That's where I hide my George Foreman and my crock pot when they're not being used.

[Kappamd]

Two thumbs up for the contraband George Foreman, lol. We had to hide our toaster as well.

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I admit it - I've made the Exlax brownies. Didn't think I had it in me, did you? Just melt the Exlax, then stir into brownie mix and bake. It helps if you take one brownie out - then everyone thinks they're fair game.

I also posted a sign, "If you ask first, I'll probably let you have it. If you don't, careful what you eat."

Honeychile, I'm impressed! What pushed you far enough to go there?

Originally Posted by Kappamd

Two thumbs up for the contraband George Foreman, lol. We had to hide our toaster as well.

Ha, we were allowed fridges and nothing else. One of the small upperclassmen dorms had mini-kitchens (basically fridge, microwave, counterspace, and cabinets)... we supplemented with a hot plate and toaster oven. Good thing we had plenty of cabinet space in case an RA dropped in! I distinctly recall baking a whole pumpkin pie and baked yams in that toaster oven... neither of which turned out very well. It worked for most other things! Desperation certainly brings plenty of creativity.

ETA: Regarding food theft, the only thing most people really didn't have was their own freezer (since those mini fridges are less than stellar). When stashing a pint of B&J in the freezer, I always kept it in a paper bag. That drastically reduced theft... it takes too much effort, apparently, to see what's there! Not sure that would work in this case, though, where the guys live in such tight quarters and they all know that your son's food is gold. So, perhaps some good-hearted sabotage is in order.

[knight_shadow]

I thought I missed out by not living in the dorms.

Reading about people smuggling Foreman grills makes me think otherwise.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

Two thumbs up for the contraband George Foreman, lol.

Make that 4 thumbs.

*hangs head in shame*

[Barbie's_Rush]

I know someone who had this problem at work. They dusted their lunch with visible theft detection powder that turned bright purple when it made skin contact and got worse when exposed to water. Perp was busted purple handed, and to deal with being covered with dye for several days and never did it again.

[chickenoodle]

Originally Posted by xxstardust

I'd suggest getting a smaller mini-fridge you could put under a bed that's got bed risers, and throw a towel over it. Generally RAs can't look under your bed and search for stuff. That's where I hide my George Foreman and my crock pot when they're not being used.

That's a good idea except his obnoxious roommates could snitch him out as payback. Just saying.

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

I know someone who had this problem at work. They dusted their lunch with visible theft detection powder that turned bright purple when it made skin contact and got worse when exposed to water. Perp was busted purple handed, and to deal with being covered with dye for several days and never did it again.

This is a great idea. Where do you find the powder?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by xxstardust

My best friend's school doesn't allow students to bring mini-fridges, either. Smaller, traditional dorm rooms come with a microfridge (a mini-fridge and microwave attached to each other) which was shared between the roommates and paid for in your tuition;

...

I'd suggest getting a smaller mini-fridge you could put under a bed that's got bed risers, and throw a towel over it. Generally RAs can't look under your bed and search for stuff. That's where I hide my George Foreman and my crock pot when they're not being used.

We also had microfridges at my school. It was so convenient, not having to purchase and then transport one to school myself. And the huge plus... they're energy efficient!

I'm not sure as to whether or not we were able to have an additional mini-fridge, but I never heard anyone say that we couldn't. But then again, not many people would even think to do this, as one was already provided for us.

And it's true... RAs can't search through your stuff, and are only allowed to basically "glance" around the room and make sure that there are no "illegal" items out in the open.

Because believe me... if they could search through your stuff, my freshmen year roommate probably would have been kicked out of the dorms. She had a George Forman grill, a sandwich maker, a toaster, and a waffle iron. We made all kinds of fun things with those. You get VERY creative when you're a college student on a budget.