Vent: A new hire stole my Burberry coat at work

SFESQMOM1 · July 2012

So, a new chick that took over my colleague's position started work a few days after I left on maternity leave. On my last day of work, I ran out of the office because I had a doctor's appointment, but accidentally left my Burberry coat (a gift from DH) in my office. This was in April. This Wednesday, I went looking for it and it wasn't in my office. So I tell my supervisor and she lets me in the new chick's office and there's my Burberry coat.

I confronted her about it and she lied about where she found it (she said it was in her office...why would MY coat be in her office??) and then she said she asked everyone who it belonged to and no one knew (she lied, because 4 people I've asked said she never asked anything) and that that day I stopped by was the first day she'd worn it (another lie, several co-workers have seen her wear my coat on numerous occasions.

Today I receive a call from my manger and she tells me what the thief said and her story changed completely...she said she thought the coat was left behind by a client (she never said this to me at all); she said she didn't mean to imply she'd only wore it once, because she wore it one day when it was raining and then proceeded to wear it almost daily. Blah, blah, blah...

Anyway...I just can't believe it. At least I have my coat back and she's paying for the dry cleaning, but now when I return I have to work with a dishonest person who i consider a thief and in a profession where our ethics are held to a much higher standard.

The only reason I trusted my expensive coat in my office is because I had left it there before without any problems, I trust my co-workers, it was in my locked office, and well, I never thought it'd be stolen. I guess I was wrong and learned a lesson, do not leave anything of value at work.