ihatethieves
New Member
I couldn't really find a section appropriate for my question but it's completely about workplace theft, or specifically locker theft from another employee and I became the victim of opportunity.
Ok, let me explain my situation first, and then you'll understand what I am asking about on whether it is legal or not.
I work at a busboy at a hotel in Boston and sometimes I get clumsy and forgot if my locker is properly secured. I sometimes forget whether the lock on my locker actually was tightly locked.
Currently I am using combination locks. I heard these could be 'picked' open more easier than any lock that require a key. Sometimes I thought I had locked it properly and then later realize when I return to my locker the lock wasn't locked properly, or it could be someone had already figured out my lock's combo sequence and opened it.
Recently, just last night right before I leave and change my clothes I realized that someone had been in my locker and stolen all of the money in my backpack.
This was tip money I received from the Servers. All of it was cash and all of it was gone. SOB!! I think that was around 2-3 weeks if not a month worth of tip money I forgot to take out of my backpack and leave it at home. I typically spend cash and very rarely use plastic. I mostly spent my tips earned on public transportation.
This is the second time this kind of theft occurred to me, with the first time being money taken from my wallet that was in my jacket when I forgot to secure my locker properly. Alright I have to admit I get really clumsy and forgetful sometimes, but in a workplace where you can't always have your belongings and property in front of you at all times and constantly being monitored these kind of things are much more likely to happen, so do you completely blame the victim?
I know I should have been more smarter and careful, but forgetfulness and clumsiness happens such a when I am tired or stressed out at work, and I think that happens not just to myself.
I know it's no use crying over spilled milk here. It's obvious that there is no way I'd be able to recover the stolen cash unless somehow I knew absolutely certain who actually took it and if it even was only one person and then file a complaint against them.
I think it's very very likely that it was somebody that has a locker in the same row of lockers as I am.
One thing I had in mind and this is the main question I have.
I figured maybe I can setup some kind of secret surveillance device that is motion activated "inside" my locker. But I am unsure whether or not this would be legal?
That way if theft and unauthorized access like this were ever to occur again I will know who did it and can prove it. Since without any kind of hard evidence or proof I very much doubt there is much my managers and supervisors or even the security department can do regardless if I filed a complaint or claim of some kind. My managers and supervisors at the time had all left last night since it was a late/closing shift so there really wasn't anything I could do other than just go home and get some sleep.
However I wasn't 100% sure about the legality of this. I've already checked various websites on this matter on whether there are any laws that currently forbid this type of personal surveillance strictly used for anti-theft purposes.
I know you can Not secretly film and tape somebody when they are changing or using the restroom, but this isn't about that.
This is strictly about getting the proof and evidence who had been going into my locker and stealing from me and taking advantage of my clumsiness.
I did read that employers are forbidden to have any surveillance cameras inside locker rooms.
But what about employees who are victims of locker theft like like myself? Is this Not legal at all?
Remember, the hidden surveillance system would be setup "inside my own locker" capturing video of myself opening and using my locker and hoping that I'd eventually catch this thief should the possibility of theft ever occurs again, just because I was clumsy and forgetful and became victim of opportunity again.
I've read that Massachusetts have 'wiretapping laws' that forbid any type of audio or conversations from being recorded without all the consent of all parties involved.
I'm guessing that "if" this kind of surveillance is allowed then the audio can Not be recorded, but only the video then?
Otherwise it's completely not legal or permitted at all regardless.
If it's still not legally permitted then I think my best case scenario is to switch to key-retaining type of locks (locks where the key stay attached to them when they are opened and can't be removed until the lock is closed/locked) since sometimes I end up forgetting about the keys for them and locking the keys inside my locker. Then I would have to have the lock cut just to get my locker open.
I think the hidden surveillance method even if legal may not be cost-effective. Since finding the right kind of equipment for it seems very difficult. But I'll ask around elsewhere once I have a clear answer on this.
It's just that I really really want to catch this thief or group of thieves and file a formal complaint of some kind against them, and have them suspended or even fired/terminated, and this would be the only way I can think of on how to do that.
Other than that I don't know? What other options should I consider? What should I do in the future?
I thought about other options such as a special anti-theft wallet that is really secured and cannot be opened by anyone else other than wallet's owner and maybe with a tracking ability that could help find and catch the thief.
I don't know if there are any legality issues regarding that method either?
What about having the hidden surveillance system built-into the wallet? But I know that won't really do much if they took the entire thing.
Sigh, it's getting real late. I hope somebody reads this asap and gets back to me with some really good solid advice.
Ok, let me explain my situation first, and then you'll understand what I am asking about on whether it is legal or not.
I work at a busboy at a hotel in Boston and sometimes I get clumsy and forgot if my locker is properly secured. I sometimes forget whether the lock on my locker actually was tightly locked.
Currently I am using combination locks. I heard these could be 'picked' open more easier than any lock that require a key. Sometimes I thought I had locked it properly and then later realize when I return to my locker the lock wasn't locked properly, or it could be someone had already figured out my lock's combo sequence and opened it.
Recently, just last night right before I leave and change my clothes I realized that someone had been in my locker and stolen all of the money in my backpack.
This was tip money I received from the Servers. All of it was cash and all of it was gone. SOB!! I think that was around 2-3 weeks if not a month worth of tip money I forgot to take out of my backpack and leave it at home. I typically spend cash and very rarely use plastic. I mostly spent my tips earned on public transportation.
This is the second time this kind of theft occurred to me, with the first time being money taken from my wallet that was in my jacket when I forgot to secure my locker properly. Alright I have to admit I get really clumsy and forgetful sometimes, but in a workplace where you can't always have your belongings and property in front of you at all times and constantly being monitored these kind of things are much more likely to happen, so do you completely blame the victim?
I know I should have been more smarter and careful, but forgetfulness and clumsiness happens such a when I am tired or stressed out at work, and I think that happens not just to myself.
I know it's no use crying over spilled milk here. It's obvious that there is no way I'd be able to recover the stolen cash unless somehow I knew absolutely certain who actually took it and if it even was only one person and then file a complaint against them.
I think it's very very likely that it was somebody that has a locker in the same row of lockers as I am.
One thing I had in mind and this is the main question I have.
I figured maybe I can setup some kind of secret surveillance device that is motion activated "inside" my locker. But I am unsure whether or not this would be legal?
That way if theft and unauthorized access like this were ever to occur again I will know who did it and can prove it. Since without any kind of hard evidence or proof I very much doubt there is much my managers and supervisors or even the security department can do regardless if I filed a complaint or claim of some kind. My managers and supervisors at the time had all left last night since it was a late/closing shift so there really wasn't anything I could do other than just go home and get some sleep.
However I wasn't 100% sure about the legality of this. I've already checked various websites on this matter on whether there are any laws that currently forbid this type of personal surveillance strictly used for anti-theft purposes.
I know you can Not secretly film and tape somebody when they are changing or using the restroom, but this isn't about that.
This is strictly about getting the proof and evidence who had been going into my locker and stealing from me and taking advantage of my clumsiness.
I did read that employers are forbidden to have any surveillance cameras inside locker rooms.
But what about employees who are victims of locker theft like like myself? Is this Not legal at all?
Remember, the hidden surveillance system would be setup "inside my own locker" capturing video of myself opening and using my locker and hoping that I'd eventually catch this thief should the possibility of theft ever occurs again, just because I was clumsy and forgetful and became victim of opportunity again.
I've read that Massachusetts have 'wiretapping laws' that forbid any type of audio or conversations from being recorded without all the consent of all parties involved.
I'm guessing that "if" this kind of surveillance is allowed then the audio can Not be recorded, but only the video then?
Otherwise it's completely not legal or permitted at all regardless.
If it's still not legally permitted then I think my best case scenario is to switch to key-retaining type of locks (locks where the key stay attached to them when they are opened and can't be removed until the lock is closed/locked) since sometimes I end up forgetting about the keys for them and locking the keys inside my locker. Then I would have to have the lock cut just to get my locker open.
I think the hidden surveillance method even if legal may not be cost-effective. Since finding the right kind of equipment for it seems very difficult. But I'll ask around elsewhere once I have a clear answer on this.
It's just that I really really want to catch this thief or group of thieves and file a formal complaint of some kind against them, and have them suspended or even fired/terminated, and this would be the only way I can think of on how to do that.
Other than that I don't know? What other options should I consider? What should I do in the future?
I thought about other options such as a special anti-theft wallet that is really secured and cannot be opened by anyone else other than wallet's owner and maybe with a tracking ability that could help find and catch the thief.
I don't know if there are any legality issues regarding that method either?
What about having the hidden surveillance system built-into the wallet? But I know that won't really do much if they took the entire thing.
Sigh, it's getting real late. I hope somebody reads this asap and gets back to me with some really good solid advice.