Office Theft – From Pens to Cash and Valuables

High Number of Offenders and Lack of Awareness of Wrongdoing

Which employee hasn’t encountered it: the office desk is stocked with a variety of appealing and useful supplies, and it seems harmless to “borrow” a few pens, erasers, and notepads for home use. Perhaps a branded pen for yourself, a file for your spouse, or a birthday letter on premium company stationery for a relative. According to a study by the market research institute GfK (Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung), many employees do not consider this behaviour illegal or criminal, believing the company suffers minimal financial harm. In fact, one in four men and one in five women admitted to having taken office supplies at least once.

 

The Crux: Apart from exceptional cases, even the theft of small, almost worthless company items (petty theft) is considered a valid reason for dismissal, often without notice. Such acts irreparably damage the trust between company management and the employee. Naturally, our Bonn-based detective agency (+49 228 2861 4084) is far more often commissioned to investigate serious offences such as warehouse and transport theft, burglary, or the theft or embezzlement of company vehicles. Nevertheless, office theft continues to appear in everyday investigative work and will be examined in detail below.

Seemingly Minor Items with Major Implications

Of course, for most employers, it is financially not worthwhile to commission the Kurtz Detective Agency for investigations into items such as toilet paper, as investigative services are not free (for our fees see here). However, the situation changes if these thefts acquire a commercial character, as even low-value items can add up to significant financial damage. This can occur, for example, if an employee operates a side business and requires larger quantities of such items on a regular basis.

 

To continue the hypothetical example of toilet paper: a few years ago, our Bonn detectives proved that an employee who also organised events (mainly club concerts and disco parties) had stolen toilet paper over a period of more than one year, amounting to a five-figure sum.

Not a Trivial Offence – Detectives from Bonn Expose Office Thieves

Even if 50% of long-fingered employees like to take pens, 27% take paper, and 26% take paperclips—causing minimal financial loss in individual cases—these offences are not trivial. The German Criminal Code (§242 StGB) clearly defines theft as the unlawful appropriation of another person’s movable property in order to keep it or pass it on to third parties. “Small fry also makes a mess,” as the saying goes, and office supplies represent a not insignificant part of many companies’ annual budgets. Naturally, stealing a pen is not comparable to the theft of more valuable items or cash—at low cent or euro values, courts may occasionally turn a blind eye—but the legal basis is clear: even the removal of a printer cartridge constitutes theft, which, even if it does not lead to a conviction, severely damages trust in the employee. The severity of penalties generally depends on the value of the stolen items; willingness to steal high-value items is naturally lower than for seemingly worthless possessions. Accordingly, thefts of office materials occur far more frequently than, for example, the theft of entire construction machines.

 

Other problematic aspects include the impact on workplace security and the boldness of offenders, which increases with each undetected theft. Offenders gradually target larger quantities and more valuable items. Where criminal intent exists, experience shows that an employee will rarely be deterred by high-value targets or the prospect of heavier penalties. Whether valuable or not, even initial suspicion should prompt the employer to act without delay and involve our IHK-certified business detectives from Bonn (kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bonn.de). We aim for a prompt and smooth resolution of thefts, preventing further loss and enabling companies to set an example to deter potential copycat thieves.

The Perpetrators Are Not Necessarily Employees

We do not wish to portray employees as inherently criminal, but it is important to raise awareness of internal corporate crime and the workplace as a crime scene. Without such awareness, companies often lack the attention required to detect irregularities, and the willingness to take action emerges only slowly.

 

Of course, external parties may also be responsible for thefts within a company: clients, freelancers, suppliers, service providers (cleaning staff, etc.), competitors, or simply visitors. Any of these could take and remove valuables. If unusually high losses follow meetings with a particular supplier, suspicion naturally arises.

Companies Should Send a Clear Message

Regardless of who is behind the theft, one of management’s most important tasks is to communicate, both preventively and after an incident, the consequences that thieves will face. This can have a strong deterrent effect on potential future offenders, and even prompt guilty parties to return “borrowed” items to avoid a formal investigation. This approach is particularly effective when management can publicly demonstrate the apprehension of a thief and the resulting consequences. Our Bonn business detectives assist with identifying and prosecuting workplace thieves, and can even confront them if desired—for example, to obtain a notarised acknowledgement of debt.

 

A tip: Studies show that employee willingness to steal decreases significantly when they are well paid and their work is highly valued. Employees who feel exploited may believe that taking “just a little” is a fair compensation for their efforts and the lack of recognition.

Workplace Thieves – Bonn Business Detectives Supporting Companies Across the Rhineland

If you or your company have noticed unusually high usage of office supplies, missing money, or disappearing company property, you are likely dealing with one or more internal offenders. Whether you already suspect specific employees or only have general concerns about a department, Kurtz Investigations Bonn can assist using a range of investigative methods, including surveillance, undercover operations, and sting operations (e.g., test purchases)—not only in Bonn but throughout the surrounding region, including Koblenz, Euskirchen, Cologne, and Siegburg. For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us at +49 228 2861 4084.

Author: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn

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53177 Bonn

Tel.: +49 228 2861 4084

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