Young couple is forced to lock up their cupboards after kitchen items started going missing: ‘We know who’s doing it’

A couple has gone to extreme lengths to lock up their kitchen cupboards after discovering their housemate was secretly eating their food. 

The pair live in a shared house with three other housemates, so there are two fridges and multiple pantry cupboards split between the five.

But lately, the couple – who share a pantry cupboard and smaller fridge between them – realised someone was raiding their shelves as food started going missing ‘left, right and centre’. 

It all started with an energy drink before escalating to a pack of six scones, ramen, an entire jar of Nutella and ‘potentially more things’ the couple are unaware of. 

And it wasn’t just their items vanishing. The other two housemates noticed items were going missing from the fridge and cupboards as well.

Eventually, the couple discovered their 21-year-old housemate Karla* – who only moved in three months ago – was responsible for the missing food.

‘My cat went into Karla’s room one day and I had to get him out because I didn’t know what was in there and if there was anything harmful,’ one half of the couple said.

‘So I took him out but in the process I noticed the empty box of scones on the ground of her room.

‘(Now) we know who’s doing it.’

It was enough proof for the couple to confront Karla – but she denied everything, insisting she had nothing to do with the missing items.

‘I haven’t seen her buy her own groceries once yet,’ they said.

The couple had no choice but to buy locks for their pantry cupboard and fridge after informing the other housemates of their decision, which was ‘agreed upon’.

‘This is the solution. A lock on our pantry cupboard and a lock on its way for the fridge and freezer,’ they said.

‘All the items on the shelf outside of the cupboard are all numbered as well. So we know how much of what we have. 

‘It sucks that I have to do this. But in an already poor financial situation, I cannot be wasting money on extra food.’

They explained that if Karla had asked them if they could eat something from their cupboard, they would have been ‘more than willing’ to share.

‘If you just ask that would be different. I would be more than willing to feed someone who’s hungry and asked. Not someone who simply takes,’ they said. 

The couple said if Karla tampers with the lock, they will report her to the landlord.

‘If Karla breaks the lock, I just have more evidence to provide to my landlord. We are a month-by-month lease so it’s somewhat easier to evict a single person,’ they said.

Many revealed they have similar experiences with ‘brazen’ housemates.

‘My roommates eat food that I make and put on the counter. If I make bread and have it sit for a little, they start eating it. I’ve had to start putting it away in my room. Shouldn’t have to do that. If they asked, I would’ve been more generous,’ one said.

‘I had an old roommate’s boyfriend eat almost the entire pizza I had just brought home – I was livid. I took it out of the oven to cool and came back 20 minutes later to one piece left on the pan and I was ready to throw hands,’ another shared.

Another couple had a housemate raid their pantry cupboard, despite their items being clearly labelled, before leaving a packet of their beef ramen on the kitchen counter.  

‘He ended up coming back while we were cooking so I flat out had to tell them, “Everything in there is ours”. Completely blew me off,’ they said.

‘If he’d ask for food, I’m absolutely open to sharing. I’m not stingy. It’s the taking without permission thing that’s overstepping some boundaries.’

Meanwhile, others pointed out the locked cupboards and fridge will trigger Karla.

‘I bet she is annoyed that you locked up your food now,’ one said, laughing.

‘And she’ll blame you for it getting this far… Why couldn’t you just be a good roommate and support the thief?’ another joked.

*Name has been changed.