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2.5 million Brits have stolen from their Over one in five (21%) said they steal
workplace because everyone does it
Over one-in-10 (10.4%) office workers One-in-five people said their reason for
admitted they have stolen something from stealing from their workplace or colleagues
their workplace. There are currently 24.7m was because everyone does it. This shows
people working in the UK, meaning over 2.5m that office theft might be more common than
are guilty of sneaking stationery, food and people realise.
even money home with them.
Only 8% have reported someone for
1.6 million have stolen from their stealing
colleagues Missing food and stationery are part of office
If you work in an office, you’ll be no stranger life and very rarely is something done about
to debate over food and missing mugs. It’s it. Only 8% of people in the UK have reported
maybe no surprise either, as 1.6 million office someone for stealing, which probably explains
workers in the UK admitted to stealing from why.
their colleagues. This doesn’t even include
your colleagues that like to ‘borrow’ your 35-44 year-olds steal more than any other
things without telling you. age group
People aged 35-44 steal more than any other
1 in 6 (17%) said they have stolen food in age group, with 14% saying they have stolen
the office something from their workplace.
We asked the people who admitted to stealing
what they had stolen from their office. Almost (% who said they have stolen something
one-in-five (17%) said they had taken food from their workplace)
from the communal fridge. A further 10% said • 18-25 – 5%
they have stolen someone else’s mug.
• 25-34 – 10%
One in 10 (10%) have stolen money • 35-44 – 14%
Stealing food and mugs is annoying, but
one-in-10 (10%) even admitted they’ve stolen • 55-64 – 6%
money from their office. A further 8% said they • 65+ – 10%
have taken laptops and phones that didn’t
belong to them. 25-34 year-olds are the most likely to steal
valuables
Stationery is the most stolen item in the Despite 35-44-year-olds stealing more than
workplace any other age group, it was the younger
40% said they have stolen a pen and other generation that were more likely to steal
stationery in the office. The most common money, laptops, and phones. Over one-in-five
items stolen in the workplace are listed later.
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