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r/Workproblems • … • u/Glittering_Drama7433

I think my coworker has been sneaking into my office…

I tried posting the full context of the story and other small instances that have led me to realize he might be someone I need to steer clear from earlier this morning, but I guess I’m still too new to not be able to post it. Let me know if you’d like the full context cause Reddit says the post was removed by its filters?

I just started my job a few months ago (I’m F 30) & met one of my coworkers (m 45+??? who we’ll call Himbo) who I’ve slightly been warned about before by others not to be overly friendly with him because he’s the type of person to take a mile if you give him an inch.

But basically, on occasion I will leave my office to do a quick bathroom run, visit my partner to discuss our cases or to the copy room real quick so I never feel like it necessary for me to fully lock my office. And when I do come back, I’ve noticed that when I do come back to my office, things go missing and then returned later, or my desk decor and stuff is being messed with or my bag, snacks or water bottle has been placed in a different spot. I have a metal grid wall that holds my pop mart pendants I’ve been collecting and one of them went missing for the day and then it showed back up on my scanner the next….

I’m staring to suspect Himbo could be the one coming into my office while I’m out and messing with my stuff. His office isn’t far from me and he always passes by my room and takes every opportunity when I’m in my office and the door is cracked (I have 0 air circulation in my room and no windows so some days I like to air out the office now and then if my workload is light and I don’t mind people passing by my office and waving/saying hi. But this guy always stands and blocks the door and just stares at me and make obvious statements like “your door’s open today” and just continue to stare until I ask him if he needs something and he’ll talk about himself and his life and complain about the service members we help for a solid 10 mins at least and come into my office in invited.

He’s also touched my stuff before when I’ve worked at the front desk and moved my water bottle from behind the desk to the front where we receive patients and soldiers who are coming in. I’ve just never acknowledged it since I don’t try to give most men any reason to feel like they are allowed to be comfortable with me when I don’t know who they are yet. I enjoy my personal space and I mention my husband a lot I general when I’m around other guys at work just for my peace of mind and out of respect for our relationship….

Now I f a guy I feel comfortable with and hasn’t given me a reason to suspect anything past platonic relations becomes a friend to me, that’s a separate story and in no way is my husband the type to be mad or jealous when I make guy friends….I just get a weird feeling about Himbo specifically. Again there’s a little more to the story but I’m trying to keep it short so it posts 😭😭😭

Like I know I should bring it up to management but some of my coworkers say he’s just lonely and socially awkward and there’s no cameras or proof that this guy COULD be the one coming into my office and messing with my stuff (they’re private closed offices btw for those wondering). I’ve told my husband and he doesn’t play about me but he also thinks that he could be a veteran and a lot of ex-military can be socially awkward too. But he’s not opposed to visiting me at work now and then because he doesn’t like that someone’s messing around in my office uninvited…. Am I too paranoid? Any advice or just a different perspective?? I don’t wanna be accusatory but even my work partner suspects it’s him.

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