Cop Charged After Raiding Refrigerator In Police Station's Break Room

(Associated Press) DEER PARK, Texas — A sting operation by a suburban Houston police department netted one of their own when surveillance cameras caught an officer repeatedly stealing colleagues' food and drinks from the refrigerator in the station's break room.

Deer Park police Officer Kevin Yang was charged with misdemeanor theft and suspended for 30 days without pay. Deer Park Police Chief Greg Griggs tells KTRK-TV of Houston that a class C misdemeanor conviction would not keep Yang from returning to duty.

Griggs says he authorized the video sting because the thefts have been going on for too long. Even though the items being stolen may be of trivial value, Griggs says theft is theft.

Yang tells KTRK that he was merely taking it upon himself to keep the shared refrigerator clean.

Comments

[camanokat]

02:51 AM on 02/28/2012

I wouldn't want my food in a communal fridge with dozens of people having access. It's a lot easier to get a small cooler. Freeze a few generic water bottles and use and re-use those to keep your food chilled. I keep a dozen water bottles frozen for that use. Handy for camping too...your food doesn't soaked with melting ice.

[rp2par]

06:38 AM on 02/28/2012

camanokat....I feel the same way about communal fridges. I've never used the frozen water bottle method. I use those little blue thingies I buy in the store and freeze them. Since they are only about an inch thick they take up less room in our small 'on the go carry bag'.

[Parade Keegan]

07:34 PM on 02/27/2012

Eeeeww. Cleaning the refrigerator? Not likely.

[trron9]

06:37 PM on 02/26/2012

I've been a victim of someone stealing my lunch out of the fridge, I remember being angry, but to waste the courts time with cases like these is ridiculous and a waste of tax payers money! Write them up if it continues suspended them and if that doesn't work fire them! Not charge them!

[Mr Hoodoo]

02:43 PM on 02/26/2012

I've worked in several places where fellow employees would steal others' food. There was one place in which one person would actually take a few bites then put the food back. Beyond me what the person was thinking, like, no one would notice?

It was likely the same person or people who used to get into our open wall boxes and steal things, pens, candybars, change, etc. until they were removed and we forced the company to provide secondary smaller lockers in the break room (the others were in the restrooms so we couldn't put food in them) and most of us bought insulated lunch bags/boxes and had to lock our food up.

I hate thieves of all kinds. And thieves within your own work crew, especially one's lunches, is truly despicable. Thieves are people who think nothing of stealing from others but are the first to cry loudest when someone steals from them. And they can't make the connection between their own thefts and how they feel when someone steals from them.

Thieves suck big time.

[johndpieper]

03:42 AM on 02/26/2012

I want to know who complains when their drink, or food go missing? I might get frustrated but I would never file a formal complaint. If I want to make sure something doesn't get taken, I don't put it in a community refrigerator, or cabinet.  Why does it feel like I'm talking to a kindergarten class about right and wrong? These are police officers, too. Who formally complains about food/drink being taken? Amazing!!!

[aqua3aries]

09:43 AM on 02/26/2012

As someone who admits to not using workplace cabinets and refrigerators, you don't know the frustration of having your items (even marked items) go missing. Many people bring leftovers or other food items that need to be refrigerated; why should people have to worry that their lunches or drinks will be gone by the time lunch rolls around? You make it sound like the department was full of whiners who made reports after one or two losses. Do you really think a camera would have been installed if a drink or sandwich went missing every now and then? Children learn very early on not to touch or take items that don't belong to them! This officer obviously forgot that... have you?

[johndpieper]

08:59 PM on 02/26/2012

I don't put anything I plan to eat in a public area where anyone could put ANYTHING in it.

[Mahi Joe]

11:13 AM on 02/26/2012

Yeah keep your tuna sandwich hidden in your desk drawer that should taste yummy after a few hours not to mention the amount of bacteria it will accumulate.

[johndpieper]

08:56 PM on 02/26/2012

Why would you put something you plan to eat in a public area where someone could put ANYTHING in it.

[VTya]

09:48 PM on 02/25/2012

My uncle used the laxative trick to catch his hot chocolate in a thermos stealer. Works every time.

This might seam trivial but in some jobs workers can't go out to buy lunch. (I used to teach and would usually eat lunch at my desk while still working).

Also, if you're diabetic, on a restricted diet and need to eat at certain times ... this is definately no funny!

[bobWal]

09:14 PM on 02/25/2012

This Police chief has lost his marbles!! What is a Policeman's or Firefighters favorite meal ? FREE!!
Sorry pal but the truth is "no name ? fair game" when it comes to the station refrigerator. What if was donated leftover chow from the Rotary or Lions feed?? I did 38 years in the station,please Chief get a grip...

[hjo4]

05:24 PM on 02/25/2012

Before retirement we had a food stealer at the office when an anonymous person implemented a plan that did catch the thief er with his pants down. Someone laced a sandwich with a heavy dose of laxatives and substituted Citrus Magnesium for 7up. Shortly the person (who many suspected anyway ) had to make toilet runs in the late morning, early afternoon to the point where he had to leave work early. Needless to say all lunches were left alone from that day until I retired.

[local21]

05:23 PM on 02/25/2012

Sounds like this cop raiding the fridge is a repeat offender.

[Jonas Planck]

05:18 PM on 02/25/2012

30 day suspension with no pay? That's worse than what they do to you for shooting bystanders. They're serious about that fridge.

[IsabelRingin]

03:58 PM on 02/25/2012

Every place I've ever worked that had a kitchen, at one time or another had a problem with somebody raiding the fridge and stealing lunches. This is the only time I've heard of someone getting caught for it. GOOD!!

[peegan]

04:27 PM on 02/25/2012

I worked at a dept store in college and we had a problem with this. The guy was caught. It was the security officer. Too funny.

[Mike in San Pedro]

03:45 PM on 02/25/2012

Maybe Officer Yang's defense will be that he got a tip that a very diminutive criminal suspect was hiding out in the fridge.

[jewel31]

03:38 PM on 02/25/2012

I really would hate to be a cop. They truly are some of the most despised people in our society and for what? Ignorant people will forever make sweeping generalizations about an entire group based on a select few they don't . Obey the law and cops will usually leave you alone, pretty simple. Despite what some drama queens would have you believe, cops usually don't just roll up on you and trouble you for no reason. Bottom line is people don't like being caught and will twist the story so that they appear innocent and the cop is a bully. Some people never grow up and take responsibility for their actions. Yes, the guy in this story is a cop, and he should be held to a higher standard, but knock off the cop bashing. When you really need one to help you, I hope you will gain a whole new appreciation for them.

[memery]

10:36 PM on 02/25/2012

Spare us the crocodile tears. Cops get away with murder, sometimes literally.

[slippery pete]

03:34 PM on 02/25/2012

Stealing another cops peanut butter sandwich gets you charged with a crime and suspended for work without pay. Beat a subdued man senseless with your baton gets you the admiration of your colleagues.

[alexunlv]

02:52 PM on 02/25/2012

Too funny. I think someone asked - Is this a community fridge? If community fridge you better be careful. I love the line "No name fair game." lol

Just put a sign - DO NOT take food that does not belong to you. Please! Thank you! Have a healthy day!

[jewel31]

03:28 PM on 02/25/2012

We tried that where I work and things kept vanishing. Some people are just ninjas ;)

[alexunlv]

04:46 PM on 02/25/2012

lol - too funny.