Missing Mug Help

[Tagy]

Hello!

I brought in my favorite mug to work a couple of days ago and, after I used it, washed it out and set it in the dish drainer in the break room.  Now it's gone 

I know that it wasn't taken maliciously; another staffer no doubt wanted a cup of coffee, saw it sitting there and grabbed it.

Crazy as it sounds, though, that mug means a lot to me since DD #1 bought it for me for Christmas and I'd like it back.

I was thinking of some sort of "have you seen my mug" note in the break room but I would appreciate some help in wording it since I don't want to look neurotic or, worse, accusing.

Thanks!

[Cydrius]

Hmm...

Have you seen my mug?

(Insert description here)

I had left it in the dish drainer, and it was gone when I came back.

(Instructions on how to reach you.)

That's how I'd do it, but I'm no wording expert either, you might wanna get a second opinion.

[pryncsskittyn]

Title:
Missing Coffee Mug!
Please help, I had my cup in the strainer on (insert date) and it has gone missing. 
<mug description>
It was a gift from my daughter (or "loved one" if you prefer) and I would appreciate it's return.  If the borrower would please return it here (the break room) it would be greatly appreciated!

You don't have to put your name on it, that way nobody feels like a theif when they see you.

Also, I don't know what kind of office you work in (ones I've worked in had 500+ employees), but I wouldn't bring something so dear to me to the office unless it never left my sight.

Good luck!  I've had similar situations, though not something so special to me, and the item was never mentioned or returned, I hope you are luckier with this!

[Bijou]

Hello!

I brought in my favorite mug to work a couple of days ago and, after I used it, washed it out and set it in the dish drainer in the break room.  Now it's gone 

I know that it wasn't taken maliciously; another staffer no doubt wanted a cup of coffee, saw it sitting there and grabbed it.

Crazy as it sounds, though, that mug means a lot to me since DD #1 bought it for me for Christmas and I'd like it back.

I was thinking of some sort of "have you seen my mug" note in the break room but I would appreciate some help in wording it since I don't want to look neurotic or, worse, accusing.

Thanks!

We had people making off with things from our break room at work.  If we cared about something, we kept it at our desks. 
We also had a policy of taking anything that was left unwashed in the break room sink and putting it under lock and key.  The owner would have to go to the "vault master" and pay (25 cents) to get it back.  Heck, I'd be happy to leave a dirty icky dish in the sink for someone else to wash.  Certainly worth at least a quarter to me! 

[Sweettooth]

I would make a jokey sign and put it up in the breakroom--like a "Wanted" poster or something.  That'll get the point across without seeming neurotic.

[MommaBear]

Someone at work had that happen to them once.
They made a Lost sign that had a <handdrawn picture> of item and said Lost: Please Return Me to My Owner. They will be very worried about me.

It was cute and the item was returned...

[Slartibartfast]

I would definitely go for the humor aspect.  Make a "wanted" poster, or a fake "lost dog" ad but with your mug ("White with brown handle, answers to "Where's my coffee?", it was a gift from my daughter," etc.)  Or maybe a fake personals ad?  "Single thirsty female looking for short coffee mug.  Must have "Yadda Yadda" on the side, and must love Earl Gray tea and coffee without sugar.  If you know a mug fitting this description, please leave it in the dishrack so we can be reunited in true love!"

[hobish]

Someone at work had that happen to them once.
They made a Lost sign that had a <handdrawn picture> of item and said Lost: Please Return Me to My Owner. They will be very worried about me.

It was cute and the item was returned...

I think that is a good idea; or something like Slartibartfast suggested, along the same lines. I work in an office of about 120(+-) ppl on our floor (3d of 3).

[ccnumber4]

I like the "lost puppy" approach. 

[Suze]

silly is good

takes the sting out of "one of you STOLE my stuff"

[Tagy]

Thanks everyone!  I'm happy to say my mug was returned a few hours after I put up a sign asking if anyone had seen my mug and explaining that I missed "him"

I returned to my office after a meeting to find the mug in question sitting on my desk, and filled with Hershey Kisses!

[CutebutPsycho]

Thanks everyone!  I'm happy to say my mug was returned a few hours after I put up a sign asking if anyone had seen my mug and explaining that I missed "him"

I returned to my office after a meeting to find the mug in question sitting on my desk, and filled with Hershey Kisses!

Aw! That is really sweet! I am glad there is a happy ending to this story. '...and justice prevails....' 

[DottyG]

Thanks everyone!  I'm happy to say my mug was returned a few hours after I put up a sign asking if anyone had seen my mug and explaining that I missed "him"

I returned to my office after a meeting to find the mug in question sitting on my desk, and filled with Hershey Kisses!

Hmmmm....chocolate.  Maybe you should let him go out visiting more often if he's going to return with goodies!

[kingsrings]

Wow, I'd 'lose' that mug a few more times if I got it back filled with Hershey's kisses. 

I must admit I accidentally stole a few mugs way back when I first started working here. Right by the coffee maker was a big group of mugs in a place that wasn't anywhere near anyone's work space. I thought that they were there for employees to use and return at the end of the day if they wanted coffee and didn't have a mug. I found out through word of mouth eventually that they belonged to employees who for some weird reason stored them there instead of at their desks. Fortunately nobody found out what I had done. We also have a policy at work that if you leave any of your dishes or mugs out on the sink counter or in the fridge at the end of the day or the week that they get thrown out by the cleaning staff. They got tired of accumulating a bunch of mugs and dishes that were never claimed by their owners. This policy is clearly spelled out by fliers left lying around the sinks, counters, and fridges.

[IndianInlaw]

Glad you got yours back (with CANDY!!!).

I'd like to toss into E-Hell a friend's husband.  He would drink coffee from home on his way to work and she'd never see the mugs again!

She got to the point where she'd just buy them at the thrift store.

You would think he would be aware that he was causing a problem, or maybe he thought...well who knows what he thought?