Loo roll thief sting | When do measures against employee theft go too far?

In workplaces across the country, most employers have systems in place to prevent theft, from advanced CCTV monitoring to security protocols for high-value goods. But when the missing item is something as minor as a toilet roll, are such measures worth the time, cost, and reputational risk? The case of former police officer Julie Smith, accused of taking toilet rolls from her station, illustrates just how far employers might go, even for items with minimal value.

It is alleged that on three separate occasions between 17 January 2023 and 9 February 2023, former PC Julie Smith removed toilet rolls from Beaumont Leys police station and placed them in her private vehicle to take home for personal/domestic use without permission or authority.

It is alleged this breached standards of professional behaviour, namely honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct – and that this amounts to gross misconduct.

Employee theft costs UK businesses billions each year, with cases often involving cash, electronics, or other valuable goods. But what about the items that many of us might not even consider “theft-worthy”? Toilet rolls, pens, or post-it notes may be seen as trivial, yet even these small items can add up, and some argue that allowing any theft – however small – sets a poor precedent.