Suspecting that one of your employees is stealing is a difficult situation to deal with. Whether the Artful Dodger has been participating in some small time petty theft such as dipping into the office supplies or sneaking out confidential office paperwork, accusing a member of staff of dishonesty can cause a lot of upset and awkwardness.

Before, even thinking about raising the matter with him/her, it is vital that you have enough solid evidence to back up any accusations. This means being as sneaky as your office magpie by accounting for every office item that goes astray. Make a detailed and concise diary of dates, events and times to back up your suspicions. It is imperative that you accuse the right person of the crime or you could seriously jeopardise your position and lose the trust of all your fellow employees. Colleagues need to know that they have a boss who can be trusted and not one who is constantly looking over their shoulder.

When you are absolutely certain that you have found the perpetrator, you should ask him/her to meet you for a private discussion. Choose a room which is soundproof and quiet so as the conversation cannot go any further than the four walls that surround you. If your employee is able to provide a justifiable and sound reason for the magical way that they can make things disappear or if you gain an outright confession to the petty pilfering, you need to be able to talk frankly and freely to your colleague without fear of anyone interrupting or overhearing. This protects the dignity of both yourself and your staff member.

It is also a good idea to seek legal advice so as you are aware of the rights of both your employee and yourself. This ensures that the matter is dealt with appropriately and provides protection for both parties. If it turns out that the person you suspect does have a hand which is quicker than the eye, there are several courses of action which you can take. The most permanent way to end this deception is to fire them on the spot.

The second is to offer a form of disciplinary action. This could consist of banning this person from a certain part of the office or asking that they pay a small donation from their wages each month to compensate for the office loss. If you try this procedure but things still keep vanishing before your eyes, you have no option but to press for criminal charges. This has to be the final straw when all other means of repentance have been exhausted. Involving the police will cause a scene which cannot be detracted from the eyes of the office. Staff will spread rumours and the matter will become public knowledge.

When the situation has been dealt with, you then need to ensure that an incident like this never happens again. It is important to look at how the theft was able to take place and ascertain if there is a flaw in your security system. Maybe, you are not thoroughly investigating the people that you employ. It is easy to overlook people who have been loyal to a company for many years or to question the honesty of those who come from a highly-paid, highly responsible position. Don't try to save time or cut corners when considering a new member of staff. Make it a point to check out everyone by carrying out proper background checks and don't rely on intuition as a way of deciding if someone is honest. Remember, almost anyone is capable of committing a crime, should the opportunity arise.

Make your staff responsible for looking out for each other. A system which encourages office awareness could prevent the opportunity to steal from ever arising. Also, make it a point to work with your employees to combat theft. Ask for their input as to how stealing can be prevented. Ask if they can suggest tactful ways to check up on each other. Security cameras will certainly take a lot of the detective work away from your employees and provide that valuable, solid evidence that you need. Ensure that it is installed in an area where there is a lot of activity or over places where important and confidential documents are stored such as bank details etc.

Keep theft at the top of your agenda by constantly reminding staff of the company's views on the matter. If they know that thieves are always penalised, they are less likely to find the idea attractive. By pointing out company policy in connection with theft, staff will be unable to say that they were unaware of any repercussions which may arise from such an incident. Another good idea is to make new employees sign a written declaration to confirm they understand the company's views towards stealing. This should also be written into their contract. Be consistent in your decision regarding theft.

All staff members should be treated the same. For example, if one staff member is instantly dismissed for stealing, any other employee who steals should also be sacked on the spot. This cancels out any thoughts in anyone's mind that they may be just cautioned if found in a similar position.