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More money vanishes

14th Jul 2014
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I reconciled both petty cash boxes this week.

Mrs Dragon’s box balanced perfectly.

Mine was £20 short.

It can’t be the opening balance, because that was £0.

There definitely aren’t two notes stuck together in the box.

I’ve recorded everything that went out of the box.

CP is the only other person who has the code.  I asked him if he knew of any money leaving the box apart from what I’d recorded.  He didn’t.

So Mrs Dragon herself can’t be the thief.  She doesn’t know the code for my box and it hasn’t been written down.

And the missing money before was not an accident.

Before anyone asks, I promise I’m not the thief.

And surely CP wouldn’t steal from his own company.

I confess, I’m baffled.  Money is definitely being stolen, but I can’t see who could have taken it.

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Replies (19)

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By Brend201
14th Jul 2014 14:12

It's CP.  He took an advance

It's CP.  He took an advance for something and forgot to fill out a docket.  Intended to do it later.  

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By HKE
14th Jul 2014 14:14

Silly question but...

The code isn't easily guessed? Birthday, anniversary, used elsewhere?

 

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By HKE
14th Jul 2014 14:14

Phew!

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By ShirleyM
14th Jul 2014 14:16

Who knew of your box?

I thought only you and CP were aware of it? If you are recording everything that goes out of your box ... is this allowing others to know you have one?

If there are only 2 people who have access, and it definitely isn't one of them, then ......

As Arthur Conan Doyle said ....Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

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By Mature Student
14th Jul 2014 15:08

Agreed

That quote was exactly what came to my mind ShirleyM. Either someone else has discovered the code to your box (overheard or seen while you were getting money out - not necessarily the person being given the money) or CP for some reason isn't admitting to forgetting to fill out a docket.

Strange tho that it's £20, or a multuple of, that's missing each time. If it is a thief, they must have time to take just one or two notes, no rushed grab while you're out of your office for a cuppa or suchlike. Is the box in a locked drawer when you're not at your desk?

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By ian339
14th Jul 2014 15:26

It's not nice...

It's not nice to spy on your staff, but it's not nice to suspect someone is dishonest either. What about a hidden webcam?

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By M Winstone
14th Jul 2014 15:51

Machiavelli

Unfortunately, I suspect that someone is mis-casting dockets in order that the cash drwn by Mrs Dragon is wrong, thus passing the buck to your box.

At some point a number of £20's are going to be found in No2's possession.

Horrible thought, but I see little option.

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By User deleted
14th Jul 2014 15:53

Sleep stealing

Are you sure you're not stealing the money in your sleep? (It happened in one of Enid Blyton's!)

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By mrme89
14th Jul 2014 15:55

If you discussed the code via email, could it be possible that it is someone in IT that is taking the cash? Providing that they would be able to access your emails.

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By User deleted
14th Jul 2014 16:05

One solution

Stick some of that coloured dye in the box so that whoever nicks the money ends up with brightly coloured hands - if you only put it in your box (which presumably isn't used to reimburse people - though we never got an answer as to why it was necessary to have a second box) then it'll only be a thief who gets covered. Keep an eye out for people with bright hands and ta da, one tea-leaf. Just don't tell anyone what you're doing.

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By B Roberts
14th Jul 2014 16:30

????
Firstly, any "thief" would have to know of the existence of the second box.

They must then find the opportunity to access the box.

They must then work out the combination for the lock.

All for £20 ?? ..... unlikely .... as others have said, this must be CP getting some cash to pay for incidentals and they have forgotten about it.

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By User deleted
14th Jul 2014 21:16

May be ...

... the thief reads AWeb and hence discovered about the second box?

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By Roland195
15th Jul 2014 12:04

How sturdy is the box?

Are the boxes proper cash boxes or are the cheap variety you can bend at the hinge to unhook the latch without having to unlock it?

Theft seems unlikely to me in the circumstances however after eliminating the possibility of the director taking cash advances and forgetting (I assume he would have owned up after the old bag starting shouting for the hue & cry) then it's the only explanation left.

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By Helen Crowley
16th Jul 2014 10:48

What about the cash going into the box?

Are you sure that you have correctly recorded the money going into the box?

It also reminds me of that clever maths problem involving change where it appears that £1 is missing but it actually isn't. It went viral years ago but I will try and find it.

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By rob.little
16th Jul 2014 13:12

not the cleaners....

When this happened to us it wasn't the cleaners, but it was someone they brought into the building with them - in our case a bored teenager left to wander an empty office while waiting for a parent to finish their work, and who saw our cash tin as a 'bit of a challenge'.

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By User deleted
16th Jul 2014 13:35

May be ...

... it is a cunning ploy by Mrs Dragon to wreak her revenge for your thwarting her attempts at nepotism?

The finger is pointing at you, revenge is a dish best served cold after all, and hell doth have no fury like a woman scorned!

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By Helen Crowley
16th Jul 2014 14:02

Here is the maths puzzle I was referring to above

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_dollar_riddle

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By User deleted
17th Jul 2014 14:28

Why not ...

... write down the numbers of all notes, preferably at the bank and get them to witness the numbers (if you have a quiet word with the manager and explain the reason  am sure they will help)

Why are you doing this weekly, you should be counting the cash first thing in the morning (assuming it is left on the premises) and half hour before home-time at night and reconciling, if not lunchtime as well. If the discrepancy occurs during the working day I would call everyone together and call the police and get them to perform a search on everyone, their bags and lockers if they have them.

If it happens over-night then just call the police.  

If left on premises, is there a safe?

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By Mature Student
17th Jul 2014 15:47

Old Greying Acc, good in theory but if someone is being set up here then this will only play into the actual perpetrator's hands.

How about a dialy rec but take away Mrs D's box. I know she will likely resisit - don't you trust me, etc but I'd probably frame it along the lines of 'we know it's not your box that's being targeted now so let's simplify things'. And also install the webcam. If it stops, fine, hand Mrs D her box back and put yours at the back of the cupboard for future use and carry on as before.

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