When Office Etiquette Fails: The Bizarre Story Of A Stolen Office Chair That Ended With The Police Showing Up

Day 3 of a new sales job, OP brought in a Herman Miller Aeron chair, because the cubicle setup was brutal and the “welcome” seat was basically punishment.

By day 4, the chair was gone, and a senior coworker was casually parked in it like it was theirs. OP asked for it back, got told to “F off,” and even the company owner shrugged it off with a first-come, first-serve rule that conveniently ignored the fact OP owned the chair and it had a serial number.

Then OP escalated, called the cops, and the stolen-office-chair drama turned into an arrest.

One new hire decided to kick things up a notch by bringing in a high-end office chair — and things quickly got wild.

user25451090 / freepik (not the actual photo)

A senior coworker apparently decided they liked the chair so much, they just… took it.

voronaman111 / envatoelements

At first, the new employee probably hoped it was a simple misunderstanding. But the chair kept disappearing, and attempts to reason with the coworker went nowhere.

Anonymous / reddit (not the actual photo)

Eventually, authorities got involved, and the coworker who wouldn’t give back the chair was arrested.

drazenphoto / envatoelements

OP’s brand-new Aeron disappears on day 4, and suddenly that “first come, first serve” rule sounds a lot less innocent with the senior coworker sitting in it.

Original Post

I got a new job in sales working for a company that sells access control systems, CCTV systems, etc. The chair in my cubicle was uncomfortable AF, so I day 3 I brought in my own Herman Miller Aeron chair. On day 4 it was missing. I looked around and another sales rep was sitting in it. I asked for it back but he basically told me to F off.

I went and spoke to the owner of the company. He told me that the chairs aren't reserved. They are first come first serve. I explained that I OWN the chair and it cost me $1800. He told me that I need to come in earlier if I want that chair.The next day the same guy was sitting in it when I got to the office. I told him to give it back or I was going to call the cops. He refused. So I called the cops.It was quite the scene, but in the end he admitted that he took my EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR chair. I was prepared. I had the receipt which showed the serial number. (Yes, Aeron chairs have serial numbers.) They asked me if I wanted to press charges. My new boss said I would be terminated if I had him arrested, so I said "Absolutely! I want to press charges!"My new boss fired me on the spot, so I carried my chair out with me a I was leaving. And yes, the cops arrested the dude who took my chair (He admitted to it!).The dude who took my chair has been in the industry for about 15 years, but he's going to lose his security license, which means he won't be able to work in the industry. He's going to lose his job. I don't give a shit. He shouldn't have stolen my chair.Am I the asshole for making this dude lose his job?

Here's how the Reddit community reacted.

cheffgeoff

You don't need security clearance to sell CCTVs.

pink_gem

He what?

Smile_Terrible

Most companies wouldn't allow it.

ssevener

You should sue!

SocietyIcy5951

This office chair drama feels similar to a roommate showdown where one person pushed their stubborn roommate to attend therapy.

Sometimes you need to be an AH.

mercurygreen

NTA.

bmyst70

"Your boss is awful."

angelwarrior_

That's wrongful termination.

early_birdy

Don't underestimate a good chair.

Clear_Language9069

Name and shame.

Tight_Independent_26

They aren't worth that much.

destiny_kane48

"Talk to an employment attorney."

LdiJ46

Time to lawyer up!

ModeratelyIndependent

The owner insists OP should have shown up earlier, while the same guy is back in the chair the next day, doubling down instead of returning it.

OP calls the police after being refused again, and the whole thing turns into a scene when the coworker admits taking the $1,800 chair.

OP’s boss threatens termination if charges are pressed, but OP says yes anyway, and that’s when the coworker gets arrested and OP gets fired too.

What began as an attempt to make a cubicle feel a little more comfortable spiraled into full-blown office lore. One person’s entitlement turned a fancy chair into a headline-maker.

It also highlighted just how wildly people can misjudge workplace etiquette. An office is shared — your belongings are not.

For the new hire, it was a win earned with patience, persistence, and a willingness to follow things through. For everyone else, it was a gentle (and slightly ridiculous) reminder to respect boundaries.

What started as a small attempt to make a cubicle feel like “home” turned into full-blown workplace chaos.

DC Studio / freepik (not the actual photo)

This bizarre saga serves as a reminder that workplace drama can come in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes, the drama literally has wheels and an ergonomic cushion.

DC Studio / freepik (not the actual photo)

At the end of the day, this story strikes a chord because everyone knows how important it is to protect your space, your things, and your peace of mind. Some battles are absolutely worth fighting — even when the battleground is an $1,800 ergonomic masterwork.

And so this workplace saga rolls on (quite literally), proving that office drama can be unpredictable, absurd, and occasionally equipped with adjustable armrests.

Nobody wins when a stolen chair turns into a police report.

Before you judge the chair thief too fast, read why a new hire debated refusing to lend money to a friend who never repaid.