Would you report coworker theft?

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

This guy Ive been working with for the last couple years has been robbing my company blind lately, and does it right in front of me. It started out as just a couple < $10 items here and there, but recently Ive been noticing him taking much higher priced ($20+) things out to his car almost every day. Ive told him before he better stop before he gets caught but he just laughs and says something like "Why are you gonna rat on me?"

This guy isn't a really close friend or anything, but I do open with him every morning and he has been out to my house for cookouts a few times...not for a couple years though.

Its really bothering me, I don't want to be a rat but at the same time this shit is wrong and while I cant stand my current boss I do like the owner and his family. Ive told this guy more than once not to do it in front of me but he doesn't listen.

Should I say something to the owner or live by the rule "snitches get stitches"? He would certainly get fired and he has a wife who cant work and three kids at home so that would bother me as much or more than his stealing. And even if I did say something I don't know how to go about it...I cant do it anonymously because I'm the only one there in the mornings with him so they would know it was from me.

In a tough spot here.

It is a tough spot for sure. Your ass is on the line in a lot of ways.
Because of inventory and other things this theft will be noticed. The "company" will be trying to locate these losses.
You might be being looked at or could be looked at for this theft, not just the other guy.
If you go straight to the owner you may be at risk for reprisals from your current "boss" for not going through the normal chain of command. Is your current boss all on the up and up or might he have something that he wouldn't want to come to lite, if things were looked into?
You definitely have to say something, but you need to be prepared that even though you are doing the right thing you might not get the outcome you would think was appropriate.
You may have to answer questions yourself about why this was not brought to lite any sooner and for how long have you known. You could very well lose your job because you didn't say anything long before now.