"It was just a joke! Can't you take a joke?"

[The Mystery Machine]

Not sure what I would do in your situation.

Frankly what he did was not a "joke" and to be honest Jennasis does make a good point. You never know about people.

Very odd that he would do this to you, knowing you were robbed last month. I would consider that "malice" on his part.

 

[okeydokey]

What upset me so much, was that HE KNEW I'D BEEN BURGLARIZED. He continued to taunt me with little facts about me.

If I hadn't figured out that it was him, I would have sent all the texts to the police, as a follow-up to the burglary. Three houses on my street were robbed within a few days. The police want us to report anything suspicious. Until I realized who it was, I thought this was someone with my stolen laptop.

He could be facing a policeman today, asking him if he knows anything about the robberies.

It is actually too bad that you didn't call the police. Then he would have known not to do that in the future. What a jerk.

 

[Minnesota!]

It was a dumb thing to do, but no I would not file harassment charges. If I previously had a good relationship with the person I wouldn't contact HR or anything. I would just talk to the co-worker. But that's me.

I may be mistaken but I would think it would have to be more than a one time thing to even be considered harassment.

I agree!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'd be PISSED if he did that to me. Furious!

He took it way too far. I'd like to say i'd report it to HR, but it all depends on the relationship I had with the guy. Either way, its incredibly creepy how far he took this. I'd be tempted to do something.

 

[MrsDuck]

I wouldn't report it to HR but I would've called the police when it was all happening! At this point, I'd just stop being friends with him and leave it at that.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I may be mistaken but I would think it would have to be more than a one time thing to even be considered harassment.

Thats incorrect. It doesnt have to be more than once to be considered harassment. It can happen just one time and your complaint would be valid.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Do you have repeated problems with this coworker or a generally good relationship? If the latter, I'd simply let him know how much the texts bothered you. And then let it drop. If he repeats, THEN go to HR. I would assume he was just trying to prank you, but did so in very poor taste.

However, if the former, yes, I'd have a conversation with him about how you didn't appreciate the "joke", AND submit (at least) an email to HR.

I agree with this.

Is there a chance HE is the one who burglarized your home? Stranger things have happened. You should tell him "Oh MAN, that wasn't smart. I was so freaked out about the texts, what with the burglary and all that I sent everything to the detective handling the case...so you'll probably be getting a call/visit from him."

Turn the tables.

Oh wait, this is great!!

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

I didn't get home from work until 8 pm. And I was too mad to anything last night, I wanted to cool down. I'm cooler this morning.

He sent me a Facebook message around midnight, when I finally was asleep, apologizing. I unfriended him this morning, that is all so far.

Off to work, where yes, he'll be there, along with possibly 2 other co-workers, who advised me last night to call the police, and now know it was him, joking!!

So, it's not just between me and him. I'd also told other co-workers that I was getting worrisome texts, to get their advice, who will want to know if I called the police yet. Word will spread through the office. I didn't mention his name, but if I say, "Oh, it was an a*****e joker, just teasing me," they'll very quickly put 2 and 2 together. He has a reputation.

 

[gwynne]

Is there a chance HE is the one who burglarized your home? Stranger things have happened. You should tell him "Oh MAN, that wasn't smart. I was so freaked out about the texts, what with the burglary and all that I sent everything to the detective handling the case...so you'll probably be getting a call/visit from him."

Turn the tables.

I agree with this. I'm assuming OP actually filed a police report, is that right? I don't think it's really OP's job to "assess" whether their co-worker is playing a joke or not. Generally speaking, police count on crime victims to be truthful with them, especially about any and all leads.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

We filed a police report last month, at the time of the robbery. A few follow-up calls, as we discovered other missing items. That's it so far.

 

[Bob NC]

The guy was playing a prank. It was stupid of him to do it, but I would guess it was just a stupid prank.

Yes. he knew about your burglary but I would guess he never connected the two things. I bet the burglary wasn't even in his mind when he was doing this.

Terrorizing you? I highly doubt it.

In your mind you connected the robbery with the texts, when in actuality there is no connection. If you never had the burglary I bet you would not be so angry.

Hey, we all do stupid things, he did one. I don't see a reason to call HR and the police.

As a matter of fact, if you do call HR you all might as well be prepared to have a NO CELL PHONES rule starting any day now.

 

[gwynne]

We filed a police report last month, at the time of the robbery. A few follow-up calls, as we discovered other missing items. That's it so far.

It sounds like you have the name and contact number of someone in the PD. You certainly can tell the police you think it's a "joke", but you wanted to let them know about it.

Personally, I'd be very careful to dot my i's and cross my t's when dealing with anything like a police report or possible settlements from my insurance. Being sure you've been fully truthful is probably in your best interest. JMO-YMMV

 

[Planogirl]

If you believe that he is truly sorry then I would let it go. It sounds like he got carried away with a dumb prank but I wouldn't pursue it unless you believe that he didn't learn his lesson.

 

[marybet]

He crossed the line from a practical joke to terrorizing you. I'd report it to HR. You'd be doing everyone at work a big favor. He needs to get the message NOW, at this stage of his life, that all "practical jokes" are not funny and that he must use more common sense. If he doesn't HAVE any common sense, and it seems he does not, a chat with HR will likely sober him up and teach him to contain his "humor'. Seriously, he must get the message that this should NEVER happen again with you or anyone else. Otherwise, he's probably going to do something just as despicable again.

This is great advice. Telling him off yourself will have little affect, practical jokers think everything is a joke so he will just laugh at what you say.

I think you made a mistake in not calling the police last night considering he knew you were upset and yet he continued the "joke". I don't understand all the posters who don't seem to realize the true mindset of practical jokers.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'd report it to HR. all he will get is a note in his file and some harassment training. But he needs a wake-up call. That was not just a joke. That was a sadistic joke at your expense.

 

[okeydokey]

The guy was playing a prank. It was stupid of him to do it, but I would guess it was just a stupid prank.

Yes. he knew about your burglary but I would guess he never connected the two things. I bet the burglary wasn't even in his mind when he was doing this.

Terrorizing you? I highly doubt it.

In your mind you connected the robbery with the texts, when in actuality there is no connection. If you never had the burglary I bet you would not be so angry.

Hey, we all do stupid things, he did one. I don't see a reason to call HR and the police.

As a matter of fact, if you do call HR you all might as well be prepared to have a NO CELL PHONES rule starting any day now.

He did know about the burglary and that the OP was very afraid. He continued to play the prank. The OP says:

Meanwhile, a co-worker came over to chat. I told him about the texts, and that I'd been robbed and was scared that the person was phishing. Other people told me to call the police, to report it.

The texts started getting more specific. The unknown person knew my description, where I work, etc. I was afraid now. The person who'd stolen my laptop, was using information in it to stalk me!

Finally, the person said that he knew my position at work, even when I took my lunch. That was enough. Only my co-workers would know that! I realized that the co-worker who'd come over to chat, who also takes his lunch the same time, and loves playing practical jokes, was texting me from his cubicle, only 20 feet away, and out of my sight.

 

[Bearybear]

Regardless of what type of relationship you have with him, contact HR. His behavior is extremely unprofessional and deserves at the least a reprimand. He needs to understand that kind of joke is unacceptable to play on coworkers.

 

[TinkerBelled]

He did know about the burglary and that the OP was very afraid. He continued to play the prank. The OP says:

Meanwhile, a co-worker came over to chat. I told him about the texts, and that I'd been robbed and was scared that the person was phishing. Other people told me to call the police, to report it.

The texts started getting more specific. The unknown person knew my description, where I work, etc. I was afraid now. The person who'd stolen my laptop, was using information in it to stalk me!

Finally, the person said that he knew my position at work, even when I took my lunch. That was enough. Only my co-workers would know that! I realized that the co-worker who'd come over to chat, who also takes his lunch the same time, and loves playing practical jokes, was texting me from his cubicle, only 20 feet away, and out of my sight.

Yes--this to me is where he crossed the line completely. After a coworker tells you that she's afraid the texter is the same person as the burglar and that it's making her scared, that's when you should fess up--or at the very, very least not escalate. Up until that point, I think it's dumb and a little mean but mostly just stupid. After that point, I think it's pretty inexcusable.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

Well, another co-worker told our supervisor about it this morning. I discussed it with her, she read all the texts.

She-I understand-reamed him out, in private, after promising me she would. I wrote up a statement, without going into much detail, explaining how the texts described my place of employment, my hair color, that I became afraid and how I eventually realized it was him.

I think she may suspend him for a few days. And there is a report on file, in case he ever does anything like this again, to show and use against him.

 

[HM]

Excellent. Thanks for the follow-up. Too bad it wasn't you instead of a coworker reporting him though.