I've always thought people stealing pens is just a form of advertising which is why any company offering pens puts logos on them.

All this post makes me think of is what other commonly-stolen objects one could put advertising on.

I proudly leave my “This pen stolen from the Sloop Tavern” pen on my desk.

With that kind of marking it’s like they want me to take it!

No, there are effective methods. One is to attach a giant fake flower into it.

thankfully, locks can now be digital, so the key is now your phone or a code, which has other problems, but can't walk off in the same way

In a common area, drunk people and children sloppily doing a chore they don't want to, I should think. And depending on how grotty users of the space are, people leaving cutlery in dirty piles of crap for others to clear up, and the others don't see the hiding cutlery. The cleaners in my old university accommodation would remove dirty dishes to a box outside called the Stank Tank as it wasn't their job to do student washing up. After a month, it was binned or scavenged and a lot fancier stuff than a teaspoon was in there!

I can't say I've thrown away a spoon knowingly myself, but I have dropped cutlery in the bin once or twice. I haven't ever abandoned it but you can imagine people might if they don't value it. And based on the university, some people would happily lose a £30 pan rather than reach into the Stank Tank, so I can believe it.

I've definitely been tempted to throw away a nasty container that might have gotten forgotten in the car or at the back of the fridge and someone left cutlery inside.

The really nice stuff is only brought out at Christmas. As long as there are enough forks/spoons/etc for 8 people in the drawer for day to day use, then I don't care that much.

Dim sum wise words, mon.