A college student attending a university in Texas recently went viral on TikTok after sharing his strategy to catch the person who had been stealing his food deliveries. The student, known on TikTok as @ethanphamtastic, had become frustrated with the constant theft of his food orders, leading him to take matters into his own hands.
In his first video, @ethanphamtastic shared how he ordered food, left it at the entrance of his dormitory, and returned to find it had disappeared. Believing someone was intercepting his delivery, he concocted a sneaky plan to catch the culprit. He ordered vegetables instead of his usual meal, filled a Chipotle bag with fake vegetables, and set up a hidden camera to record the person who took the bait.
Although the thief took the fake vegetables, @ethanphamtastic was unable to catch them in the act. Despite the setback, his video went viral, with over 1.6 million views and attention from news outlets like Delishably and The Daily Dot.
After the initial video’s success, @ethanphamtastic created a new bait bag filled with trash and a meme. He left it at the designated delivery spot and again set up his hidden camera, hoping to catch the thief in the act. While he has yet to capture the culprit, @ethanphamtastic’s videos have attracted attention and suggestions from viewers on how to catch the thief.
Some of the suggestions from viewers include using an Apple AirTag to track the bag’s location or setting up a glitter bomb to reveal the thief’s identity. Other viewers suggest waiting in the dormitory lobby to catch the thief or using a different bait, such as a decoy camera.
@ethanphamtastic’s videos have gained him over 250,000 followers on TikTok, and his followers are eagerly waiting for updates on the search for the food thief. While the situation may seem like a lighthearted college prank, the theft of food deliveries is a serious issue that affects many people. According to a study by US Foods, almost 30% of Americans have had food delivered to their home or workplace, and nearly one in four has had it stolen.
In the end, the story of @ethanphamtastic’s search for the food thief is a reminder of the importance of respect for other people’s property. While it may seem like a harmless prank, stealing someone’s food delivery can have real consequences, leaving the victim hungry and out of pocket. With the help of his followers, @ethanphamtastic hopes to discourage the thief and prevent future thefts. The story also highlights the power of social media to bring attention to important issues and the creativity of individuals to address problems in innovative ways.
