There are plenty of workplace issues that can cross legal boundaries, and in the United States the theft of a delicious gelatine-based treat is now one of them.

An employee of the Wakefern Food Corporation in Pennsylvania called the police after someone in the office stole his jelly.

It was not the first such occurrence according to reports from the victim, who became furious when “an unknown person stole his Jell-O brand strawberry Jell-O snack from the break room refrigerator,” local media said.

Police forces responded to the heist of the semi-viscous treat, but were unable to catch the perpetrator before the evidence was consumed.

Australian corporate etiquette trainer Lizzie Wagner told one reporter: “There are no clear defined boundaries between colleagues and if you’re really buddy-buddy with X, Y and Z and they take your jellies, it’s probably because they felt it was okay.”

The most common technique to combat food theft in the workplace is the classic passive-aggressive note left in the kitchen, but experts say when the bill for pinched food gets too high – security cameras could be considered.