Last week, I ordered food from a restaurant and went to go pick it up. To my surprise, there was nobody at the counter. However, my food was sitting on a shelf in the lobby, labeled “mobile orders”.

I had a moment of pause. Should I wait for someone to witness me taking this? It is, after all, my food. Bought and paid for. I confirmed the name and order number on the bag.

But even if the employee witnessed me taking this, what would that prove? They don’t know what the person who ordered this looks like.

When the pandemic started, and these popped up everywhere, I imagined they’d be abandoned relatively quickly. After all, it would be very easy for me to walk into a restaurant and grab a bag.

I’d imagine these companies would have a very low tolerance for food theft, intentional or otherwise. I figured only one or two transgressions would result in the shelf being locked behind the counter.

Maybe the food isn’t taken. Or if it is, maybe the loss is small enough to not bother. Maybe it goes unreported.

Whatever the cause, I’m glad they’ve remained.