Living with a roommate can be a challenge, especially when you have specific needs or habits. For one 22-year-old man with autism, his roommate’s repeated food theft had become too much to handle. After a particularly stressful day when he discovered his strawberries had been taken, he had a meltdown and decided to move out without telling his roommate.
This left his roommate panicked and potentially facing homelessness. But was the man with autism in the wrong? As he struggles with human interactions and accurately judging situations, he turned to Reddit’s AITA community for advice.
Read on to find out what they had to say about the situation and whether or not the man with autism was the a**hole.
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Struggling with rent and a thief roommate, an autistic man moves out.

Counting helps me cope with the world – person with autism

Autistic man forced to move after roommate stole his food

Roommate repeatedly steals food, causing stress for man with autism.

Roommate steals food from autistic man, causing distress and meltdown

Roommate steals food, autistic man moves out without notice

Roommate steals food, causes fallout and accusations of selfishness.

Struggling with social cues, seeking judgment for roommate’s theft

Resolving conflict with kindness and math ✌

Living with roommates with autism: challenges and successes

Don’t underestimate the power of your words, they can hurt.

Man with autism moves out after roommate repeatedly steals his food
Living with a roommate can be challenging, especially when there are different personalities and habits involved. But for one man on the autism spectrum, it was a matter of respecting his boundaries and needs. He had a tick of counting everything, including bites of food, to cope with the stimulation of the world.
His roommate agreed to not touch his food, but after a couple of months, he started stealing bites. This caused the man immense stress, and when he discovered that his container of strawberries was three short, it was the last straw. He had a meltdown, something that hadn’t happened in over four years.
He decided to move out without informing his roommate, who didn’t even realize until later. The roommate called him and called him an AH, but the man stood by his decision for the sake of his mental health.
Was he in the wrong in this situation ? Find out in the comments and reactions section.
Moving out due to food theft and disrespect is justified. NTA

OP leaves abusive situation after roommate repeatedly steals his food.

Leaving without notice was AH move but roommate’s theft was worse

Moving out after food theft: ESH but understandable

Overcoming challenges: An inspiring story of personal growth

Moving out was the right choice. NTA
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/46877b92-1712-4408-b65c-eb00f71c76a6.png)
Roommate steals food, both at fault. Moving out necessary

Roommate steals food, justified move out, ESH.

Investing in a fridge locker or keeping a small fridge?

Clear boundaries were set and crossed. NTA

Setting boundaries is tough, but NTA stood up for himself

Roommate stealing food leads to mutual lack of manners and respect. ESH.

Setting boundaries is essential for good mental health ♀️

Roommate steals food, commenter struggles to communicate and move out

Boundaries were crossed repeatedly. YTA for not giving notice.

Respecting boundaries is key. NTA for moving out

Food thief gets a taste of their own medicine

Autistic man moves out after roommate repeatedly steals his food

Standing up for yourself and paying rent without tolerating disrespect

Respect your roommate’s boundaries or face the consequences

Moving out is a tough decision. ESH but food stealing s***s

Communication is key: Both parties could have handled better ️

Roommate steals food, OP moves out, both act like a**holes

Setting boundaries is important. Moving out was the right choice.

Respecting boundaries is crucial for those on the spectrum.

Respect your roommate’s property or face the consequences

Man with autism moves out after food theft. Roommate at fault. NTA

Respect and boundaries matter, even in roommate situations.

OP moves out without telling roommate, ESH for lack of communication

Standing up to a disrespectful thief, you’re great!

Roommate steals food, man with autism moves out. Not cool.

Leaving without notice is wrong, but self-protection is important

Moving out was necessary, communication could’ve been better

Respecting boundaries is crucial, he deserved consequences. ♂️

Roommate causes meltdown, steals food – justified move out?

Commenter empathizes with OP’s situation and offers constructive criticism

Respect boundaries or face the consequences ♂️

Setting boundaries is important, but communication is key. ️

Both parties lacked respect for each other and their agreement

Respectful honesty wins. Roommate’s actions have consequences. #NotTheA**hole

Protect your food and your rights, NTA!

Stealing food? Not cool! NTA for moving out without notice.

Communication breakdown leads to food theft and ESH behavior

Roommate’s theft leads to just consequences for NTA individual.

Food thief roommate gets what he deserves.

Standing up for yourself and your needs is important ️

Last Updated on April 4, 2023 by Chifundo