The survey, titled "Office Kleptomania," was conducted in June 2006 of more than 2,200 workers, including 1,000 hiring managers.

Office supplies topped the list of hot loot with 15 percent of hiring managers stating employees were most often caught red-handed with these items. Money came in second at 14 percent and merchandise placed third at 11 percent.

Breakrooms, co-workers' cubicles and even the first aid kit were also designated targets for five-finger discounts. Popular items include co-workers' belongings, computer or phone equipment, office decor (including paintings and plants), coffee packets, tea bags and condiments, toilet paper, Band-Aids, confidential files, and faxing or shipping services for personal use.

Comparing various industries, Healthcare, IT and Manufacturing had the highest amount of workers own up to engaging in office theft, while Retail, Sales and Hospitality had the lowest.

Company reprimands for office thievery varied. Although 45 percent of hiring managers said they would automatically terminate someone for stealing from the company, 48 percent said it would depend on the object and situation. Seven percent said they would not fire the culprit.

"Whether it is worker dissatisfaction, a sense of entitlement, the thrill of the steal or some other reason, this behavior communicates a lack of shared values with the company," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at Careerbuilder.com. "Companies need to establish clear guidelines for employees and take proper measures if employee trust is violated."