Originally Posted by jayeff

To me, the "offense" itself would be just a minor irritation: my problem would be what it represents, which is dishonesty. That's one of very few lines which if people cross, gets them shut out of my life.

Although the theft itself is the obvious dishonesty, the real dishonesty is that apparently the person is unable to be honest about their life. How can you know someone (and if you don't know them, what kind of relationship can you really have?) if they find it easier to steal from you than to talk about their need to steal? How little must they think of you, to be willing to put your "relationship" at risk for the price of a hard-drive?

If this had happened and either of you had been open about it and cleared the air, okay. Maybe. But from your story, this happened long enough ago for the other person to have time to think about what was done and admit to it. That hasn't happened, so stop kidding yourself. This person isn't a significant anything: just someone who sees you as another mug.