My co-worker and best friend keeps stealing at work even after I've spoken to her - what do I do?

For many it may seem simple - just tell your boss or manager.

But for 27-year-old Tatum, it isn't.

Her best friend, Natalie, who Tatum got a job for at the popular high-end cocktail bar as a bartender only a few months after she herself was hired, has been stealing from the bar.

Tatum first learned of her friend's thieving from another employee who was kind enough to speak to her about the situation before speaking to the owner about it and told her that she had caught Natalie secretly pocketing money.

The first thing Tatum did was speak to Natalie who had explained to her that she was knee deep in debt and wasn't making enough to survive. She did however agree to stop after Tatum explained the consequences.

A few weeks later, Tatum discovered that Natalie was still stealing after her payment slips didn't add up. While she feels terrible that her best friend has resorted to stealing, she feels even worse about keeping quiet about it.

Read about her dilemma below.

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"Natalie and I have been friends for around 18 years. We grew up in the same neighborhood and attended all the same schools. Despite different looks and coming from different financial backgrounds, we're very alike.

When I say different financial backgrounds, I mean that, growing up, I had always been more well off, while she a little less fortunate. It didn't matter much as we would share everything.

Years went by and we were finally going off to varsity. While my fees had been covered by my parents, Natalie had to rely on student loans, and so money for her was always tight.

Soon I landed a bartending gig at a great bar to earn some money while I studied. At her request, I got Natalie a bartending position too.

Things were going perfectly or at least I thought they were, before I learned that Natalie was stealing from the bar. According to another of our colleagues she would sell two drinks and only ring up one and then pocket the money.

I was appalled and didn't believe it until I had seen it myself. After I had the proof, I confronted Natalie, who explained to me with eyes full of tears that she had no option, that she was wallowing in debt.

Of course I felt bad and offered to help but first made her promise to stop. A few weeks later, I find out that she is still stealing.

I feel absolutely terrible that she has had to resort to stealing to make ends meet but at the same time I feel bad for the owner who's a very nice guy and trusts us enough to not check the records.

What do I do?"

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Tatum has found herself in quite the predicament, so we contacted psychologist and relationship expert Dr David Wilson who shares the following advice with her.

"Unfortunately for Tatum there is no easy way out of this one. What her friend is doing is illegal and will have some serious implications should she get caught. Now that Tatum knows what's happening she could potentially get into trouble herself.

My first suggestion is that Tatum approach her friend one final time and tell her that should she not stop immediately, Tatum will go and tell the manager, regardless of the friendship.

It is unfair of her friend to expect her to stay quiet about something like this and so if a friendship starts to involve any illegal business, it is no longer a good friendship, Tatum shouldn't be afraid to let go.

If Tatum is unwilling to be the one to out her thieving friend, she can ask one of the other employees to do it, that way she did not directly get her friend in trouble.

While it is understandable that her friend is undergoing financial difficulties, resorting to illegal ways of obtaining money is wrong and so her actions can't be justified. For Tatum to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation, her best bet is to report the friend.

Perhaps the two can think of other ways to raise money instead," concludes Dr David.

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We hope this advice helps Tatum with her situation.

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