How many paper clips are stolen from a workplace per day?

I don't think they are stolen; rather they are like socks in the dryer. They tend to connect to other pieces of paper than the one intended. In every place I have ever worked, there are large caches of excess clips. If you are running short, check with the people you send clipped pages to--chances they have plenty to share.

In fact, paper clips come and go. You send some and another person will send you also clipped papers. I think of paper clips as coins, they move around, give some, receive some.

I haven't bought paper clips for my office in over 15 years. I get them from my bank for free. Almost every deposit they get has a paper clip attached and they are happy to save them and have them recycled.