Cleaner stealing things..?

T-Sil

Hi

Wasn't sure where to put this, but hoping for some advice here.

I've had a cleaner for a couple of months now, I met her and went through an agency that get references etc, but I think she has stolen some things and I don't know what to do.

She is my age, 28 and there was one occasion where I was home whilst she was here so I got chatting to her a bit. She had just moved into her own flat with her boyfriend but seemed really nice and I felt like I trusted her.

The a baking tray went missing - strange I know - but it was an expensive one and it didn't make sense that something like that would go missing.

Now I can't find £400 worth of John Lewis vouchers we got for our wedding a couple of months ago. I am 99% sure they were in my bedside cabinet, now I can't find them anywhere.

Then this morning, I thought about some jewellery I also had in my bed side cabinet, went to look for it and it's gone. Now I KNOW I haven't moved this.

It was my great aunts engagement ring from 1961 worth £800, and a ring belonging to my mother.

I don't know what to do...I have no proof obviously, but there is no other explanation. I live with my DH and we rarely have visitors as we don't live near family.

I am so upset. We have a baby on the way and the vouchers were going to buy the cot etc.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks

thatgirlsam

If you are 100% sure they have been stolen you are going to have to report it to the police I think

thegirlintheattic

How about one of those hidden cameras to see if you can catch her? or leave the laptop on with the screen off with the webcam streaming.

I'd go to the police so at least you'll be able to claim on the insurance.

It's worrying as we are considering getting a cleaner and my biggest fear is that they will steal.

Antimony

I think if I was 100% certain (but with no proof) I'd set her up to get the proof.

The strange thing is - unless she's really stupid - is if she is stealing, then she must know (from your lifestyle) that she will be immediately suspected.

T-Sil

How can I be 100% sure though? I mean, I know they were there and now they aren't, but I don't know how I can prove it?

We have been redecorating, so things have been a bit all over the place for a few weeks so with regards to the vouchers I thought they might turn up once we put everything back to normal, but they haven't. You then start doubting yourself...thinking, were they there...have I put them somewhere etc?

She is supposed to come tomorrow, I suppose I should ring the agency - but do I tell them what I think has happened?

Argh!

thatgirlsam

Will the vouchers be traceable? If you know who bought them for you would there be a code on them, maybe you could ask John Lewis if they have been spent??

thatgirlsam

T-Sil wrote: »

How can I be 100% sure though? I mean, I know they were there and now they aren't, but I don't know how I can prove it?

We have been redecorating, so things have been a bit all over the place for a few weeks so with regards to the vouchers I thought they might turn up once we put everything back to normal, but they haven't. You then start doubting yourself...thinking, were they there...have I put them somewhere etc?

She is supposed to come tomorrow, I suppose I should ring the agency - but do I tell them what I think has happened?

Argh!

I would say that you can't have a cleaner tomorrow, somethings come up.. illness/family commitment whatever, until you know what you're doing

T-Sil

Antimony wrote: »

I think if I was 100% certain (but with no proof) I'd set her up to get the proof.

The strange thing is - unless she's really stupid - is if she is stealing, then she must know (from your lifestyle) that she will be immediately suspected.

Exactly! We live in a small 2 bed flat - she must know that I would suspect. Especially with the vouchers, she could have taken out £50 worth and I wouldn't have known for ages.

What a nightmare, I feel sick!

mummybearx

I would ask this girl if she had moved/saw/touched your vourchers and jewellery.

Make a point of saying that you know exactly where they were left, and that if things don't turn up you will have to contact the police.

Give it a few days to see if they magically turn up again. If not, I really would contact the police.

Don't think for a minute that you are the bad person for reporting this. If she didn't take them, then she might know where they are. If she did take them, then you have to do something to get them back

x

T-Sil

thatgirlsam wrote: »

Will the vouchers be traceable? If you know who bought them for you would there be a code on them, maybe you could ask John Lewis if they have been spent??

That's not a bad idea. They were from quite a few people, and I bunched them altogether but I think about £300 of them were from my sports team mates, so maybe one of them bought them in one go.
I will look into that, thank you!

fluffnutter

Antimony wrote: »

I think if I was 100% certain (but with no proof) I'd set her up to get the proof.

The strange thing is - unless she's really stupid - is if she is stealing, then she must know (from your lifestyle) that she will be immediately suspected.

Perhaps she's relying on the fact that proof will be very difficult to come by. If she has stolen, but sticks to her story, i.e. 'it wasn't me' realistically it can't go any further.

If it's easy to do, it might be an idea to try to get proof. I can't see an obvious way of doing this though unless a fairly elaborate webcam that can be left unattended is rigged up somewhere inconspicuous. Alternatively, it's not proof as such, but the OP could try leaving something tempting somewhere, check that it's there just before the cleaner comes round, then check immediately afterwards. If it's gone and she was the only person in the house, bingo.

Armed with such knowledge, I'd then go to the police and let them deal with it. Hopefully she'd admit everything under questioning.

That's supposing it's her of course...