Cleaner stealing things..?

mummyoftwomonkeys

pimento wrote: »

I don't think I would ever have a cleaner. I work full time and manage to keep my four bed house clean so I'd have no trouble with a two bed flat.

that's because you are never there to make a mess lol

j.e.j.

If it is the cleaner, then what a stupid thing to do, - the cleaner would be the first person to be suspected if something goes missing. OP I think I would at least mention it to the agency, if you are reasonably sure it must be her. (You haven't had anyone else round at all? No kids, no friends/relatives?)

Also, see what the Police say. They should at least log it.

lika_86

1. Check with your husband that he hasn't moved them

2. Speak to cleaner and ask if she has moved them somewhere

3. Mention to cleaner that you're going to have to report them missing to the police if they don't turn up over the next week as you will need to do that for 'insurance purposes' and that the police may want to ask her questions to try and determine when they went missing, ask if she's ok with this

4. Give it at least a week (or however often she comes) so she has the chance to rectify it (if she has taken them, alternatively, it gives you a week to find them if you have in a pregnant moment moved them somewhere else)

5. Report them or do whatever you have to to claim on your insurance or whatever (assuming you have some)

KittyLady

My parents cleaners had a lightfingered member of staff too, they were fairly rude about being asked if they knew where things were. My stepfather caught them by setting up a camera on his savings jar.

If jewellery has gone missing, if you have picturs, might be worth doing a copy and popping past the local cash gen/ cash converters. When my MILs house was burgled, the thieves were caught when they went in and pawned her rings as they had to show id to do it and the details were passed onto the police.

dorisday

You must inform the agency that she works for that you suspect theft yours wont be the only home she is stealing from

cavework

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. Quote

As I presume you are paying her via the Agency then the first thing I would do is have a word with them. They referenced her and she is their employee
Does she do work for other clients of the agency? Have they had any other problems reported ? How long has she worked for them?

krlyr

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

For all they know, you could of thrown them in a dustbin and trying to pull a fast one to get money- not that I am suggesting you do that, but its the reality

As you could with any "lost item" claim. If insurance companies always erred on the side of caution/assumed claims were falsified, no one would bother using them for lost item claims. OP reporting it to the police to get a crime reference number would help it seem a lot more legitimate to the insurance company (probably something they'd insist on anyway)

Tippytoes

Small two bedroomed flat? Try doing your own cleaning. Completely eliminates the risk of the light-fingered.

T-Sil

Thanks so much to everyone who replied, I really do appreciate it. It's been such an upsetting day.

I have again searched everywhere, and nothing. Husband has no idea either - he hasn't done anything with the vouchers or jewellery and he said he knows me, and knows that I don't just misplace stuff like this.

I called the police to get some advice - they said I can log a formal crime of theft and list the cleaner as a suspect, then they will investigate it. I said I will speak to DH and get back to them.

I tried to call the cleaner - I was going to say I had been trying to find them all day and wondered if she has seen them etc, but she didn't answer. She has since text saying she is still at work and couldn't talk, but hope everything is ok. I don't know if contacting her is the best thing to do or not, but I can't do nothing.

I've added it up and it comes to £1800 worth of stuff, so eventually I hope I can get some back through the home insurance.

Pimento - thanks for the very helpful advice. I don't have to justify why I have a cleaner - we can afford it, we work long hours etc, but hey maybe it hasn't worked out great - at the end of the day no one is hurt, its just material stuff - trying to be positive

Thanks again all

pinkladyof66

My mother was a cleaner at a school and they had to leave their belongings in the store room (all unlocked) my mother had money go missing for ages out of her purse - altogether about £300 over a series of weeks. She was beginning to think it was just her being forgetful. etc. The other cleaner and the caretaker (husband and wife) also used the store and their daughter teenager (13) used to come and go all the time. We told our mother to mark the notes next time and she did - it came to light that the daughter was stealing my mothers money - no money was paid back nor the police contacted - my mother only earned a small amount of money each week and £300 to her was alot. i was just a child then but now thinking back my mother would have had to work hard to re coop that stolen money and now I feel a little tear to my eye now my mother is no longer here.
It is a hard scenario but if she has stolen it she shouldnt get away with it sorry but the word B1tch comes to mind. She deserves the sack