Plumber assistant stole from my house

unholyangel

Lrimas wrote: »

It is a very odd thing to steal and risk your career over.

Yet people do similar all the time - risk a job for small amounts. Never underestimate stupidity.

We had a staff member steal money (£50) from a locked box in full view of CCTV. The kicker being they could have asked the company for a loan or advance on their wages (and had done so before so they knew it was an option).

None of us could understand why they would choose to steal and risk their job.

Alter_ego wrote: »

Maybe he has but that's not proof.

No, but perhaps the guy was idiotic enough to flash it in front of the plumber or start wearing it to work the next day. Theres no harm in asking the plumber if either of them moved it and explaining he's been searching for it since Thursday to no avail. If the assistant did actually steal from a customer then I'm sure the plumber would want to know about it.

rach_k

You seem to be making this far more complicated that it needs to be. You have no actual proof that it was stolen - you not being able to find it is not proof - so just ask the plumber if it's possible one of them may have picked it up by mistake. It could have been knocked into an open bag, for all you know. Just ask!

You may find the plumber has had this happen before so he may realise it was the other guy. Or he may ask the guy who will 'find it' in his bag. Or it may be found in a tool box, a genuine accident. You won't know until you ask, but don't accuse because you don't have any evidence.

Jackmydad

rach_k wrote: »

You seem to be making this far more complicated that it needs to be. You have no actual proof that it was stolen - you not being able to find it is not proof - so just ask the plumber if it's possible one of them may have picked it up by mistake. It could have been knocked into an open bag, for all you know. Just ask!

You may find the plumber has had this happen before so he may realise it was the other guy. Or he may ask the guy who will 'find it' in his bag. Or it may be found in a tool box, a genuine accident. You won't know until you ask, but don't accuse because you don't have any evidence.

That's pretty well what I think. I'd have to be 100% sure it was a particular person, and that the item actually had been stolen, to make accusations. There are many, many explanations for something going missing.
As already said, an opportunistic thief could have slipped in. Friend had that happen, ran into the guy as he was going back in after going out in the garden for something. He couldn't make out how the guy had got in past him.
I was in a house where a neighbour came in through an open back door, and was rifling through the kitchen drawers.

If the aftershave was there in the open anyone could have taken it, not matter how unacceptable the OP may find that.
"Stolen" items regularly turn up elsewhere, having been moved for some reason.

I really would follow EachPenny's advice, and talk sensibly to the plumber.

Fosterdog

Why are you assuming it's the assistant and not the plumber? Or that they are both in on it? You weren't there to see it get stolen so have absolutely no way of knowing for certain exactly what happened nor who did it.

I'm with the others, the only sensible and logical thing to do is ask the plumber (in front of his assistant) if either of them moved it out of the way to keep it safe as you've searched everywhere and can't find it. If they say no to that ask if they could please check any of their tool/equipment bags and boxes in case it accidentally got knocked in.

Carrot007

Seems to me it's just as likely the assistant knocked it over and broke it and disposed of in in the hope that you would not notice.


That is to say, who knows what happened. You have no proof.


Have you have a comversation with the plumber yet? If not why not. It should go along these lines... "X has gone missing and a believe your assistant is responsible in some way. I am not comfortable having him in the house again". See what he says, be prepared that he no longer wants to work for you (again you cannot know how it will go).


Do you leave full bottles of stuff out in places where plumbers are working often? I try to empty to room as assicents happen!

EachPenny

Fosterdog wrote: »

I'm with the others, the only sensible and logical thing to do is ask the plumber (in front of his assistant) if either of them moved it out of the way to keep it safe as you've searched everywhere and can't find it. If they say no to that ask if they could please check any of their tool/equipment bags and boxes in case it accidentally got knocked in.

No, I would try and do it with the assistant out of the loop, and preferably over the phone rather than face to face.

Just speaking to the plumber on his own gives him the opportunity to say he'll talk to the assistant and get back to you - giving him time to think up a way of resolving the matter without anyone losing face.

If you ask both at the same time then it puts them on the spot and makes it more likely you'd get a defensive response.

If I were the plumber and the OP was a decent customer, then regardless of what the truth was I'd probably come back to the OP saying the assistant had broken the bottle by accident and was too embarrassed to say anything... then offer to knock the value of the aftershave (rounded up) off the bill.

Yes, it's a lie, but it is one that keeps the customer happy and avoids them (justifiably?) badmouthing my company around the local community. The cost of a bottle of aftershave is peanuts compared to the potential reputational damage otherwise.

What happens between me and the assistant subsequently is my own private business. (but suffice to say they wouldn't be working for me alone in people's houses again for a long time)

(that is assuming I (the plumber) am not the thief, which is also quite possible )

(but not 'me' in real life :A)

POPPYOSCAR

greyteam1959 wrote: »

Sounds like the OP is perhaps a bit forgetful ????
Post #7 they have known the plumber for 2 years then post #12 they have known the plumber for 1 year !!

Added to which the OP is seemingly ignoring the good advice already given and just keeps banging on about it being gone and it being missing.

paddy's_mum

I just think 'thank heavens we are not in a time 200 years ago because this poor devil would have been hanged or transported for life upon NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER!'

d0nkeyk0ng

I agree that unless you have them caught on CCTV, it's difficult to know exactly what's happened.



I had my wallet stolen from my office. CCTV showed a guy go upstairs and come down again five minutes later. No one else had been in. But the police said they couldn't do anything unless there was evidence of him going in.

thebigstillmeister

if they are coming back, get yourself a indoor security camera, put it somewhere where it can't be seen and leave something else out like a few £20's

If you see him take it then you now have some evidence on film and can also challenge him on the aftershave,

If he did steel the aftershave, surely he can't resist the easy money,