Thoughts and advice pls on trusted cleaner stealing money

They can say they know about the theft if they have evidence of her doing it but they have no evidence of the other thefts so they can't ask for that money back.

If they don't have evidence and don't go to the police, could she sue them for wrongful dismissal if they say that is why they are dismissing her, especially if they tell their friends and she looses those jobs. Just think if someone wrongly accused your daughter at work of wrong doing and dismissed her and told everyone and they had no proper evidence. I am sure she would be at a wrongful dismissal tribunal plus sueing for character deformation.

Next problem do they employ her, that is pay her national insurance etc or is it just cash in hand. Are they illegally employing her. Is she self employed as many cleaners are and does she give them a receipt. Is she claiming benefits and working. As a self employed person she can still receive some benefits.

I think the best action is to give her notice saying you don't need her anymore and tell your friends you are always careful not to leave money around when employing someone in the house. Finally buy a small wall safe for valuables.

Third paragraph should have said "Someone who perhaps is in the habit of hiding money away and forgetting where it is"

I don't think you have read the posts above, Teddy123 Theft is theft, and it is addictive.

The gain from going to the police is not for the person who has been robbed, it is for those who WILL be robbed if they just take away the pay she is getting for cleaning THEIR house so that she goes elswhere and cleans the house of someone else - who doesn't know about her taking ways.

Someone who perhaps is in

Someone who trusts her to take them to an ATM to help draw out more because they can't find the cash they hid (and don't want to let their family think that they are getting forgetful).

Someone whose bank account could be stripped cleaner than their kitchen floor.

Trusted cleaner my eye! Untrustworthy conwoman more like.

My parents who were in their 90s, had a cleaner who they thought the world of. We discovered that she was stealing from them but knew it would break their hearts to know. We contacted the agency and explained and they dealt with it. We told my parents that the agency had put their fees up too much and I did the cleaning myself

I wouldn't 'confront' her as such ....
Simply sack her. It's bad enough when someone you trust does this but what's to be gained by a confrontation. Even more upsetting.

A valuable lesson .... Money is the root of all evil. It's happened to me in the past and despite how generous you are, just don't trust any paid help!

May sound harsh but sadly it's true.
If any 'workers' are in the house I make sure my bag is well hidden away and any serious cash is in the safe. I don't even leave my good jewellery laying around!

Horrible isn't it ..... And I do feel for you. Human nature can be very disappointing ...

Cant believe you are asking for advice! and that you are even saying she is a trusted cleaner!
She is a thief and has to be reported to the police.

Going to the police is OTT? DH and I are laughing our socks off at some of the responses on here.

Read the OP....She has stolen £600

What do you think the police are for?

I'd confront her after setting a trap and making absolutely sure it's her. Tell her you know-or strongly suspect-that she has taken other sums of money. Sack her, and warn your friends. Ask her for the money to be paid back.

I think going to the police is OTT.

Take lionpops advice. Don't guess what to do, ask the right people, the police.
The daughter may not exist so ignore that. We were conned out of only £5 by a woman in distress & didn't report it. turnwd out she was a serial offender & ended up with a prison sentence. My DiL abroad has just diacovered a 'cleaner' & taxi driver were taking her Dad (who lives a long way from them) to an ATM every week, probably with his 'agreement', & vast amounts have been drawn out. She a) stopped the money being taken out (not easy without power of attorney, but did it), b) got him a safe place nearto them, c) went to an Attorney & police. It will be interesting to see how the German police handle it.

Thank goodness for lionpop's straightforward response. I was beginning to despair of this thread.

Having a meeting? Asking her if she has any problems? She's a THIEF.

Deal with it before she moves on to somebody else.

Report her to the police and sack her. Also tell everyone else she works for

What a sad story - I think a trap needs to be set and the police advised, but they need to point out that they know about her theft and give her a chance to pay it back. Above all, they must tell her other employers.

I think you have to somehow catch her, and report her. If not she will just go on doing it elsewhere.
Older people with any degree of dementia are particularly vulnerable, since they often have a habit of hiding cash away anyway - often quite large amounts in the most weird places - and it's all too easy to blame any money going missing on that kind of behaviour.
A colleague found over £2000 hidden away in very odd places while clearing an old uncle's flat after he died (he'd had mild dementia).

If they let her go then she'll do it to some other family. Gather evidence and go to the police.

Set up a video camera and record her (maybe not leave £100 but £10 in a top drawer). If she takes it, ask her for a meeting. Ask if everything is ok? She happy working for them? Any problems etc? (giving her the opportunity to confess).

If nothing then show her the evidence. Tell her you know she has taken more than just the £10 and WILL go to the police UNLESS she pays the money back. ALL OF IT.

She'll likely cry, say she's never done anything like that before etc or she'll get angry (so have a few people there).

If she agrees to pay it back then dismiss her and warn your friends. If she storms out or doesn't agree to pay back then go straight to the police with the evidence. Explain that you suspected her of taking the money and have proof that it is indeed her. That the money wasn't just lying there but in a drawer so she didn't just happen to think it had been left for her or found it on the floor etc and "forgot" to tell you about it.

Good luck

Webcam and police to me is the answer , it will hopefully make her think twice about doing it again, also my disabled daughter has to keep some money in the house and has bought a small safe that she locks the money in as she has carers and people coming and going.

You contact the crime prevention officer at your local police station and they will arrange for a camera to be installed. You can not speak to the cleaner she will deny it or give some sob story. If you sack her before you have the evidence she will just go on to steal from other vulnerable people.
I give this advice as a retired police officer.

that kind of person sees kindness as a weakness,to be exploited. you need to inform the police ASAP. otherwise itll continue and escalate . once proven itd be very nice to spread the word this womans a common thief

We had a very similar situation with my Dad, after my Mum died, and he was vulnerable and lonely.

When we were sure something untoward was happening... and he wouldn't have a word said against the "lady" who was doing it... I called the local police.

I explained the situation and they were great. The "lady" and indeed her entire family were well known to the police.

And yet... and this is what baffles me... she came to my Dad having been recommended by the local authorities !

You could put a small mark on the money with a coloured felt tip pen then take photos of it and the date will be in the picture taken. Then next time she comes leave the house for a while but come back before she's due to finish, then go in drawer count money where she can't see you doing it,if some is missing confront her then you have proof it's yours.As the picture will match money that she has taken. Cheaper than web cam etc.Think your daughter has got to toughen up, this thief has no loyalty to her she sees her as a bank. I've had times in my life where I've struggled financially I would never dream of taking money from someone more fortunate than me. And so what if she has a daughter in Romania, thats no excuse, go back home and take care of her then.

I'm staggered that they're wondering what to do. Their "trusted cleaner" is a repeat offence thief. Get proof and call the Police in...

Don't wait to prove anything, just get rid of her. The cleaner can't be trusted anymore. Cut your losses, tell your friends and it's up to them whether they want to sack her, or not. I've been in that situation and I know it's not pleasant, especially if you've been kind to them.

I hate to say this gardenman, but the story does not ring true. If it were, when you presented your cheque to the wardmanager, she would not have pursued it in this manner, given the likelihood of it being discovered that she had acted against the rules. More than likely, she would have said that she would manage the situation herself.

This can happen with carers who come into the home every day as well. My Aunt had money disappearing - small amounts though as she never kept lot in her flat. But the biggest thing happened when she was away for some respite care, and all her jewellery was stolen from her flat, and it wasn't a forced entry. The police got involved but nothing could be proved, but there was a strong suspicion that the Janitor was involved as well.

She is a horrible person to be doing that to people who trust her. Get rid of her and don't be shy about telling other people who use her services, imagine how upset you would be, if you found out that other people had the same experience and hadn't told you.

What difference does it make where her daughter is? What makes any of this acceptable?

Get a camera and get rid of her. She could be stealing your identity next and you could lose far more than a few quid from the back of a drawer.