Thoughts and advice pls on trusted cleaner stealing money

I can understand why elderly people might keep money in the house, but not those of the OP's children's age.

I would advise against giving anyone a key to your property unless absolutely necessary. It's so easy to get copies made.

BarmyOldBat my post wasn't aimed at you or anyone in particular, it was just a general observation on the content of many threads.

Of course it's true, I have no reason to lie. I was there and you were not.

Sorry this has happened. Our trusted British cleaner of 20+ years took my hidden Barclaycard and used it at the ATM taking out £600.00. She had been through my post to get the new password which had come while I was out. The bank showed my the ctv proof. It was extremely upsetting.

We gave her the chance to explain, and gave her two weeks paid leave while we sorted it out. I had even begun to wonder if I had gone mad as I thought I had taken the money out and had forgotten!

My husband then confronted her, and she denied it so he asked for our keys back and said she could return if she could show how she had got the money.

Had we known she needed money we would have given it to her. We didn't prosecute. She had told us several years earlier that another employer in the next road (a lawyer) had 'let' her go and I wondered on reflection if it was for a similar reason. We also think that small amounts of money had gone plus cat food, sweets, etc, over several years. All extremely upsetting.

Sorry, my 'muddled thinking' comment wasn't meant to be connected to what I said about the marked notes.
It was about the comments saying to have a chat with her, not to tell their friends, getting the police is OTT, just make an excuse to sack her etc.

You can keep cash safe in the house .We bought a lovely safe for Just under £110.00 and my dh fitted to a solid wall.We av a key each and make sure there hidden and it opens with a code that only we and our son no .

Good idea Helmsley444

We don't keep much money in the house, only enough to pay the window cleaner etc, but I know that some people have to for whatever reason.

How awful NickD

Perhaps an ornament or toy with hidden camera inside? Those devices have caught many a thief.

You've excellent posted advice but, I'd still (confidentially) deploy the camera toy.

If your family have more housekeeping help, it won't be a
waste of money.

Thank you Anya, I must admitt I was feeling pretty fagile when I posted my comment, so I am sorry

Then have a (((hug))) from me and hope you're feeling a bit stouter now Barmyoldbat

This is so hard. There is a very fine line between giving someone the benefit of the doubt and collusion through doing nothing.

I went to the police when we had a similar problem. They were brilliant.
The thief owned up to taking about £400 which I got back in small monthly instalments.
He presumably has a record now. He is still quite a young man so don't know how it has impacted on his life and I don't care.

Don't leave large amounts of money in the house when you are not there. Don't leave credit cards about. The number of people I have seen going walking and leaving their bags in the car is dreadful. At least take your purse with you.

NickyD47 Glad you have things in hand and will await the outcome. It's good the police came. As others have said, resources are stretched, but this is serious. And others' stories also help to put things into perspective.

barmy That must have been so difficult to have to do when it's your own family.

barmy - I know how hard it is. When my present husband and his daughter moved in with us (me + 3 children) I noticed money missing from my purse a few times, I kept it in a kitchen drawer. One day I caught my stepdaughter redhanded, rebuked her, and kept my purse elsewhere after that. She was about 12 at the time. I can still visualise it.
It taught me a lesson I never forgot. I hope she didn't either.
But there were other re-adjustment problems going on at the time, this was just one of them.
We get on fine now, nearly 40 years later. I wonder if she remembers?

I just want to add, I don't agree with reporting this to the police. It will give the accused a criminal record and they will probably never be employed again. Does it really serve them right, for a moments weakness with great temptation?
There are other ways to sort it out, person to person.
The husband of a friend here was accused of assault by another english neighbour, female. A very bitter person, who later retracted the accusation.
But he was taken to the police station, finger printed, had to make a statement etc. He's a very kindly man, now regarded as a potential criminal.

Great temptation?
The money was at the back of a drawer. She must have been having a thorough snoop around.

And, if I remember correctly, this wasn't a 'one off' but money has been going missing for some time.

OK - difference of opinion. As I said earlier, I'm in the minority on this.

Well, it's resolved but not well. The police came and said they could do nothing without proof, but I don't think they clarified the proof they would need.
Don't ask me why, but instead of setting up a camera, my DS called the cleaner to give her the chance of owning up- of course she didn't. Very aggressive. So that's it. They and all their friends they had recommended her to have sacked her, but she also works for an agency run by another Rumanian and probably has other clients too.
My DS and DIL are having their locks changed and investigating burglar alarm systems as they are afraid of retaliation by her 'friends'.
As I said previously, there is absolutely no doubt that she took the money.
So, I guess the lesson is take care who you trust.

I hope that you have reported your suspicions to the agency. They may be her Rumanian friends, but they can't afford to employ someone who can't be trusted, it would damage their own reputation.

I suggest you get in touch with the Police and ask for their advice. How absolutely horrible. I had my car broken into on Friday evening and spare cash which I had in there stolen, husband's car all a mess too, but nothin stolen. Whoever it was rifled through everything in the cars looking for cash. I emailed the PCSO for my area about it as I was worried we would be burgled the next evening or worse. I found out two other cars in the area also burgled. I would sack the woman immediately personally. It is sickening.

Do not speak to her about it at all. Contact the police, they will ad vise you the correct way to move forward. Any action by yourselves may affect any case the police may make. There is a good chance that you are not the only one she is stealing from. We had a similar instance when I worked for a day center, one of our guests thought she a victim of theft. The police found several other elderly people this person was stealing from, running into many 1000's of pounds.

Too late now - see the OP's post of 11.42!

TriciaF So... if you don't think £600 is enough to warrant police involvement, how much money will a thief need to steal from someone's home (where it's well-hidden and they had to snoop for it) before you believe the police should be involved?