Gransnet forums

Legal, pensions and money

Thoughts and advice pls on trusted cleaner stealing money

(136 Posts)
NickyD47 Fri 18-Nov-16 10:29:12

My DS & DIL have discovered their cleaner has been stealing money from them. About £600. They checked before and after she came yesterday and another £100 had gone. They are so sad, as she has a daughter at home in Rumania and they have recommended her to several friends who she now works for too. I think they must go to the police but my DIL feels they should tell her they know, warn their friends and ask if she can pay it back. But I, my DH & son say what about those she might work for in the future? And what if she just Denies it. Tricky moral situation. Welcome some advice.

gettingonabit Wed 23-Nov-16 13:53:51

But lewlew, the OP has no proof that any money at all has gone missing. What can the police actually do in these circumstances, other than advise?

Elegran Wed 23-Nov-16 14:07:52

But at least it has now been reported to the police. An accumulation of these "unproved" reports from various different sources would add up to a conclusion of "This woman should be watched" while not reporting them would have left her as a "trusted cleaner" with access to other money hidden away at the back of a drawer. The agency also knowing about it means that she will not be sent to anyone else (not by them, anyway, if they have any conscience)

Anya Wed 23-Nov-16 14:24:46

Wobblybits sounds like our boys (and girls?) in blue were totally useless as per usual.

Anya Wed 23-Nov-16 14:26:47

gettingonabit as has been mentioned earlier on this thread, they could have set up,a camera. They didn't choose to do anything except pass the buck.

gettingonabit Wed 23-Nov-16 14:53:08

Well obviously police resources didn't stretch that far on this occasion, anya.

TriciaF Wed 23-Nov-16 14:58:02

LewLew - The victims should take some responsibility in this.
As I've already said, NEVER leave money in the house when someone is working there unsupervised.
Also (something else no doubt people won't agree with) very few people, if any, can be trusted 100% when it comes to money.

Ana Wed 23-Nov-16 15:01:19

shock!

Elegran Wed 23-Nov-16 15:09:25

Carers, cleaners, bank tellers, shop assistants, charity shop volunteers, church collection elders - all of them on the take, Tricia? It is amazing that there is any money in the entire country that is in the pockets it should be in!

You must have had some really nasty experiences to say that! I don't fancy your circle of friends.

TriciaF Wed 23-Nov-16 16:23:02

I meant a much broader subject - what about tax evasion and avoidance, working on the black, fiddling expenses, various kinds of fraud, big or small, breach of copyright etc. They're all to do with money and theft.
What's different with a cleaner stealing (or a family member) is the feeling of hurt and betrayal that comes with it. The police can't help you with that.
I would have no hesitation to go to the police if we were burgled, or mugged, or had the car stolen ( all have happened to us a few times.)
And a couple of times I've come across a supermarket bill which was suspiciously high.

Ana Wed 23-Nov-16 16:27:21

There may have been a mistake on a supermarket bill (although most items are bar-coded these days), but there's no way an employee could gain from overcharging you.

The amount on the bill will have to agree with the amount in the till.