I think my house keepers are stealing.

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2012

    Even scarier?!?!? Hiring a two person cleaning crew (two ladies), were very dependable and I truested both of them. At the time, my youngest was about 3-4 months old (he's 7 now).

    I come home from work and walk up the stairs (on cleaning day)... And walk into the nursery. A woman (foreign, speaks no English) is rocking my baby (nanny was outside with 3 year old). I take the baby and go to the other cleaning lady and ask who she is...she doesn't even know her last name! Her regular partner quit and she found this one from a friend. Didn't know her name, her address, nothing! I was so mad! I told her: I interviewed you, checked your references, had you get a police clearance, explaining to you it was because I have small children and you bring a stranger into my house that you couldn't even get the last name of??? Oh, there was hell to pay that day.

    We now have a retired husband and wife, they're wonderful....

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2012

    I told my husband. He is going to pick up a drawer safe that is top opening where I can conveniently put my meds. He is also get a 2 or 3 cubic ft safe that has bold down prop on the bottom and a harded plate on the fron. That is for my silver and my jewelry as well as passports, legal documents.  Cameras, lenses, binoculars.  He had some money in the house in his office in an unlocked, lock box. That will also change. The girls never cleaned his office said it was too cluttered. Thank good ness because that would have been a big temptation.   

    I think your position Lizzie of just locking everything up is a good one for the purposes of what we have here. 

    I like two of this team and even the girl who was into the drawers. I need an approach because Lizzie is right another team culd be the same or worse.  I will need to think some more on this. My main team was in a serious car accident in December and won't be back for some time.

    An old friend was in the military and living in a leased house in SE Asia pre our involvement over there. They slept on the second floor locking the door behind them. When they got up in the morning the fist floor was empty.  just an anecdote, no comparision.

    Further feedback is most welcome, I need to deal with, I need to feel safe, I don't want a gun, I want peace of mind. 

    GInger

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  • msippiqueen
    msippiqueen Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2012

    Oh I love the red staining powder idea! Great tip.



    Call the police as apple and others suggested. Let them handle the issue and send a message to the thieves and their friends that you will investigate and prosecute. They know that you know, and have become very brazen. I fear how brazen they may get. Call the cops.



    Newish addicts can look like your best friend till progression of addiction takes a bigger toll.



    Perscription drugs are the drug of choice for any addict that can get their hands on them. A nurse manager told me 30 hrs ago; "Never trust ANYONE with narcotics" really good advice. This includes homecare personnel. Lovely children/grandkids. Literally anybody.

    Edit: 30 years ago, rather than hrs, lol

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  • LittleMelons
    LittleMelons Member Posts: 273
    edited February 2012

    Gingerbrew - If you don't want direct confrontation with these people, I would tell the crew in an unaccusing manner that you have heard about some thefts in the area, so have installed hidden cameras in various locations throughout the house. You think it is only fair that they know.  Just knowing that there are cameras around will be a huge deterrent.  I personally would actually get some cameras, both hidden and visible, so that you have can get some evidence in case something  is taken in the future.  I would also get a safe as you have mentioned.

     Do you have a home alarm system?  That would add an extra layer of security.

     Good luck!  It must make you feel very uncomfortable being in the house with people you feel are stealing from you.

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  • BikerBabe1
    BikerBabe1 Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2012

    Gingerbrew:

    I can't stress enough the importance of verifying the pills you do have.  Make sure that they are the pills that were prescribed to you. You may have to ask a pharmacist or look at a pdr. Often drug addicts switch out look alike pills with the pain medication regardless of what the look alike is.   It can be dangerous to a person taking other medications because of drug interactions.  Maybe you and your husband can go online and look up the picture and manufacturer stamp for the pills prescribed.  A heavy safe is really the only reliable mechanism to keep the medications safe.  Drug addicts will go to any lengths to find your medications even if you are thinking they are in a well-hidden place. In addition, most drug addicts are well-defended and will not admit to anything unless they are caught "red-handed."  But it is not your responsibility to do that, nor should it be.  If it were me, I would simply ask for another cleaner and report to the employer what you think was happening.  You never know, maybe another person reported suspicions before and you won't be the only person. I am sorry this is happening to you; it's the last thing you need to be worrying about.

    Theresa 

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  • eag1954
    eag1954 Member Posts: 334
    edited February 2012

    I know I watch to much Discovery ID and I need to get a life, but please be proactive.  As Biker Babe said they may even go so far as to change your medication and you won't know what you're taking.  Just be very aware and very careful.  The young mother that shot the man in Oklahoma a month or so ago, did so because he was trying to break in to get pain meds.  Her husband who was a cancer patient had passed away.  Not trying to scare you, but being realistic..people will do anything for pain meds.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited February 2012

    My oldest d's best friend stole a lot of my drugs over the holidays. She never told he had drug addiction problem. He and my kids were only ones ib house. I really liked him. She calledvhim layer to tell him how angry he stole from me and he confessed to her.

    I put on my big girl panties and called the parents. I hardly knew them. I was just worried he would OD on them. We had a nice long awkward talk. Im glad I called them. It helped them put the pieces together. Turns out he had tried to commit suicide

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited February 2012

    i had a girlfriend who has a cleaning agency..  She and her 3 workers would come and wham bam....the house would be absolutely sparkling and sterile in under 2 hours.  Anyway, she suspected that one of them was stealing from her clients so she set her up.. marking a five dollar bill of her own and then asking the ladies if they wanted her to pick them up a sandwich.. One of the women offered the stolen marked bill and she knew.. The sad thing was, is that news got out that her co. was dishonest and this whole neighborhood.. like 30 clients 'fired' her.  It was really devastating.. her reputation was ruined.

    I guess, when hiring cleaning people, I would be upfront about discussing the repercussions of theft, and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have rigged your place with evidence seeking devices and such.. that you have ways.

    I don't have cleaning people now, but have another friend of mine (and yes they are friends after working so hard) and her two women are trustworthy and when I do NEED them they will be called first.  I have left money out and pills on purpose.

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited February 2012

    Wow Mom of 3 that is scary- Even those that can pass a background check aren't always reliable. Just means no criminal history

    Ginger- i am not compleatly abreast to your situation (like all the details)  but from what i read what I would do is. A) Let the company know that you are missing things. (they may have already had complaints about these employees) B) Get a safe or other type of locking place to put your meds and other valuables in. (i use a small tool box with a lock- its bright yellow and i would def see someone trying to make off with that) C) get a hidden camera like lizzy suggested (its your property you need not inform anyone) and D) <---- the most important one is IF YOU HAVE ANY SOLID PROOF THAT THEY ARE STEALING ALERT THE POLICE! they can not be allowed to get away with it, because they will just hit up the next person and then the next person after that.

    It is the world we live in today, like a few people pointed out EVEN THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMEBERS have stolen, switched meds etc.... PROTECT YOURSELF GIRL!!!!! (i like your not needing a gun comment, just peace of mind- TRUE TRUE)

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  • 1WonderWoman
    1WonderWoman Member Posts: 2,065
    edited February 2012

    Ginger: Tex makes a good point. You can alert the police and also put it out on Angie's List. I really think they have scanners, though, and they know which houses have cameras and which do not (see my PM for more info!).

    I am sorry to admit what precipitated my interest in cameras, and I told Ginger this in PM, was when I worked for a large co and I adopted my cat. She was living along the highway, next to the building where I worked.  A bunch of us started to speculate she was a corporate spy for one of our competitors so I said I would take her to my house and then I used a few cameras to do a live feed so we could watch the "espionage" cat at work!!!!!!  It was a very, very entertaining time!  Of course, as you all know, the footage was equivalent to watching grass grow but the very few times she actually did anything the words those of us in the know would use was "she is making moves!"  A move was the equivalent of moving from sofa to loveseat!!!  It was good fun!    

    All I know is the party on this thread has officially started now that GRANNYDUKES weighed-in!!!!  Granny, and I have told you this before, I love your screenname! I just love it!  

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited February 2012

    We are new to having cleaners in the house due to the free cleanings for cancer patients from Cleaning For A Reason. I've been too I'll to be out of the house when they've come so we are all home. We are wanting to continue the cleanings and paying ourselves. This thread is an eye opener though I shouldn't be surprised. Strangers are strangers and so are people we think we know.



    Two weeks ago my son was playing video games with a "friend" and asked if he stay on the couch because they wanted to keep playing. I said ok. About 4am my husband was awakened by a very drunk young man stumbling around our bedroom. Hubby put a gun in his face and threw him out of the house. Later my son inventoried his games/videos and was missing the discs off several. The boy had found the few bottles of liquor we have and polished off 2 fifths almost completely. I don't know how he survived.



    Anyway he is persona non grata and I have to keep talking my son down from beating the crap out of him. I slept through the whole thing........Ambien really works.

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2012

    When I was stayin at my friends house and her son took all my painkillers she went into denial until i brought her her own supply.I was in the middle of doin my rads and she was doin chemo..he took everything that was not nailed down as far as pills go.I even found one of my scripts in her medicine cabinet.After that i went home...I was sooo pissed even tho i dont take any of them now i still like to have a few for an emergency.

    DONT FORGET TO CHANGE THE LOCKS...

    Grannydukes came from my only GS.He started it and now he just calls me Gdukes.I bitch slapped him once (thats all it took) but he still salutes me whenever he sees me.I kinda like it.

    When I had a cleaning girl I never ever left her alone...even my Godchild cleaned for me.I still stayed with her.

    When you come from Brooklyn you trust NO ONE...huggggs K

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited February 2012

    We once lived in a small town & we didn't lock our doors.  We started missing pain meds, a few here a few there.  Finally I started keeping them in my purse no more problems.  Had several suspects but ruled them out.  Then we heard of someone else missing pain meds, hmmmm. Told the doctor about it & she said they had been having a problem with it. It did turn out to be someone we knew who went to visit people when they weren't home.  She got the help she needed for her condidition.  So it does make one wonder.  

    I like the idea of setting a trap. If they have someone stealing the company should know about it.  Hope you get it straightened out. NJ 

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited February 2012

    This is a little off topic but your story reminded me of this Chickadee, once a friend of mine's father walked in on a guest in the restroom and caught him peeing into their shampoo- the kid was about 14 or 15 at the time

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited February 2012

    I am speechless! Doesn't happen often.....shampoo? Seriously????

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  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited February 2012

    Shampoo - OMG!!!!!

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited February 2012

    There was a resteraunt owner in our area who put his (you know what) in all the food.

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited February 2012

    ...just realized my posts were off topic.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2012

    I just purchased a drawer safe. It bolts to the bottom of the drawer and has an electronic as well as a key lock. They are mostly used for handguns. I suppose if we were burglarized my drawer would be destroyed but this will surely keep petty thiefs out of my medicine.

    We are also buying a 2.4 cu ft safe and will add metal plates to the base of it as Lizzy suggested. I want to be able to keep my silver in it because it has sentimental value to me. I will put what jewelry I can still find in there too. My own jewelry is so limited, my three crosses that I hang from my bedside lamp and my faux pearl studs. If anyone is so low as to steal my crosses then it will be on them because I will not hide them away.  

    I am still having a hard time with the realization that a thief or more than one was in my house. 

    Having worked in social service I have had clients lie to my face, just blantantly. I worked hard not to cause clients to lie, giving them good information to help them understand their options. Explaning documents carefully and fully, explaining what was possible even with sketchy backgrounds. Showing them how they could achienve their goals and be above board. This was really important to me because homeless wpomen have already walked a thousand miles in the most difficult of situations, have become schooled in the ways of the welfare system and if they are not assisted out of it they will know no other way. Their children will know no other way. Our system teaches people to lie and that is a terrible fault. All that said, I would like to smack these cleaning girls who have made me so angry.   

    Love you all Ginger

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited February 2012

    I would call the police department, or the local DEA office in  your town and explain your situation. They could give you guidance on what to do.

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2012

    get some camera's that hide in objects to catch them in the act.

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited February 2012

    Ginger- it is sad it is a cycle. Our society REWARDS bad behavior and poor decision making.

    Example- unexpectantly pregnant- get onto the system and STAY there having baby after baby getting more money after more money. Its not supposed to be a permenent stay, just a step up to help.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2012

    We did buy a 2 cu ft safe, fireproof and waterproof. It weighs a lot and we will get some of those plates that Lizzy mentioned to make it heavier.

     Now to go through all my meds and throw away the out of date abd such and put away the prescription ones for the safe. 

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  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 3,610
    edited February 2012

    texasrose- OMG that is hilarious and disturbing!

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2012

    The safe arrived today. It is bigger than I thought as it is the interior that is 2 cu ft. The exterior is mmm, larger. So now, I have a safe posing as an end table in my family room under a table cloth.

    I let the cleaning company go without telling them anything at all except to take us off of the schedule. 

    Now to find new cleaners. I don't see how anyone (me) can have cleaners come when they aren't home. I would be worried now that the house would be bare when I returned home. 

    Ginger

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited February 2012

    Ginger: good solution to just cancel without an explanation.  Ask your friends if any of them have a cleaning woman they have used for a number of years whom they would recommend.  My current cleaner is not the greatest cleaner, but my neighbor for whom she has worked for many years, told me she was completely honest.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited February 2012

    I feel that was the best solution for me. 

    I think I have a new cleaners, I went to Angies list and this company has a good reputation. We'll see won't we. I find I am just a bit more anxious than I was previously but I will try to prepare for that. 

    Laters Ginger

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