House cleaners potentially stealing -- how to address?

[Anonymous]

These are not the kinds of things people steal. I think you mislaid them.

[Anonymous]

You are likely a troll. And fwiw people don’t steal workout pants

[Anonymous]

Cameras. Just put a few nanny cams up and watch live next time.

[Anonymous]

Years and years ago I was a property manager for about 150 houses owned by State Department employees overseas.

This one tenant was about 55, 5 ft 4, 275 pounds and she called my employer to claim that I had stolen several pairs of her panties. I was laughing so hard when my boss brought it up that I pulled up her Facebook page and showed him a pic. Then he started dying laughing.

I guarantee that lady isnt stealing old, used sweatpants.

[Anonymous]

Not worth the hassle of keeping existing company. Even if some of the ladies are not says, they were there / didn’t do anything when the one lady MAY HAVE done it.

Too much gone, unaccounted for, or otherwise to make a difference in my mind.

If you like the owner, tell her, but be firm in your decision. Get a new company and insist on same ladies each week or if a sub, only the same sub (or skip the week).

Change all your door codes etc.

[Anonymous]

This is hilarious. The great leggings heist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to the owner, ASAP.

For some reason, it seems like less of a big deal because these are inexpensive things.

Maybe the shifty lady is a klepto.

Hoping you don't find more expensive things missing.

Ummm roller rabbit pjs are not inexpensive. The leggings may not be I expensive. Plus they could be testing the waters and building up to slowly steal more. We had this issue with our long time cleaning woman. We adored her and had built up a relationship over the years. Then she started having her daughter and niece clean and things started disappearing. We talked to her about it and said we could continue with just her and she said fine. Then we saw on our ring that she was still bringing at least one of the other women, and the final time quite a bit of pricey things went missing. It was an eclectic group of things missing such as my sons tennis racket (that had just been restrung and was needed for hs tryouts that week), all of my daughters bathing suits (might not have noticed right away bc it was march), etc. After we fired them, we ended up with a long odd list of things never found again. My point is the trust is broken and I think they need to go.

[Anonymous]

And my point is the next people will be just as untrustworthy. I don't know the solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fire them if you even suspect it. Don't have to tell them why.
Hire someone else.

Next ones are just as much of a risk if not more.

Sure sure. Study math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And my point is the next people will be just as untrustworthy. I don't know the solution.

Clean your own house. It's not difficult nor takes much time at all with modern vacuums and such.

[Anonymous]

Fire them immediately. There are plenty of other cleaning services that don't steal.

Also, don't doubt yourself. Don't get why people here are gaslighting you. You know your house better than anyone else on earth. If things are missing, it's a terrible violation of trust. Act immediately and tell them why. Whatever rapport or other BS you want to call it - meaningless. You need to protect your family in case things escalate - a break-in while you're not home, car keys stolen etc.

[Anonymous]

I’d get new cleaners if I had serious doubts about their work or ethics (as it sounds you do).

But: stuff like this goes missing at our own house all.the.time. And we do not have outside cleaners. Usually it turns up in someone’s workout bag, in the wrong person’s dresser or closet, in a vehicle, or in the wrong hamper or under a bed etc. Or in an overnight bag or suitcase. Anywhere. It is really easy for an item like a piece of clothing to get lost in the house. At least at ours (busy household with 5 people- 3 teens).

[Anonymous]

I was robbed when my regular cleaner brought a newly hired cleaner to my house. I was not home and the new cleaner admitted to stealing from our home after she left. She opened up drawers and stole money so yes, cleaners do steal. I am always home now when they clean because that experience was really upsetting for so many reasons.

[Anonymous]

I don’t argue with people who have access to my home. Either I give minor pointers or I drop them and find someone else.
You’ll never go back to normal and the owner will have to speak to the entire team to figure out what happened. You don’t know how people react to being accused like that. I know that’s not fair, but I feel safer. I never give cleaners the reason for switching. I always tell them our finances have changed and we can no longer get cleaners. I do not want to get into what they’re doing wrong as we stand inside my house.

Also, I would say in the future that you should be home when they clean unless you really trust them. No way would I have my cleaners come and bring random helpers when I’m not around.

[Anonymous]

This is why I don’t want strangers in my house: maids, cooks, nannies, housecleaners. I am open to getting a robot.

Back to the subject—if you absolutely cannot clean your own home, I would change cleaners. They will just deny it.