Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be looking into lockable bedroom furniture? (second time we've been stolen from in 6 months; cleaner/nanny)

125 replies

Melanienm · 05/08/2016 09:38

I'm feeling pretty gung-ho this morning (and extremely hacked off) as for the second time in 6 months we've been stolen from my someone we invited into our home... Came home last night and discovered that our lovely nanny's laptop was missing then on close inspection of our bedroom found that we're missing another MacBook pro, my husband's watches, his passport, some foreign currency (hardly anything - maybe $50USD and $50AUD), a few of my necklaces (nothing really expensive - but sentimental value and has upset me a lot)...
Unfortunately, the only thing we can think is that it was our cleaner who was in our home for 3 hours yesterday, although she's always seemed lovely and we pay her well and gave her a bonus at Christmas. But no forced entry, our dog home all day, what else could have happened?
This is on top of a nanny who I finally worked out was taking small things from our room 6 months ago and we let her go (really bizarrely she kept taking Chanel lipsticks one at a time, I had 6 as I like to treat myself on occasion with expensive make up) - I only cottoned when I replaced one and then 2 weeks later it was gone again and was down to 0 and realised I was missing other cosmetics, perfumes, etc. WHY???
Anyway... to cut my rant shorter... I'm now fantasising about lockable bedroom furniture. The insurance company won't cover us for contents as the cleaner was invited in and hubby's watches only insured when they're on his wrist or in the safe - same with MacBook. But how realistic is it to take every single thing of value downstairs and lock it in the safe every night and then get out again in the morning?
BUT, if we had a nice looking chest of drawers that could be locked we could do that.
Does anyone do this?
I can honestly say I'm not the most ahem organised with my personal belongings, all make up is in a drawer or on my dressing table, same with jewellery that I wear often.
I'm honestly wondering how others handle this?
Is there a spate of this kind of theft happening and I'm just really naiive?
thanks

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 05/08/2016 10:00

I know that in certain countries stolen passports are valuable, but it seems a strange thing to steal alongside makeup and jewellery.

Original poster
Melanienm · 05/08/2016 10:02

Thanks Finola1step but the Police spent a long time going over our house and there's no way anyone could have come in from back or windows, etc, without leaving any trace - front door Banham locked and we have a large dog who would have barked for sure and alerted the nice (but very nosy) neighbour. We spoke to her and she could tell us what time the nanny left for the park and came back, what time the amazon man tried to deliver something and what time the cleaner left but nothing else... I suspect she uses her front window instead of tv ;-)

OP posts:
Saffronesque · 05/08/2016 10:02

She HAS a safe. Yes, it would be sensible to keep passport, expensive jewellery in it but everything?!?

I would get any solid furniture you like & make it lockable. Also try to be a little more organised. It's hard work to change habits & you're clearly time - poor, but it would be worth it. Small stuff will have gone to see if you noticed first...& if you have some of those acrylic organiser boxes to slot your makeup in, you might notice gaps sooner.

And Flowers it's a horrible thing to happen.

LikeIGiveAFrock · 05/08/2016 10:04

I'd probably get a lock for my bedroom and clean it myself

Original poster
Melanienm · 05/08/2016 10:05

Oh, and I think I'm pretty organised with my make up - it's all in a drawer or on a small stand on dresser.
Do others lock theirs away?
Am I missing a trick here?
Our current furniture is drawers without handles - just not sure how to get locks on them. Will Google!

OP posts:
callherwillow · 05/08/2016 10:05

Poor you, op.

I would in addition to a lockable safe get some security cameras. I'd have been tempted to have the cleaner carry on cleaning for you and catch the bitch in the act. It's utterly reprehensible to steal from people who have placed such trust in you.

Saffronesque · 05/08/2016 10:05

Sorry - massive x-post plus slow 1-finger typing

ayeokthen · 05/08/2016 10:10

Maybe I'm an idiot, but I find the concept of having to lock away your belongings in your own house really depressing. How dare somebody lift things that you and DH have worked for! I don't have expensive makeup, but whether it cost £5 or £500 you should be able to leave your things lying where you use them without them getting nicked. Have the cleaning agency got back to you? Although from the sounds of her haul she's probably done a bunk with a lot of money Angry

BillSykesDog · 05/08/2016 10:10

TBH, I think given it has happened twice, I would be a bit more organised about keeping it in the safe downstairs. Keep everything in there and just take out what you intend to wear twice a day.

Are you sure now that the last nanny did it and it wasn't the cleaner in the first place? Or have you changed the locks since the last nanny went? Could she still have gained entry in any way?

I'd be desperate to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

Similou89 · 05/08/2016 10:13

Can you not set up a hidden camera and catch her in the act?

Nofunkingworriesmate · 05/08/2016 10:14

Set up a sting
If you leave stuff around ( fake valuables) and film her nicking it then you do have proof

rollonthesummer · 05/08/2016 10:16

What insurance does the cleaning firm have? What have they said about it?

PerspicaciaTick · 05/08/2016 10:16

I think it might be easier to put a lock on your bedroom door and keep your valuables in the one room. Maybe a lock on the nanny's door too. Obviously you will need to clean those spaces yourself - but it might be more practical to have keys/locks to one or two doors instead of locking every item of furniture.
Alternatively you could buy a couple of secure cupboards if you have space, although that might advertise "good stuff kept here".

trafalgargal · 05/08/2016 10:16

I'd not be so sure. We were broken into and a sergeant was sent round. She told my OH there was no sign of forced entry which triggered a massive row as my keys were missing and he was convinced I must have left them in the door. It was only whilst I was stood by the front door waiting for him to let me in I saw there were scratch marks around the lock that the copper had somehow missed entirely. CSI confirmed that was how they got in .

I'd check all points of entry yourself too. It'd be very unfortunate if you leave downstairs Windows ajar in summer and access was gained that way by someone else and you accused the cleaner and she was innocent. It sounds unlikely as she'd be the first suspect surely .

SayHelloToYourNewLUHuvahh · 05/08/2016 10:18

You can't keep the cleaner that's ridiculous.

Really ridiculous, fire her, get a new one and tell the new one that you have been stolen from before and you have a zero tolerance on stuff like that.

FiveFullFathoms · 05/08/2016 10:18

Are you sure now that the last nanny did it and it wasn't the cleaner in the first place? Or have you changed the locks since the last nanny went? Could she still have gained entry in any way?

^^ That's a good point.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 05/08/2016 10:21

I had a light-fingered live in maid during my time in the ME. I knew she was stealing cosmetics and loose change (which, to be fair, I often left lying around). I didn't want to get her fired because she would be sacked and deported. I made a big hoo-ha about how I had lost a lipstick "just like this one" and how we all (me, her, DH and DM) had to look for it. It was always her that "found" it. I did that 2 or 3 times and the stealing stopped.

Horrible feeling though.

We currently use a cleaning agency and there is constant turnover of staff so it doesn't surprise me that they are not very interested. Sorry this happened.

eddielizzard · 05/08/2016 10:22

you have to get rid of cleaner. get new one. and i would consider cctv.

Laiste · 05/08/2016 10:23

Get a new cleaner and install real cameras in your bedroom and the lounge.

Tell anyone who comes into your home to work that the cameras are there and used as you've had stuff stolen in the past.

SatsukiKusakabe · 05/08/2016 10:23

Sorry this has happened to you - not sure about lockable furniture - sounds a good idea, but how workable is it with all your stuff? It would be hard to live like it. I had a cleaner steal things from our uni house, we all knew it must be her (circumstances, and we had conversations with her) but it was hard to prove as you say. Sad when it happens, as it's horrible to not be trusted when you are a cleaner etc, and it taints your view a bit for future.

Found it funny though that people thought you were blithely going on with the same cleaner but just locking your stuff up - oh dear, she's a thief, how do we work around this? Grin

I imagine passports etc can be sold on - if you're the type of person who steals, you are likely to know how to go about this, or someone who does.

LurkingHusband · 05/08/2016 10:24

Can you not set up a hidden camera and catch her in the act?

or (cheaper) an obvious dummy camera in every room ?

SatsukiKusakabe · 05/08/2016 10:26

I think the idea of liking your bedroom and keeping valuables in there and just not have the cleaner do that room good, if that could work for you.

sohackedoff · 05/08/2016 10:34

Tell new cleaner you were stolen from but fortunately because of your hidden cameras they were caught and prosecuted.

fluffychicken · 05/08/2016 10:35

Get a new cleaner and tell her you have hidden cameras because your old cleaners were stealing things. You don't even have to actually have cameras but the threat would probably put her off.

OverTheRiver · 05/08/2016 10:37

Since this is something that has been happening over an extended period of time, I'd set up a few security cameras to catch whoever it is in the act.

Did you change the locks after the nanny left? Am guessing the cleaner has her own key? For all you know it could be a complete stranger, who maybe lived in the house previously and has the key, if you never changed the locks. If it is the cleaner you need to catch her in the act and get her prosecuted, so she can't go and do this to many other people in the future!

Swipe left for the next trending thread