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

[Melanienm]

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

Definitely contact the agency and ask them to notify their public liability insurer. I have dealt with claims in the past where cleaners have stolen from clients and there was cover for theft by employees.

Are you sure no-one else has been in the house? Workmen, friends of the nanny, friends of your kids that could have hidden things? Even the nanny could have taken your stuff somewhere and conveniently also had her laptop 'stolen'. I would certainly start putting things like watches in the safe and possibly things like passports that you won't need every day. And have a think about cameras.

Should you have to lock things away? It seems unbelievable that this has happened to you with 2 different people, are you sure it couldn't be another person who has had access from the time of the first incident?

couldn't really give a shit about someone stealing expensive stuff from you. Some people are living from food banks in this country.

I'd like to see you maintain such a casual attitude if someone stole from you...

Was it your regular cleaner or did the agency send a replacement? Are you sure it wasn't the nanny who's done it in such a way as to frame the cleaner and included her own item to cover the tracks? Presumably she could have easy enough access to take the stuff from the house and meet up elsewhere and hand it off?

Did the cleaner take out any bin bags? That would be one way to get the stuff out the house for someone to come by and collect, but also maybe an opportunity for someone to sneak in and grab stuff - appreciate the dog may have sussed this out though.

Really sorry this has happened OP, I do think some CCTV may be answer to half the problem and as for lockable furniture, it sounds like a good idea - wouldn't stop a determined thief, but would delay someone and would also put off the casual picking up of smaller things.

Having been stolen from before though I think you have probably both been a bit complacent in terms of your things though I appreciate that I'm not the most organised either, but then I don't have cleaners or a nanny.

If someone wanted to employ meas a cleaner & said "by the way I can't trust cleaners so I have cameras installed" I would definitely not work for them. I'd hate to think a) I couldn't be trusted & b) who wants their every move filmed whilst working?
In answer to your original post OP, I'd do what others have suggested & get a lock on my bedroom door & ask (a new) cleaner not to bother with that room. And check that your locks were changed after letting the other nanny go.

Actually, if I was a cleaner cameras would make me feel reassured I couldn't be falsely blamed. Sometimes when used with full knowledge of all concerned they are a positive.

If you believe it's the cleaner and they are through an agency, can you claim on their insurance?

How horrible. Is it exactly the same cleaner that you've always had? Any chance they had been let go by the agency and came to you 'out of contract' so to speak so took their chances?

Plenty of people work in view of CCTV cameras, bank staff, call centre staff, etc as well as the more obvious like shops, resturants and bars.....and most office blocks have it too in public areas . It's a two way street, it protects employees against false accusations too.

If you don't want to work in view of a camera your future career prospects will be very limited indeed.

In this situation where the OP has sacked two people in six months for dishonesty with no real proof in either case it would seem only working for her if she fits cameras might be a wise move.

If someone wanted to employ meas a cleaner & said "by the way I can't trust cleaners so I have cameras installed" I would definitely not work for them. I'd hate to think a) I couldn't be trusted & b) who wants their every move filmed whilst working?

Really? As previous posters have said, lots of people do their daily work while in view of a CCTV camera. My DDs nursery has CCTV in every room. Everybody likes it. It gives parents peace of mind and protects staff from false accusations. I would have no problem cleaning a house with CCTV. In fact, I'd prefer it I think.

op, a carpenter could install simple locks on most wardrobe doors or drawers.
they would be easy to crack open by a determined burglar, but would stop opportunists grabbing things.

If only people would rtft. Just keep asking if she's changed the locks, that's the "cancelled cheque" post of this thread.

I'm a cleaner & ive never stolen from the family I work for. I got the job through a friend- in not saying that's why, obviously I'd like to think I'd never steal from anyone but they know me, know my kids, know where I live etc. I'd be utterly mortified to be accused of stealing, my job is worth far more than a mac lipstick or anything of theirs. They have a lot of expensive stuff I wish I had sometimes but I very much value my job & like them very much.

Anyway, yes get lockable furniture & next time get a cleaner on recommendation & get to know them. Sorry this has happened to you

Thanks everyone for your messages (well, most of you anyway!)

Sorry, I wasn't clear - our cleaners have never had keys, no one has a key apart from my husband, myself and nanny and Banham are quite reliable and impossible to copy (or so I've been told!) Previous nanny left her key and I'm pretty sure she couldn't have copied it.

Lady downstairs sees everything and everyone and the cleaner always has a backpack with her - but everything taken would fit inside one backpack/tote bag.
I hate to think it is our cleaner but I really don't believe it is our nanny as she's been very honest in the past regarding petty cash, etc.

Well, Police forensics came and were here for about an hour - dusted for prints but only got smudges on jewellery case and watch box and of course cleaner's prints expected there - would have been a shock to get nanny's prints there but they weren't. I was recommended to get CCTV in the house and on the front door, so we're looking into some kits, I'm surprised they're so cheap!
They spent a lot of time looking at windows, etc. and can't see any signs of forced entry. So either person had a key or was let in.

I wish I hadn't said I'm disorganised - I meant that in the sense that I don't LOCK UP every single thing I own when I leave the house. I don't leave cash or valuables around. I have an acrylic storage container that holds a mascara, eyeliner and 4 lipsticks on my dresser, the rest of my make up is in a drawer of the dresser. But do people really lock up their make up?

We do leave our MacBooks out of safe as mine actually doesn't fit - do we need to install a bigger safe to get 15" macbooks in?

I appreciate the logic of locking bedroom and cleaner doesn't enter this room, then we don't have to worry, but part of the joy of having the cleaner is that she cleans our family bathroom and changes our bedlinen - which I would find a bit of a faff doing on the weekend when I'd much rather be spending time with my toddler and nap time with my husband.
But I suppose something has to give!
I'm trying to get in contact with the manager of the cleaning agency but they're not keen on returning my calls, hmmm.
I have no cleaner now so we'll see how it goes...

So you confronted her then? Or how does she know she's not coming back?

Oh, and wanted to say that I've been a carer and childminder in people's homes in Italy, I'm not an entitled person who treats cleaners/nannies like lackeys. I have worked for some pretty dismissive and rude people and would never want anyone that worked with us to feel how I used to feel.
I also never stole, although I was told off once for using their fridge to put my store-bought iced coffee in (how dare I?)
I don't think I would have minded at all if there were cameras on the doors - I probably wouldn't have really loved knowing that they could watch me at any time in any room... But I can certainly see why people do it. I work in a large US company but we are only legally allowed to have CCTV on access controlled doors and lockdown spaces - we can't put up a camera to watch someone at their desk (or that's my understanding). I think rules are different where children/vulnerable people are involved.

The Police advised us they will have a conversation with the cleaner and not to call her directly.
I've also alerted the agency to what has happened.

I think you're being very unfair to jump to the conclusion that it has been the cleaner. Cleaners generally don't have a lot of spare money, and probably can't afford chanel lipsticks, macbooks, diamond earrings and all the other costly things you have namechecked in your post. To dismiss someone without all the facts, when that person is probably relying on their income, is horrible.
You said that you treat your cleaner well - I don't think you do, as part of treating someone well is giving them the chance to speak against any allegations against them.

If you do lock your things in your bedroom, just to reassure you, it takes 5 minutes to change your own bed sheets - I doubt that will really eat into your weekend much.
Its very strange that you've had two cleaners who have stolen from you in a short space of time. If this is indeed the case and it isn't someone else, are you SURE that they feel well treated by you??

harshbuttrue1980 - yep. I feel 100% sure I treat them well.

You're of course entitled to your own opinion.

But maybe reread - no diamond earrings!
and yes, I have spent £23 of my hard-earned money on a lipstick. How dare I?

And well done if you can strip a bed, put everything in wash and make bed again in 5 mins. You're clearly much much better than I am.

Signing off now - thanks for those that have tried to be helpful and I'm sorry I've obviously annoyed people with my lifestyle/concerns.

Can I just say that you can copy keys for Banham locks. We have one and some of our keys are copies not Banham branded. Not all key cutters will do it though.

You sound very bitter harsh and extremely condescending.

Well, Police forensics came and were here for about an hour

In the UK ?!

Clearly no serious crimes near you then ....

we had furniture made with locks on the doors. (it was cheap as ready made and we had awkward spaces/storage requirements)

You can get wardrobes that lock and chests of drawers that the top drawer locks.

OP I have seen lockable furniture, and we have some in offices. It can be forced open always but I suppose in your case you need proof of forced entry and this would do.

I think this thread started out very poorly. I'm astounded that posters have been saying things like "call the police" or "why is she still cleaning for you". It shows if you don't spell it out then people will make some odd assumptions.

As for some of the nastier comments, I've noticed a recently trend on mum sent to jump on OPS who have money. It makes some posters think you can't possibly have a real problem. Mention of a cleaner and a nanny is like a red rag to a bull to some posters. Try not to take it personally. I think it's a side effect of austerity Britain.