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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think the cleaner stole from us?

81 replies

YakkityYakYakYak · 22/12/2020 22:46

Have had the same cleaner for around a year, she owns the business and comes once a fortnight with another woman. Get on well with them and they do a great job.

They are both taking a break over Christmas so sent two of her team to clean our house on Monday instead. Have never met these two before, I was working in the spare room so just left them to it.

Monday night when I got into bed I plugged in my phone in to charge and saw that it was just a cable with the plug part of the charger missing (Apple charger). I’ve not moved it, it’s been plugged in by the bed for years, and DH swears he hasn’t touched it either.

DH thinks the cleaner must have taken it. Why would someone take half a charger though Confused

It’s only worth about £20 so not sure if it’s even worth raising it. I don’t even care about the charger, I just hate the thought that someone would come into my home and take something. I’d also left all of the Christmas presents out downstairs under the tree and worried that something else might have disappeared.

WWYD? Raise it so the business owner is aware, or just forget about it as you can’t really be certain?

OP posts:
thumpingrug · 22/12/2020 23:08

Id raise it and stop using the company. You have to have trust in the people that you are letting in your home. if the trust is gone you cant feel confident in having them back.

Linzi2377 · 22/12/2020 23:09

Maybe took it out to plug in a Hoover?

partyatthepalace · 22/12/2020 23:12

Perhaps they moved it to plug something in.

I’d mention it if you are absolutely sure neither of you moved it - but just to ask her to check w the cleaners they moved it somewhere.

It’s an odd thing to take and seems quite unlikely.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 22/12/2020 23:14

You are potentially going to get someone the sack when you have no evidence that they took it. I would not be throwing accusations around without evidence. As you say, that is a very odd thing to steal.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 22/12/2020 23:16

Obvious first conclusion to jump to is that they unplugged it to plug in the hoover and have either set it down somewhere else or it’s rolled under the bed or something. Have a good hunt around. Then, if you really can’t find it, jump to more sinister conclusions Hmm

NotOfThisWorld · 22/12/2020 23:17

I would have thought they just moved it. It's such an odd item to bother stealing it surely wouldn't be worth the risk.

ChristmasPerfectionist · 22/12/2020 23:18

I honestly do not think they’d take the plug of a charger. Who doesn’t have 2000 of them lying around the house?

No kids who could have borrowed it?

2bazookas · 22/12/2020 23:18

I would raise it with your regular cleaner and say, in future do not send either of those people.. She'll get the message.

akmum18 · 22/12/2020 23:19

I’d enquire with the lady who owns the company if she could find out where the cleaners put the plug as it’s been misplaced. It won’t sound like you’re accusing anyone at this point and there could be an innocent explanation. Then go from there. But I wouldn’t allow them back into my home. I was a cleaner for 4 years and we were strictly told to put everything back where we left it for these reasons.

ShirleyPhallus · 22/12/2020 23:20

@YouBoughtMeAWall

Obvious first conclusion to jump to is that they unplugged it to plug in the hoover and have either set it down somewhere else or it’s rolled under the bed or something. Have a good hunt around. Then, if you really can’t find it, jump to more sinister conclusions Hmm
This
changedmynameforChristmas · 22/12/2020 23:22

Be cautious. Perhaps the cleaner removed it so she could wipe the plug and left it elsewhere. Don't say she took it, but ask if it was moved.

I cleaned houses years ago and had keys to let myself in and people trusted me. One family only treated me like shit and their children stole from one another and blamed me.

Every time something went missing - and things went missing all of the time - I was questioned. The missing items varied from money in bedrooms to frozen food and jewellery and gift vouchers. It was very unpleasant going into their house knowing they suspected me, and I sacked them off.
Just tread carefully is all I can say because a good cleaner is like a pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.

Grasses · 22/12/2020 23:31

Why would they take something plugged in next to your bed that you obviously use every day and would notice immediately?

YouBoughtMeAWall · 22/12/2020 23:40

@Grasses

Why would they take something plugged in next to your bed that you obviously use every day and would notice immediately?
They’re cleaners- can’t help themselves obvs. They’re all stupid thieves. Fact.
warmandtoasty2day · 22/12/2020 23:45

youbought do hope that's a stupid sarcasm on your part - fact.

maddening · 22/12/2020 23:46

My cleaner puts things she needs to hold or move in the pocket of her tabard, it would be easy to pop it in there eg when needing to plug in a hoover thinking to keep it safe and plug back in and then forget, it is more likely to be an oversight or mistake Imo.

SpaceRaiders · 22/12/2020 23:47

That’s ridiculous. Why would anyone steal a £10 charger?! It’s most likely been moved.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 22/12/2020 23:47

@warmandtoasty2day

youbought do hope that's a stupid sarcasm on your part - fact.
Grin
changedmynameforChristmas · 22/12/2020 23:48

As I said before.. I cleaned houses. I worked six days a week and had a number of clients.
Some of them 'tested' me at first. They would throw items in the bins that were obviously planted to see if I would lift them. I found money in the wheelie bins and money (notes) in between the cushions of sofas etc etc.

Not all cleaners steal. Some of them are far too busy cleaning

Cavagirl · 22/12/2020 23:49

No one is going to nick half a phone charger.

Please don't get someone the sack over this when you've got no proof of anything.

Emeraldshamrock · 22/12/2020 23:49

It has been moved. Nobody would risk their job for half a charger.
Look in the drawers.

purplecorkheart · 22/12/2020 23:50

I would assume that your cleaner unplugged to plug in the hoover and probably tidied it away. Honestly would not cross my mind that they stole it.

caringcarer · 22/12/2020 23:51

I would think if they were going to steal something they would choose something better than a part of a phone charger.

Catsup · 22/12/2020 23:52

Surely someone would just take the full charger vs leaving half the evidence still laying there 😕

YouBoughtMeAWall · 22/12/2020 23:52

Not all cleaners steal. Some of them are far too busy cleaning

Not all? I’d go as far as to say very few. Just like any other type of worker.

Bettysnow · 23/12/2020 00:05

I would be really careful with this one as a couple of times ive convinced myself that something has disappeared only to remember rather embarrassingly that i had actually moved it.
I would however query with the owner if any of the cleaners moved it as you can't find it. If any of them has stolen it you can be sure they will do it again and hopefully another client will also highlight missing items with the owner. There could already be some other complaints already raised concerning these people.
Doesn't help you now i know but mentioning it may help someone else in future