Cleaner stole clothes?

[TractorAndHeadphones]

Got a new jacket that I left hanging on a chair (as far as I recall). New cleaner came, cleaned and tidied. Now I can’t find my jacket.

I’m reluctant to jump to conclusions but this is an item of clothing so not easily mislaid (like a piece of jewellery). I haven’t worn this jacket out yet. DP and I have both turned the house upside down but can’t find it. It’s a branded sports jacket (think Puma, Nike etc) so not particularly designer/valuable. I’ve considered texting the cleaner to ask if she’s seen it as well but I’d sound really stupid not knowing where stuff is in my own house!

AIBU to wonder whether she had something to do with it? Although it sounds like a strange thing to steak I see no other option. Nobody else has been in my house since.

[quote Sleepinghyena]**@TractorAndHeadphones* Your title does jump to the assumption you think the cleaner stole it. No need for the nastiness to @RunningFromInsanity*
I have a cleaning business. Funnily enough I have never stolen anything from my clients.
The number of threads on here implying cleaners have stolen items is disgusting. [/quote]
Given that the whole point of my thread is my reluctance to think that the cleaner stole it - which has led to me spending several hours searching and my reluctance to ask her for fear of sounding accusatory - it’s ironic to be accusing me of jumping to conclusions when it’s the opposite. If people read only the title that’s on them and they deserve my snark given the amount of jumping on OP’s people do on MN.

Shoutout to everyone else who has given great suggestions of where to look, y’all are amazing. Which is why I’m still on MN thanks loads

does she also wear blue jeans and pink bras that look like yours, Monica?

Well, i had a new cleaner steal clothes from the wardrobe (expensive), jewellery (tiffany), perfumes (that were put away in a cupboard, still unboxed), even used underwear (agent provocateur), and other random items like makeup brushes etc. So yes, it is totally possible and not ‘discriminatory’ to accuse a new cleaner of stealing.

@Comeonmommy

Omg, just ask her!! Stop trying to work out the next moves until you know what she says. She might get able to tell you where it is, then this entire thread is a waste of time

Tbh people have given lots of useful places to look - so it’s not a waste of time. Sadly I have searched all of them but the hive mind might come up with something I’ve missed!

Also if other people share their experiences of how they ask their cleaner and whether stuff like this has actually been stolen it makes sense .

Definitely just text her or ask her to keep an eye out for it when she next comes.

Our cleaner is brilliant and I know for a fact she would never ever steal things. But she does sometimes tidy things into (IMO) quite strange places.

I've had to text in the past asking if she's seen something when I've needed it urgently. She's just replied saying yes, it's in XX tidied place.

Equally when she's here I might ask. Either she knows where it is, or she keeps an eye out as she cleans and normally we can find whatever it is between us.

She's never offended by me asking at all. Admittedly the first time I was slightly worried she might think I was accusing her so I just overplayed my dappyness.

E.g.: "gosh I'm such an idiot and I've put down XX and now I can't at all work out where it is. I wondered whether you might have seen in on your way round. Any ideas?

"Don't worry if not, It's probably somewhere really obvious and I just can't spot it. Or I've put it away somewhere and forgotten it like a muppet."

Thanks,
Once"

@Penistoe I don’t have house CCTV and I wouldn’t secretly record the cleaner christ

If you didn't have a cleaner, would you presume your DP had stolen it? Or would you ask him if he had seen/moved it?

Why is a cleaner any different?

I think, she’s finished cleaning and has picked up her jacket from the back of the chair and put it either on or in her bag and left. Only it wasn’t hers it was yours. She probably has one the same or similar and wasn’t paying attention. I would message her.

Did you take it to work?
do you have children..

Also if other people share their experiences of how they ask their cleaner and whether stuff like this has actually been stolen it makes sense

I couldn't find the buttons to the kitchen telly. I looked everywhere, wasted ages. That was easy to text and ask, and not accusatory! (who'd want to pinch telly buttons!!)

She had put them in the most bizarre place in a cupboard, no idea why!

Check the car. Check work. Check eg your mum's. I lost a mac for weeks - it was hanging up in a village hall where I did pilates, and I cd have sworn I hadn't taken it there. Ask St Anthony for help- the patron saint of lost things. He found my secateurs for me!

Could it be in a bag or accidentally left in a gym locker?

If it helps, I live on my own (no cleaner) and I can't find my jacket either.

Sometimes the people to blame for something being tidied away somewhere random are ourselves!

And apart from chairs there’s no other place to hang things apart from bathroom and wardrobe

If she’s hung it on a hanger maybe she’s hung something else on top of it so you can’t see it?

Sure as hell nobody on here can tell you. Just ask if she's seen it ffs.

I just found DH's hat on a coat hook behind the office door. We don't use those hooks, they're from a previous owner, so that's why he hadn't looked there. Last time he lost it, it was under a pile of teddies. The time before that, mixed up in the sofa blankets pile. Once it was sitting on the kitchen table plain as day but we walked past it several times each. I still think you should ask, but check behind every door as well as inside cupboards, and inside every unlikely pile.

My friend left a beautiful blue silk jacket on the back of the spare room door. Unfortunately she remembered and I posted it back to her...

I'd ask her without being accusatory. My cleaner was stealing from me. I was so shocked because she was so lovely so I let it go on much longer than it would have because I blamed myself for misplacing things, I just couldn't get my head around that she might be stealing as she was so nice. My DH caught her on the dog cam going through my handbag and helping herself to money in my purse. Most people are honest but some have a brass fucking neck.

She may have taken it a d may not. I'd like to err on the side of her tidying it somewhere weird though.

Are you wearing it? Like those who can't find their reading glasses because they are on the top of their heads lol!

Update - texted her and she replied in 5 mins… said she doesn’t remember seeing anything of that sort?

It has been a few days since she was around though

Have you accidentally bundled up with the laundry and washed it with the bedding?

This is such an unnecessary thread when a cheery Hi, Jane , I can't find my xxx jacket, I don't suppose you remember tidying it anyway do you? text might sort it out.

@MsSquiz

If you didn't have a cleaner, would you presume your DP had stolen it? Or would you ask him if he had seen/moved it?

Why is a cleaner any different?

Why is a cleaner different to her husband? What a ridiculous question.

It’s perfectly reasonable to wonder if someone who had access to your house while you weren’t around might be involved if something is missing and you’ve looked everywhere for it. Whether the person is a cleaner, an estate agent you knew was coming round to do a viewing, anyone. And that’s all OP is doing, wondering. I think she should just text and ask if the cleaner saw it because in all likelihood it’s just been put somewhere.

@SirensofTitan

This is such an unnecessary thread when a cheery Hi, Jane , I can't find my xxx jacket, I don't suppose you remember tidying it anyway do you? text might sort it out.

Ooops, slow typer, I see you've now asked her