to fire my au pair after she went through my handbag?

[Rosbo]

walked in on my swedish au pair in my bedroom yesterday going through my handbag. she said she was looking for keys to the food cupboard...but the key for that is not in my handbag and i'm sure she would know this. she has been working for us for 6 months so far and all has been good, the dc's love her. this is the first time anything like this has happened. should i fire her? dh thinks i shouldn't.

chelsygirl is totally out of line.

There could be numerous reasons why people have locks on their food cupboard.
I am not asking why because it is none of my business. But fwiw, a friend of mine has a child who has Autism, and he would easily raid the foodcupboard at night.

Also, we dont know why the AP was nosing about the handbag, if she intended to buy something with rosbos credit card, if she was after money, to use rosbos phone to call home, the fact is, one DOES NOT sneak in handbags. It is out of bounds, and good reason to dismiss.

rosbo-the vast majority of the thread supports you. the au pair has to go

I agree, QS. My first thought would have been identity fraud/theft.

I'd ask AP to leave too Rosbo, have to warn you though (and I think Blueshoes, marmaduke will agree) there seems to be a dire shortage of AP's at the mo.