Thieving cleaners - how to prevent them?

[FloatingMonkeys]

I'm so bloody sick of this. I live in a fairly large house, I work full time in a physically and mentally draining job, I've got teenage boys, dogs, DH works long hours, we are a messy family. I need help with the housework.

Just found out this week that my cleaner has been stealing from me. I suspected it was happening and left some money on my bedside table and "dropped" a fiver in the hallway to test her and they both went. My last one stole directly from my purse in my handbag . The one before that I strongly suspect stole some jewellery, but could never prove it.

Because this has happened before I don't leave money lying around and I lock valuables away, but as the one who took from my purse proved, even that doesn't stop them.

I don't have the option to be here whilst a cleaner is here (and if I did I would do the it myself) so I have to just trust them. But I'm feeling so fed up. I always treat anyone who cleans for me with kindness and respect. I pay generously and promptly, I give presents for birthdays, I give extra money at Christmas. And in return I get stolen from.

Anyone got any tips to stop this happening again?

How awful OP. It's a horrible, violated feeling. My supposed (now ex) best friend stole from my house, and our removal men also stole some items, so although not quite the same as a cleaner, I understand how you must be feeling.

As per some pp's, try agency cleaners instead as they are likely to have been referenced and police checked.

I am a cleaner for 15 years and I am proud of it, reading your story make me sick to my bones as "cleaners" like this a stain in my profession. Please, if you have to have a cleaner the first thing you have to do is ask for recommendations and phone numbers so you can call, the word of the mouth is wonderful, but I know that you not always find someone that can recommended you one, so ask for a police check report, it is in your right to ask that, so don't be afraid to ask as many questions and documentation you want, after all she will work inside your house. Today I just clean empty properties, but back in the days I was as a weekly cleaner I was aways reliable, as my customers means the world to me, I have found so many money (coins), even credit cards hidden under the sofas or even under the beds, and I placed each one of them and leave where my customer could find. I remember a time I was doing an end of tenancy cleaning and I found a £20 note hidden at the back of a wardrobe, and immediately I hang my customer and told him about my discovery, even though he had already moved from the property, for my surprise he didn't remember left any money at the property and he said that the money was mine to keep and I never forget that. I feel so angry that a cleaner did that to you, and my words to you is, don't worry about the money you lose, you will make more in double I am sure but karma is just down the corner and the cleaner who did this to you will not gonna be in this profession any longer. Report it to whoever recommended her to you, she will be out the job soon.

I too am a cleaner. I find allsorts left around, money, jewellry, expensive clothes etc. As per everyone else I leave it somewhere prominent & leave a note saying found this etc etc. One lady says to me 'anything found less than a £1 keep for yourself' i still dont as feel bad even if its 1p.
I really dont have any advice, its such a shame you have had to go through this, it gives us good ones a bad rep. Would you feel comfortable confronting the cleaner about it?

I was a cleaner for a few years. I only had one client who left traps. I never touched a penny.

A few years later a friend of mine was interviewed to clean for this particular client, she was complaining that her last cleaner was stealing from her (not me), and it turned out that she was accusing her cleaner of using her expensive handwash and replacing it with a cheap version! Never mind the hundred quid she left under a tissue box every week I cleaned! People are strange....

I’m living your experience except it was our babysitter. Three phones went walkies in one night and weeks later we have realised two piggy banks have gone too. So nice isn’t it to have that sick feeling over and over again isn’t it?

We also had a piss taking cleaner who we let go when she just didn’t give a fuck anymore.

So now what I have to do is NOT have a cleaner and NOT have a babysitter. I have started a babysitting “triangle” with two mates, we look after each other’s children on rotation every 5 weeks.

And cleaning? I’ve had to - HAD TO - follow the Organised Mum method to the letter. It’s working.

I have three children under four, I work four days a week and I could strangle those piss taking bitches with my bare hands for violating my trust, in particular the babysitter but the cleaner let me down hugely too, charging for 4 hours and doing two.

If you don’t want your trust violated again do not hire a cleaner or anyone that comes into your house unsupervised. It’s the ONLY way to 100% guard against it happening again.

(Sorry you’re post hit a nerve)

(Sorry for killing your thread op)

No worries Paul. Sounds like you have been really unlucky too.

I was hoping to have hired a new one today but she didn't turn up for her 4.30pm appointment which I've had to come home early from work for and so far there's no explanation. I honestly just fucking well give up.