Being accused of stealing

[whatapalava22]

Hi I know this isn't meant for this forum but I know I will get help sooner .

I have been a cleaner for 5 years and have made some amazing friends through my job. The clean I am writing about I thought me and her were good friends and she trusted me. Obviously I was wrong.

The person in question always have from day 1 left a substantial amount of money around the house. I think through cash in hand jobs. Her partner owns his own business also. I have always put money away when coming across it and at the start used to take photos and send it to my boss just incase I was ever accused.

So last week I finished her clean and that was that . We had a few messages back and forth yesterday on about her weekend ect .

An hour later I just revived a text accusing me of stealing a grand yo to post it through the letter box. Then a camera emoji. First of all I didn't think it was ment for me so replied saying I think you might of sent this to the wrong person.

Message was read but no reply so I rang her and she didn't answer. I text again saying could she phone me when she sees this as I'm getting anxious. I have a reply gone ten last night saying you should be!

I was really upset yesterday that after all these years she thinks I would have took money and also the way she's being about it. I can see if the money has gone missing that she thinks I took it but really ? Why would anyone take a grand! A person I used to clean with when I 1st started took money and I told my boss straight away.

I have messaged her again saying I will cancel all my jobs today and come to hers to help her look even if it takes me all day but no reply again . She says she has footage but obviously hasn't because she would see me putting what ever I find in her tv draw .

I am just so upset about this all. I love my job and have got so many cleans that this could impact me severely if she starts telling people. I thought she knew me well enough by now that she knows I'm not a thief. I am even thinking of leaving cleaning because I have been in so many situations where I get accused and then a week later a text saying they found it. But no apology. I'm thinking of phoning the police today and telling them what's happened because it's really making me I'll with worry.

The money apparently went missing yesterday or that's when she noticed but last time I was at her house was Wednesday. I have a key to her house like I do all my cleans and I have never once in all my years entered a house with out them knowing. Even if I'm due to clean and I don't have a reply to say I'm coming I still don't go in until I have a message back.

I don't really know what I'm asking for by coming on here but maybe some advice please ? I'm also thinking maybe she has found it or realised that she's spent it before and maybe feels too embarrassed to tell me now ? I don't hold a grudge at all because I know I would probably think the same but no way would I ever act the way she has about it.

Thankyou for reading

Don’t block her it makes you look guilty to be honest in her eyes keep the lines of communication open but don’t contact her and let her come to you. Also don’t clean for her again, obviously

I agree with @AgentJohnson

I’d be saying she needs to report it to the police, or you will.

Oh how awful for you our lovely cleaner has become a friend and I would trust her with anything, she regularly takes my Dds out for walks and picnics with her nieces and nephews. She's the only person has a key to our house. A friend of my DH recommended her initially years ago then before Christmas he rang me very upset saying he had a sum of money missing and it could only be her as nobody else was in the house the. I didn't believe she would ever do it and as we talked it through he realised that his son had his girlfriend, her cousin a handyman and a friend of his own in that week. (Of course it turned out not to be her and he was so glad he didn't accuse her.)

Cleaner here op. I work in some affluent homes also. I made a change tin once for a man as I was always moving piles of change to dust! Notes I shoved in a sock drawer! He knows I do am never been an issue. You have been unlucky. Either her dh has spent it or she is considering an insurance claim.
Don't block as I agree that seems you are guilty. Keep all texts. And ignore her...

Another one saying don't block her. It looks defensive and as if you're guilty.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. Cleaners put themselves in such a vulnerable position every day. It's something that would really worry me.

Gosh - what reason could she possibly have for not going to the police? 🙄

Don't block her. Don't, ffs, offer to help her
look for it! That's mental.

Invite her to take her excellent footage of you stealing it, to the police. Ask her why she hasn't done so already. Tell her you're more than willing to make yourself available to talk to them, and expect to hear from them v shortly.

She's dodgy AF.

Don’t block her-I would want to know what was going on.

If she won’t speak to you, I’d send a message saying you have been cleaning for her for x years and cleaning as a job for y years and have never stolen anything. Tell her to go to the police by all means if she wants to as you have nothing to hide. Then go to your other cleaning jobs to take your mind off it. You didn’t steal anything.

I also agree don’t block her but make sure you keep text messages etc where you ask for proof or whether she has filed a police report - to protect yourself if she does start spreading rumours it was you. At least that way you can be really clear you were not involved and she declined to show this apparent evidence or report it and therefore is making a malicious accusation.

If your arrangement with her is via a cleaning company, inform them immediately of everything.

If it's a private arrangement, I'd text her and say "I think we both know there's no footage. I'm sorry that you have lost money and sad that you would immediately suspect me of taking it after so many years. I suggest you speak to the police today to report the theft. I hope you recover the money. Obviously I won't be working for you again as it would be impossible after such a breakdown of trust. All the best, etc"

In future I'd bear in mind that a client can't ever be a friend. When someone is paying you or has control over your employment (or vice versa) it's not an equal relationship.

Thankyou all again for being so kind. I still havnt had a text message back from her so I'm assuming she has got nothing else to say to me . I did say in my last text lastnight about after all the years of me cleaning for her and coming across thousands I have never once took anything and if I was a thief surely I would of done it from the start. I am now after having all you lot make me see sense getting a bit angry about it all . X

They sound dodgy as fuck. Thousands in cash stashed around the house?! Sounds like the husbands ‘business’ is dealing in drugs or weapons or other criminal activity. Be careful OP if that’s the case you could be in danger.

If I were you I would go to her house and demand she shows you the footage?

Wouldn't anyone?

@ClemDanFango

They sound dodgy as fuck. Thousands in cash stashed around the house?! Sounds like the husbands ‘business’ is dealing in drugs or weapons or other criminal activity. Be careful OP if that’s the case you could be in danger.

Gosh that’s an active imagination. 😂 plenty of people deal in large sums in cash, it’s a way to avoid vat. Often trades will do it Ie someone laying a patio, electrician etc.

Drugs or weapons 😂

She's a horrible person. I'm sorry it's made you so unwell you've needed to cancel other cleans and lost income xx

@theotherfossilsister

She's a horrible person. I'm sorry it's made you so unwell you've needed to cancel other cleans and lost income xx

Thankyou so much ❤️ I just came back from taking my dog for a lovely walk . We have a huge lake where I live with geese so just tried my hardest to relax. Also I keep checking my phone and dreading seeing her name coming up . I can't live with the anxiety I'm feeling and I didn't do it can you imagine if I did 😂 I would probably have to be sectioned. The best thing about this is some people I know and work for look down on cleaners. Kind of like they are poor maybe and it's the only job they can get . I'm a qualified child care worker. Only had one year left to be a nursery teacher. When I have told cleans that once they have asked why I wanted to become a cleaner they always look shocked which does make me feel small on times. I would love to turn around only time a small few and tell them how much I earn a month. Cleaning is a well payed job. Only if you go it alone tho . Working for a company is awful pay where I live . X

@LetHimHaveIt

I'm now starting to think this is a wind-up . . .

Ha ha I really wish it was x

I believed you until you said about the weapons!

@VerifiedBot2351

I believed you until you said about the weapons!

I promise you this is not made up. But as for drugs no. I just think because her partner owns a business they just don't want to pay tax on some of it x

So what are you going to actually do about her accusation?

I would go to the police, explain what happened and have them go to the house to view this non existent footage. If word of this gets out then your business is ruined and you are slandered. Awful thing to go through. I would not be ignoring this at all.

@StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon

I would go to the police, explain what happened and have them go to the house to view this non existent footage. If word of this gets out then your business is ruined and you are slandered. Awful thing to go through. I would not be ignoring this at all.

This is another thing I am worried about is her saying things to people . Also I imagined her announcing it all over Facebook lastnight too. But I haven't come across anything . I am going to wait a while today to see if she messages me . Hopefully it's I found the money but I got a feeling it's another threat . And then I'm going to phone the police and ask them to go to see her x

@DrSophia

So what are you going to actually do about her accusation?

I am going to phone the police later today and explain what has happened. I will ask them to go and visit her and to try to sort this mess out or look at this footage she claims to have. I really wish this was all over and done with x

Before blocking or anything, I know you say it doesn't exist but have you actually asked her to see the footage?

If not, maybe you should?

And maybe suggest to her that she should contact the police then and even suggest that maybe you are willing to contact them yourself.