As generous as I am - someone crossed the line....

[perry]

Sometimes people really mystify me; or perhaps this demonstrates how stupid some criminals are...

Someone stole the last check out of my check pad (about 20 checks forward of where I am at), forged and cashed a check just over a week ago.

I noticed it Sunday evening when I was validating my checks vs my financial spreadsheet.

Since my check book almost never leaves home (like only several times a year) - its pretty obvious who did this (only one other person had access to the house during the period in question - the cleaning lady; and I have had no other household visitors in that period either).

So today I took this afternoon off to get copies of the cashed check from the bank, file a police report, and change the locks on the house.

Funny thing... for the $ involved I would have given it to her if she had told me she needed it for a good cause (and I'm not even going to worry about the $$$ - its gone, I probably will never see it again, and it doesn't change my life a year or more in the future).

Also, she could easily have hit me for more $$$ in a lot less noticeable ways (if I even would have really noticed).

I can only guess that she thought that I'd never notice that amount in my checking account.

There is more to the story that I cannot tell at this time.

Such is life.

Now I need to find a new housecleaner....

Life is an adventure,

Perry

 

[TravelingGal]

Sorry to hear this Perry...checks make me nervous...all you need is the routing number and account number and stealing is so easy.

Hope you get it all resolved soon.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Wow. Talk about a not so smart way to steal from an employer. I hope she REALLY needed that money.

Sorry Perry.

 

[Arkteia]

It must be sad. She was in your house, you trusted her, left her there... and all this time, there was a person observing you, watching where your checkbook was, waiting for the time to steal.
I do not think she needed the money for a good purpose. I think that had she stayed longer as your housekeeper, she would have hurt you more and done more damage.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh, sorry to hear about this. It's a real breach of trust and it leaves such a bad feeling.

If it makes you feel any better, I came home early one day to find my cleaner scrubbing out the toilet in out main bathroom, really getting into all the little nooks and crannies and scrubbing down the back of the u-bend...... with my dishcloth.

Not as duplicitous as stealing a cheque, but still a pretty awful breach of trust. It did explain why we all seemed to get sick a lot though! She ran up a phone bill that equated to around three weeks' wages, too.

I hope you find someone else you can put your trust in and that they won't let you down.

Jen

 

[diva rose]

Sorry to hear about this. It's terrible when someone you trust with your home does this.
I'd be thinking...what else did she steal?

 

[natalina]

Sorry to hear about this. It's terrible when someone you trust with your home does this.
I'd be thinking...what else did she steal?[/quote]

That's exactly what I was thinking...

 

[artdecogirl]

Yuck! So sorry you had that happen to you.

 

[dragonfly411]

Perry - I'm sorry for your loss, but more, I'm very sorry your trust was betrayed. Trust is a hard thing to earn, and a hard thing to give to anyone after it's been broken.

 

[TooPatient]

Perry --

I'm sorry this happened to you.

Have you considered getting a new bank account in case she has more of your checks or tries to use the account number + routing number for online purchases (all of that is usually easily available just by looking at your check)?

Good luck finding a new house cleaner.... not everyone is like this woman.

 

[Tuckins1]

Sorry to hear about this! Such a sad state of affairs these days...

 

[kama_s]

I don't understand why anyone would leave a cleaner alone in the house? Would you trust a random stranger?

Sorry you went through this, but I suppose it's a learning experience for you.

 

[monarch64]

And to follow Kama's response, I don't understand why you would leave a housekeeper access to your checkbook. I'm also sorry for your monetary loss as well as the breach of trust, BUT, leaving someone alone in your home who has access to that sort of thing is just providing too much temptation.

 

[perry]

Sorry to hear about this. It's terrible when someone you trust with your home does this.
I'd be thinking...what else did she steal?

As far as I can tell - nothing. I've checked for all the small valuables that are stuffed here and there (unused wedding rings as an example). Same with the lager items.

Fact is that she could have hit me for a lot more $$$ in ways I would not have noticed - or not noticed for months or even years (how often do I go looking for those unused wedding rings... its been a couple of years).

Biggest thing is the trust.

I don't understand why anyone would leave a cleaner alone in the house? Would you trust a random stranger?

Sorry you went through this, but I suppose it's a learning experience for you.

by monarch64 » 08 Sep 2010 16:52
And to follow Kama's response, I don't understand why you would leave a housekeeper access to your checkbook. I'm also sorry for your monetary loss as well as the breach of trust, BUT, leaving someone alone in your home who has access to that sort of thing is just providing too much temptation.

At some point you have to trust other people. I often work different hours and I just don't have the time to be here every time a house cleaner is here. A lot of people trust house cleaners and other contractors. Most of them are in fact quite honest, but there are a few bad ones out there.

For the record. I did check references - and this one had a multi-year list of references. Of course, perhaps this is a long racket and the other people never noticed a reasonable charge to their checking account from time to time.

As far as the checkbook... It is not normally in sight - but it is not locked up either. Do you folks lock up your checkbook.

Anyway, have to run. It's been a long day (I just got home) and tomorrow I have to get up very early - and it too will be a long day.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[Nashville]

That's awful. People these days are desperate, it's not an excuse it's just fact. I am in a real nightmare right now, I just found out that years ago when I lost my wallet someone stole my identity and was writing bad checks in my name. Thankfully it never reported to my credit history, but still it's a mess I would have been much happier NOT having to clean up.

You learned an unfortunate lesson, people can and will steal from you if the opportunity is there. This isn't to say everyone should be a paranoid wreck all the time, but it's wise to take precautions and it sounds like you have. Hopefully this can be resolved, the money will be returned and no one will end up in jail!

My husband and I have a checking account but we rarely use checks. I actually bring cash to the post office and get a money order, because then there is a record of it being purchased and a record of who cashed it. I feel like with checks you are handing over all your account info to strangers and hoping for the best.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I am really sorry that you are having to go through this Perry. When I had house cleaners, I always left the house when they were
doing their thing. In this day in age, I would probably consider some kind of video camera. Sad that it has come to that though.
I hope that that was the only thing she took and you don't have to go through this again!

 

[monarch64]

Perry, yes, I would absolutely lock up my checkbook. I treat it like cash. Would you leave cash lying about? Probably not. Checkbook to me equals cash...equals same opportunity for a person who is basically a stranger left alone in your home to do what they will with.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Perry, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm a lot like you, I think, in terms of trusting people. I too would never lock up a checkbook if a contractor or other profressional were coming into my home. I assume that people are there to do a job, not to steal from me.

How did it go with the police report?

 

[perry]

Perry, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm a lot like you, I think, in terms of trusting people. I too would never lock up a checkbook if a contractor or other profressional were coming into my home. I assume that people are there to do a job, not to steal from me.

How did it go with the police report?

Thanks for the understanding.

I was told that the police investigation would take a minimum of 3 days - and perhaps a couple of weeks.

I'm patient.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[bee*]

Sorry to hear what happened Perry. I hope that you get things sorted out.

 

[miraclesrule]

That sucks Perry. I would never have thought twice about leaving my checkbooks out with my housekeeper. I hope you get a trustworthy replacement.

 

[Arkteia]

Sometimes people really mystify me; or perhaps this demonstrates how stupid some criminals are...

Someone stole the last check out of my check pad (about 20 checks forward of where I am at), forged and cashed a check just over a week ago.

I noticed it Sunday evening when I was validating my checks vs my financial spreadsheet.

Since my check book almost never leaves home (like only several times a year) - its pretty obvious who did this (only one other person had access to the house during the period in question - the cleaning lady; and I have had no other household visitors in that period either).

So today I took this afternoon off to get copies of the cashed check from the bank, file a police report, and change the locks on the house.

Funny thing... for the $ involved I would have given it to her if she had told me she needed it for a good cause (and I'm not even going to worry about the $$$ - its gone, I probably will never see it again, and it doesn't change my life a year or more in the future).

Also, she could easily have hit me for more $$$ in a lot less noticeable ways (if I even would have really noticed).

I can only guess that she thought that I'd never notice that amount in my checking account.

There is more to the story that I cannot tell at this time.

Such is life.

Now I need to find a new housecleaner....

Life is an adventure,

Perry

I am trying to guess what you mean. For someone with a reputation, good references, a name to protect to steal someone's money, there should be a very valid reason - and unfortunately, these days, the reason is only one.

 

[MAC-W]

I don't understand why anyone would leave a cleaner alone in the house? Would you trust a random stranger?

Sorry you went through this, but I suppose it's a learning experience for you.

Most cleaners are not "random strangers". You've interviewed them (normally twice), taken up multiple references, had police clearances checks done, etc etc

There comes a point when you just have to trust people.

And while it might be "prudent" to be there in the house while the cleaner or whatever other contractor is in, it’s not always practical. I pay my cleaner $130 per clean (about 3 hours of work) but if I have to take a half-day off work to "supervise" (which I would have to due to my travel time into work) I lose about $500 in wages. It’s just not practical, which is why I checked and checked and checked again my cleaner’s references and clearances. But you can’t catch every eventuality and sometimes circumstances change without your knowledge, so that someone who previously was exemplary in behaviour might succumb to temptation. It’s a risk you take.

But it’s a risk I willingly take rather than A. be obsessively suspicious or B. do all my own cleaning, dishwashing, ironing etc

 

[Arkteia]

There is a huge Russian Baptist community in our state and they usually make a living as roofers, constructors, or cleaners. They do a very good job. Now I can not assume that you are automatically very honest just because you are very religious, but they do not drink or smoke or use drugs (at least older people do not; kids are a different thing). They may do a better/worse job and everyone slacks off with time, but they are not in such a desperate need for money to steal. I do not think Perry's cleaner stole because it was her habit. I also do not think she was desperate in a normal way. She could have asked Perry if she were sick, or what not. But to steal and cash checks means she was committing a crime. And that usually indicates a different kind of desperation, she needed the money immediately. So very religious people are usually less prone to develop problems that lead to stealing.

 

[Autumnovember]

Perry, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm a lot like you, I think, in terms of trusting people. I too would never lock up a checkbook if a contractor or other profressional were coming into my home. I assume that people are there to do a job, not to steal from me.

How did it go with the police report?

Thanks for the understanding.

I was told that the police investigation would take a minimum of 3 days - and perhaps a couple of weeks.

I'm patient.

Have a great day,

Perry

I'm sorry this happened I would just like to tell you that my fiance also leaves his cleaning lady alone at our house when she is cleaning. She takes a solid 4 hours to clean and he works 15 hour days and doesn't really have time to sit there and wait for her to finish. His checkbook is also not locked up. Neither is my dads.

I hope this all gets resolved and it never happens to you again.

 

[Autumnovember]

I don't understand why anyone would leave a cleaner alone in the house? Would you trust a random stranger?

Sorry you went through this, but I suppose it's a learning experience for you.

Most cleaners are not "random strangers". You've interviewed them (normally twice), taken up multiple references, had police clearances checks done, etc etc

There comes a point when you just have to trust people.

And while it might be "prudent" to be there in the house while the cleaner or whatever other contractor is in, it’s not always practical. I pay my cleaner $130 per clean (about 3 hours of work) but if I have to take a half-day off work to "supervise" (which I would have to due to my travel time into work) I lose about $500 in wages. It’s just not practical, which is why I checked and checked and checked again my cleaner’s references and clearances. But you can’t catch every eventuality and sometimes circumstances change without your knowledge, so that someone who previously was exemplary in behaviour might succumb to temptation. It’s a risk you take.

But it’s a risk I willingly take rather than A. be obsessively suspicious or B. do all my own cleaning, dishwashing, ironing etc

Ditto

 

[arjunajane]

There is a huge Russian Baptist community in our state and they usually make a living as roofers, constructors, or cleaners. They do a very good job. Now I can not assume that you are automatically very honest just because you are very religious, but they do not drink or smoke or use drugs (at least older people do not; kids are a different thing). They may do a better/worse job and everyone slacks off with time, but they are not in such a desperate need for money to steal. I do not think Perry's cleaner stole because it was her habit. I also do not think she was desperate in a normal way. She could have asked Perry if she were sick, or what not. But to steal and cash checks means she was committing a crime. And that usually indicates a different kind of desperation, she needed the money immediately. So very religious people are usually less prone to develop problems that lead to stealing.

umm..wow..If you're hinting what I think you are Crasru, are you suggesting that people that are more religious are less likely to develop drug or alcohol problems than those that are as religious?
If so, than all I can say is that is an...interesting statement.
Perry also did not mention any such thing in his post, so I think it is rather unhelpful to jump to conclusions and make sweeping generalizations as such..I'm unsure what you think gives you such a clear insight into this woman's mind and motivation








Perry, I am very sorry for the hassle you are currently going through and the breach if trust.

 

[perry]

umm..wow..If you're hinting what I think you are Crasru, are you suggesting that people that are more religious are less likely to develop drug or alcohol problems than those that are as religious?
If so, than all I can say is that is an...interesting statement.

Perry also did not mention any such thing in his post, so I think it is rather unhelpful to jump to conclusions and make sweeping generalizations as such..I'm unsure what you think gives you such a clear insight into this woman's mind and motivation :confu

Perry, I am very sorry for the hassle you are currently going through and the breach if trust.

Actually, I would agree that people of certain religions do in fact have less drug, alcohol, and "sticky" finger problems. If I was aware of anyone from the specific religions in my area I would not hesitate to post a position wanted notice with them. That is not saying that they cannot have a bad apple - but these people's lives revolve around their religion - and violating the tenants of the religion in such a fashion would be a big deal (forget what the police or legal system would do).

I note that I do not consider most of the mainstream christian churches/denominations in such a list.

However, in this case - I do not believe religion - or lack of it - had much to do with the situation.

Today I received an update from the Officer investigating -- and I'll only say at this point that its interesting information.



Have a great day,

Perry

 

[yennyfire]

Whatever her motivation, I'm so sorry that she took advantage of you and your trust. I also leave my cleaning lady in our home alone at times (I tend to come in and out, depending on the day) and after 6 years, I do feel that there's a level of trust. Did I leave her alone for the first year or so?? No, but after some reasonable amount of time, it's human nature to develop a sense of trust with someone. If you hadn't, I imagine she wouldn't have continued in your employ....

 

[Autumnovember]

There is a huge Russian Baptist community in our state and they usually make a living as roofers, constructors, or cleaners. They do a very good job. Now I can not assume that you are automatically very honest just because you are very religious, but they do not drink or smoke or use drugs (at least older people do not; kids are a different thing). They may do a better/worse job and everyone slacks off with time, but they are not in such a desperate need for money to steal. I do not think Perry's cleaner stole because it was her habit. I also do not think she was desperate in a normal way. She could have asked Perry if she were sick, or what not. But to steal and cash checks means she was committing a crime. And that usually indicates a different kind of desperation, she needed the money immediately. So very religious people are usually less prone to develop problems that lead to stealing.

umm..wow..If you're hinting what I think you are Crasru, are you suggesting that people that are more religious are less likely to develop drug or alcohol problems than those that are as religious?
If so, than all I can say is that is an...interesting statement.
Perry also did not mention any such thing in his post, so I think it is rather unhelpful to jump to conclusions and make sweeping generalizations as such..I'm unsure what you think gives you such a clear insight into this woman's mind and motivation








Perry, I am very sorry for the hassle you are currently going through and the breach if trust.

She made an interesting point because it IS true that there are particular religions and faiths that have far less drug/alcohol users. Thats nothing surprising and there are many statistics from various and credible sources that support that.