I think our maid is stealing small things from the house. What can I do to find out for sure?

We live in Uruguay and she has been our maid/nanny since April 2007. I've noticed that a pair of brand new silver earrings that were a gift for my daughter, are missing and also two rice bowls from Tokyo, Disney(Japan). I have a total of six and now there are only four. What can I do? This lady is 49 yrs. old and from Uruguay. My husband thinks that I am making a big deal and that I might be imagining all this but I don't want her to just rob us blind. We pay her really well and works only 25 hrs. a week. I do a lot of house work myself and the laundry. Any input? I know that if I ask her flat out, she is going to deny every thing. Should I go to the Police with my concerns or just wait for a false move on her part? "THANKS":Silverwolf

I think our maid is stealing small things from the house. What can I do to find out for sure?
Install a video camera in a hidden place in your room and then leave something out to tempt her. Something like a piece of jewelry on the dresser in a bowl or something similar. Leave her alone for a while and then check later to see if it is gone, it it is watch your tape. If it shows her taking it then take the tape to the police and have them take it from there.





Make sure the camera is hidden wll like on a bookcase where she does not automatically see it.





Good Luck
Reply:get a nanny cam
Reply:Install a nanny cam and then you will have peace of mind...or proof to take to the cops.
Reply:well the bowls could have been broken and instead of her telling you as she feels you might be made she picked up the pieces and through them out. . but as far as jewelery or anything else you feel might be missing. I would do some research and investigating before going to the police.





You can go to a store that sells very small and tiny cameras that are meant to be hidden in things. I would buy a few of those and put them around the house. also lay something out you think she may take jewelery money what ever and see what happens keep that going for weeks at a time ..





and then play back the film footage to see whats happening. Its your home and you have a right to do as you wish specially if you have a feeling something is wrong. Same goes if she takes care of small children in the nursery. put a camera hidden in there also to see how she treat yoru childen when your not around etc...





hope that helps
Reply:Do you need proof to replace her? I couldn't have anyone in my personal space, especially cleaning up after me and my family, if I did not trust them (not only not to steal, but not to gossip and/or judge). However, the bowls could have accidently gotten broken and since she has not been with you a long time she didn't feel comfortable admitting this. Kids lose stuff also. So neither of these feels really concrete to confront her - plus if you do and there are hard feelings, again, do you want her coming into your home when you are not there? I don't know about the police in Uruguay, but in Pennsylvania, they would say it was a personal matter unless she was caught leaving the house with the items and/or they were valuable enough to make it worth a law suit. Did she have any personal and/or professional references? If so did you check them? Is there any way you could just pop in while she is there? If you don't want to let her go, then I think you just have to either trust or wait.
Reply:Moose trap!





Hidden camera.





Finger prints.





Steal hers kids.





Slap her and dress her as a slave.
Reply:install a hidden camera in ur house.
Reply:Set her up. Put something that looks like it is valuable where she can see it. But put it in a way that doesn't look like you're trying to trap her. Maybe you can leave a few bucks lying around somewhere where you know she will be cleaning. Do it when you know she is the only one with access to it and check as soon as you get back. If it's gone, then you KNOW she did it.
Reply:Call the cops, raise hell and demand that they catch the thief. And give them the name of your maid.
Reply:I would sit down with her and talk quietly. Tell her that you need her help. Tell her there are little "keepsakes" missing, and one in particular was a gift to your daughter, and she is upset about it. Don't go into too much detail. Tell her that you would like her to help look for them. See how she reacts. Also, keep track of stuff that is missing, and find a place to hide other valuables. Your husband should be more interested in this situation. If you notice more items missing, find out about how you would file a report in that country.





I hope I have helped in some way.
Reply:I would install video cameras and then when you see her take something you can confront her and then I would go straight to the police.
Reply:Setting up a hidden camera is always an option, though sort of sneaky and creepy.





If only bowls and some earrings have disappeared in 6 months, I wouldn't be too concerned honestly. Just lock up anything valuable and keep a closer eye on her. That or you could always replace her w/ someone who has great references.
Reply:this happened to my aunt. except the maid lived with her and mu aunt had access to her stuff. so my aunt dug through her bags and found alot of little things she was stealing.


maybe you should see if she would stay the night and ask her to put her things in your laundry room or something and then search her stuff.


i guess it would have to be the right opportunity.


or you can go and spend alot of money on those camera's.


ohhh maybe you should set her up..... get some not so expensive ear rings and stick them in her bag and through a fit about how they are missing and other things are missing and you think she took them and then you can call the police to search her.
Reply:Set her up... install a hidden camera and set up bait (new earrings or something that you think that she'd be interested in). Good luck!
Reply:I am not sure if you could afford the time or cooperation from


your husband :~)





Try setting up cameras in certin spots in your home; that way you could have proof and then turn her in. Kinda set certin special things where the cameras could see the whole situation, then set them to record, while she's there :~)





You'll see if she is taking your stuff and you will have proof :~)
Reply:install cameras