Maid was Stealing

[movingtospore]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

[zzm9980]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

example?

[Sergei82]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

Must report. Many people are victims, relatives included. If we don't report, then who are we? Accomplices?

Other thing, police know better how to talk to thieves, do not think you are just genetically more clever. In fact, by now the maid managed to return most. The amount she hasn't had time to spend. She stole really a lot.

[PNGMK]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

Must report. Many people are victims, relatives included. If we don't report, then who are we? Accomplices?

Other thing, police know better how to talk to thieves, do not think you are just genetically more clever. In fact, by now the maid managed to return most. The amount she hasn't had time to spend. She stole really a lot.

I do agree. Not reporting crimes also allows the crime stats to become warped... and even more under the level of what they actually are.

[bgd]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

Must report. Many people are victims, relatives included. If we don't report, then who are we? Accomplices?

Other thing, police know better how to talk to thieves, do not think you are just genetically more clever. In fact, by now the maid managed to return most. The amount she hasn't had time to spend. She stole really a lot.

I do agree. Not reporting crimes also allows the crime stats to become warped... and even more under the level of what they actually are.

And without the appropriate punishment she will do it again to another family. Hopefully this will shock her into realising that stealing is actually wrong and she will come out the other side a better person or, at the very least, have respect for others' property.

[Sergei82]

According to my wife, the maid had nothing suspicious in her bio other than one thing: time she stayed with previous families are 3 months, 5 months, similar - very short term. Maybe, those families were "kind" and didn't report, so she came back to Singapore again and robbed us.

[Steve1960]

According to my wife, the maid had nothing suspicious in her bio other than one thing: time she stayed with previous families are 3 months, 5 months, similar - very short term. Maybe, those families were "kind" and didn't report, so she came back to Singapore again and robbed us.

I think that's a key point for the question you asked about screening potential maids. Many short stays with various families should set off the alarm bells.

I know its easy to say in hindsight.

[BedokAmerican]

I'm going to get yelled at for saying this, but here goes: Drop the maid and do your own housework.

[Sergei82]

I'm going to get yelled at for saying this, but here goes: Drop the maid and do your own housework.

Do you think you can scare me with that?

[nakatago]

I'm going to get yelled at for saying this, but here goes: Drop the maid and do your own housework.

Do you think you can scare me with that?

@BedokAmerican:

[movingtospore]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

example?

Well, I totally agree with other posters that it isn't right not to hold them accountable. But on the other hand...some old neighbours of ours had a young, not-very-bring maid who decided to pilfer the grocery money. She stole a grand total of $150 or so over the period of a couple of months. They were about to toss her out of Singapore when the agent suggested they really should get the police involved. So they did. Girl, who turned out to be underage, ended up in jail for a few weeks, and then brought back to their estate in a jumpsuit and chains to be paraded around in front of the other maids. They had to leave work in the middle of the day to come home and deal with the commotion the police had caused...and then still had to deal with paying to ship her out of Singapore not to mention the threatened consequences for employing an underage maid (which they didn't know).

I tend to think the one-way ticket home is a pretty good punishment in of itself for a teenager with a grade 6 education.

Realize not all would fall in this category though.

[Sergei82]

One thing to remember is that if you do report her to the police, you lose complete control of the situation. Some friends of mine did this and then ended up somewhat horrified at the draconian response by Singapore.

example?

Well, I totally agree with other posters that it isn't right not to hold them accountable. But on the other hand...some old neighbours of ours had a young, not-very-bring maid who decided to pilfer the grocery money. She stole a grand total of $150 or so over the period of a couple of months. They were about to toss her out of Singapore when the agent suggested they really should get the police involved. So they did. Girl, who turned out to be underage, ended up in jail for a few weeks, and then brought back to their estate in a jumpsuit and chains to be paraded around in front of the other maids. They had to leave work in the middle of the day to come home and deal with the commotion the police had caused...and then still had to deal with paying to ship her out of Singapore not to mention the threatened consequences for employing an underage maid (which they didn't know).

I tend to think the one-way ticket home is a pretty good punishment in of itself for a teenager with a grade 6 education.

Realize not all would fall in this category though.

Ours stole around forty times as that from multiple people in less than 3 months, not considering her salary, and we need to pay 3K more to bring another one + the tickets, not mentioning we are maidless now. If you were me, would you just let her go home? Please, take the scale of the crime into consideration before voicing yourself out.

[movingtospore]

I believe that's why I said -

"Realize not all would fall in this category though". Precisely my point - not every situation is the same.

Sucks for you, to be sure!

[msten885]

Hi Steve

Your wife's cousin still looking to move?

Mike

That really sucks sorry for what happened to you.

Many of you teased me mercilessly when I told you my wife wanted to bring across her best friend to be our maid. Six months on I can say it is working perfectly and the best decision we ever made. Totally reliable, 100% honest, really hard worker.

However, as was mentioned above we do have a safe in the apartment which I think is a good idea for anyone hosting a stranger in their home.

Sergie, Our maids cousin might be looking to move she is having a rough time working for a Chinese family. PM me if interested.