Suspected theft by our maid?

[Siglap Man]

Hi...can anyone assist with how best to proceed? We just came back from a two week holiday to find that my wifes engagement ring has disappeared. It was hidden with some other valuables in a purse...our cleaner gas admitted that she found the purse (which is odd in itself, it was hidden at the bottom of a box that didn't need searching for any reason) but denies taking anything. We're speaking to the agency first thing tomorrow and are hoping that the ring will miraculously appear tomorrow afternoon when the cleaner is next here.
Obviously if not we'll engage the police, but I guess I'd appreciate any advice after that...I presume it is our word against hers, and no real proof if it has gone? She is Malaysian, would it affect her work permit (even with just the accusation)?
Nothing else is missing, the cleaner has been with us for over a year, and was joined by another cleaner of the same agency for one or two sessions while we were away.
Any advice gratefully received,
Thanks

[JR8]

Why not report it to the police anyway, and request that they be in attendance when the cleaners arrive for their next weekly appointment?

If she does bring back the ring then it's case closed. If not, then I'm sure she may be stunned into spilling the beans.

[ecureilx]

Hi...can anyone assist with how best to proceed? We just came back from a two week holiday to find that my wifes engagement ring has disappeared. It was hidden with some other valuables in a purse...our cleaner gas admitted that she found the purse (which is odd in itself, it was hidden at the bottom of a box that didn't need searching for any reason) but denies taking anything. We're speaking to the agency first thing tomorrow and are hoping that the ring will miraculously appear tomorrow afternoon when the cleaner is next here.
Obviously if not we'll engage the police, but I guess I'd appreciate any advice after that...I presume it is our word against hers, and no real proof if it has gone? She is Malaysian, would it affect her work permit (even with just the accusation)?
Nothing else is missing, the cleaner has been with us for over a year, and was joined by another cleaner of the same agency for one or two sessions while we were away.
Any advice gratefully received,
Thanks

I hope you didn't contaminate the crime scene ..

Seriously, Singapore police has all WP/EP and almost everybody's finger prints and may positively say if the purse was handled .. I guess so

Affecting her WP? Well, unless you seriously raise a police case, not much to worry about ..

I just wonder, rightfully or wrongfully, once you have decided that it was the cleaner, how will you continue to engage her ? Will there be any more trust left ?

[the lynx]

Well I'd say that if she is found innocent, her WP record won't be tarnished. On the other hand...

I'd say just go with the police report already. Somebody must get down and have this investigated.

[x9200]

How did she explain she touched the purse?

[beppi]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

[ecureilx]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

so CSI is fake ? oh no .. how could I face the world now ??

Seriously, years ago when my company vehicle was broken into an the cashcard was stolen, I called the cops, and there was three squad cars and after about 3 hours of evidence collecting, they told me that I can take the car to replace the window glass. From the time I left the car and noticed it, it was like 9.00 PM when I parked, and came to pick it up at 9 AM .. no idea when the guy broke in. (boss was paying for us to get drunk - so no driving .. )

And two days later they did call me and tell me that they caught the culprit based on the finger print gathered.

No, they didn't say it was a "partial match" or those fancy words you hear in CSI ..

Well, maybe the cop was smoking to you so you don't fret much .. so they can catch you when you mess it up, if you do mess it up ??

[zzm9980]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

so CSI is fake ? oh no .. how could I face the world now ??

Yeah, you just ruined all of my faith in CSI Miami!

Maybe this is why Dexter is blood-splatter and not a finger print tech.

[the lynx]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

so CSI is fake ? oh no .. how could I face the world now ??

Yeah, you just ruined all of my faith in CSI Miami!

Maybe this is why Dexter is blood-splatter and not a finger print tech.

And I still think CSI Vegas is the best!

[x9200]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

Water disappears more quickly from the latent fingerprints and AFAIK popular methods rely on the presence of water. Still there are some other standard methods that can be used as the rest of the main components of the fingerprint is very stable.

[QRM]

Unlike what you see in criminal movies, fingerprints on items touched only last a few hours in hot and humid tropics and thus are rarely useful (and used) in investigations here. (I was told this by the Singapore police.)

I know that and you know that, hopefully the helper doesn't (though the Pinoy Grapevine is a powerful tool) so try the BS. collect the box with tongs and put it into a plastic bag and same with the purse saying the police told you to collect evidence, Then go on to say whenthey find finger prints that person will go to Jail etc. Say the police are coming in a weeks time try the poker face and see if the ring turns up.

Maybe that's why she said she touched the purse, so justify the fingerprints?

[Siglap Man]

Thanks all. As it turned out, I let the agency know that we were going to inform the police. Within an hour, they came round with the cleaner, and I told them they could search the room themselves...if the ring turned up, it wouldn't be a problem for the police.
Sure enough, the ring was 'found' an hour later in a drawer that my wife never uses, in a jewellery case she hadn't seen in months. The cleaner then said she felt too upset to clean out apartment again.

Moral of this story....we're getting a safe at the weekend, it's not worth the risk as people are only human.

Reason we didn't call police immediately? No proof, no ring, so almost certainly no conviction, plus two corners were in the house while we were away; hopefully people learn something from this (we did!)

Thanks again for everyone for taking the time to respond. I love the CSI tangent...!!!

[Vaucluse]

Moral of this story....we're getting a safe at the weekend
.
.
.
plus two corners were in the house while we were away;

Yes, you definitely need a safe. Our cleaner has been with us a while and she is lovely and all that but she is a Flippie and always has 'issues' going on at home. If there were an emergency and a lot of money was needed I'd probably do the same - take what I can get my hands on to help my family.

We've never had an issue . . . because we have a safe


(Umm, what are two corners?)

[the lynx]

Moral of this story....we're getting a safe at the weekend
.
.
.
plus two corners were in the house while we were away;

Yes, you definitely need a safe. Our cleaner has been with us a while and she is lovely and all that but she is a Flippie and always has 'issues' going on at home. If there were an emergency and a lot of money was needed I'd probably do the same - take what I can get my hands on to help my family.

We've never had an issue . . . because we have a safe


(Umm, what are two corners?)

Must be that effing auto correct or just typo error, I think she meant cleaners.

[JR8]

- We don't have cleaners in when on holiday (surely there is nothing to clean?)
- And we have a place where we always have our valuables locked up.
- We don't leave anything seriously pinchable around or on show.


Our cleaner, an illiterate Slav is actually pretty amazing. One time she unexpectedly fished some costume jewelry tat from the bottom of a bin and specifically asked me if it was intended as rubbish. When i said it was she then asked if she could have it...