Pet Sitter Snooped Through the House

[Living42Day]

Background: We just got back from vacation and had a great time. While away, we hired a pet sitter to come check in on our cat and give him kitty treats. I have cameras set up in a couple of the rooms so we can check in on him sporadically throughout the day. These cameras are set up to detect motion and allow us to go back and view motion events, whether the video contains people or animals. One of the cameras is angled in such a way that shows the master bedroom, with a sliver of the en suite bathroom also visible as it houses the litter box (part of the counter/mirror are visible but the toilet/sink/tub/shower are not visible). I let the pet sitter know this, not that we were spying on her but that the cameras were up to see my cat throughout the day which is true.

I didn't end up catching my cat on the camera in the live feed during the day, so at night I went back through the footage to make sure he was doing ok. In one of the motion events, I caught my pet sitter opening up and searching the medicine cabinet, cabinet under the sink, and drawers in the en suite. It makes me feel really violated that my personal items were browsed through and potentially touched. I also am worried about what else she went through. Everything she needed was out: bags for the litter, additional litter, scoopers, soap, etc.

I guess I should have known better than to think my stuff was safe. I took precautions with my documents and placed the medications in places one would not generally think of to look through. She is in her 40s so it's not like she's a teenager. We also paid VERY well for only 10 minutes of her time (what the actual time should take, not the additional time it takes to snoop). I've babysat and housesat for others when I was a teenager and never once went where I wasn't supposed to go. I always thought how devastated I would be to find out someone went though my stuff so would not dare do it to someone else, only to find out that it did happen to us. I'm just sad and frustrated and looking for a place to vent.

 

[karen4546]

Background: We just got back from vacation and had a great time. While away, we hired a pet sitter to come check in on our cat and give him kitty treats. I have cameras set up in a couple of the rooms so we can check in on him sporadically throughout the day. These cameras are set up to detect motion and allow us to go back and view motion events, whether the video contains people or animals. One of the cameras is angled in such a way that shows the master bedroom, with a sliver of the en suite bathroom also visible as it houses the litter box (part of the counter/mirror are visible but the toilet/sink/tub/shower are not visible). I let the pet sitter know this, not that we were spying on her but that the cameras were up to see my cat throughout the day which is true.

I didn't end up catching my cat on the camera in the live feed during the day, so at night I went back through the footage to make sure he was doing ok. In one of the motion events, I caught my pet sitter opening up and searching the medicine cabinet, cabinet under the sink, and drawers in the en suite. Luckily, I do not keep medication in that cabinet and just had my makeup in the drawer and extra shampoo/conditioner under the sink. I did have my expensive electric toothbrush in the med cabinet, though (I travel with a cheap one to throw away). It makes me feel really violated that my personal items were browsed through and potentially touched. I also am worried about what else she went through. Two of my pain killers from a recent procedure were missing, though, which I kept the bottle in my tshirt drawer. Perhaps the pharmacy did not give me the correct amount at the beginning, but that is the only other explanation since I have not used them.

Everything she needed was out: bags for the litter, additional litter, scoopers, soap, etc.

I guess I should have known better than to think my stuff was safe. I took precautions with my documents and placed the medications in places one would not generally think of to look through. I even told her we had cameras up! She is in her 40s so it's not like she's a teenager. We also paid VERY well for only 10 minutes of her time (what the actual time should take, not the additional time it takes to snoop). I've babysat and housesat for others when I was a teenager and never once went where I wasn't supposed to go. I always thought how devastated I would be to find out someone went though my stuff so would not dare do it to someone else, only to find out that it did happen to us. I'm just sad and frustrated and looking for a place to vent.

If you told her that you were surveilling her then who knows what she was doing? Since you say you told her before she took the job, show her the video and confront her about what you believe she took. Anyone in their right mind that KNOWS they are being watched would certainly behave in an appropriate manner and not rifle through tshirt drawers for pain killers.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It looks and sounds bad, but I wouldn't jump to the worst conclusion yet - she might have been looking for a cat brush or some sort of toy (like a laser). I mean, since it's possible, I'd let her explain. Although, no matter the explanation, I might not hire her again.

 

[Living42Day]

It looks and sounds bad, but I wouldn't jump to the worst conclusion yet - she might have been looking for a cat brush or some sort of toy (like a laser). I mean, since it's possible, I'd let her explain. Although, no matter the explanation, I might not hire her again.

And that's what I thought, but I don't think people normally keep cat items in medicine cabinets. I understand looking through the cupboards and maybe the drawers, but the medicine cabinet?

 

[Jennasis]

You could confront her, but if it were me, I would probably just not hire her again.

 

[Mamabun]

Could she have been looking for something like a bandaid (cut herself on the edge of a can or something)?

 

[martikus]

People are snoops which is why I will never have a house sitter. Pretty ballsy that she did it knowing there were cameras! I understand you must feel violated but unfortunately I think you should expect more people would do this than not.

If she works for a company you could bring to them. Otherwise I just wouldn’t use her again. Not sure what confronting her will accomplish.

 

[LYSE]

I've had Camera's both inside and outside my houses for going on almost 10 years now, I've never trusted a stranger but have had friends for both free and friends that we've paid, they've known about the cameras and that we review footage mostly to check on the dogs.

A few times I have brought up something I noticed them doing and its always gone over well, in your case I would say something along the lines of:
I was checking our footage and noticed you were looking for something, did you end up having to pay for something? I would be happy to reimburse you or make sure it's available next time.

In my case our friend was looking for some kind of doggie drawer and ended up buying toys for our dogs off amazon.

Medicine cabinet snooping makes me think that they were looking for some first aid type item.

 

[Calee]

Unless she is a hard core drug addict that can't control herself, even knowing she would likely be caught, I can not imagine she took pain killers out of your sock drawer, and I doubt she wanted your electric toothbrush

I would likely be a bit off put but also would think there is likely a reasonable explanation. First aid, item for the cat, I don't know what. I agree with the PP that asking her wouldn't hurt!

 

[backformore]

There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation - she had a headache and was checking to see if you had tylenol? I would ask. She could just be a curious person, not looking to steal anything, just wondering how other people live. When I was a bored teenaged babysitter, I used to look around people's houses. I never had any ill intent, just curious about people.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My first thought would be first aid stuff (band-aid, ointment, etc) because of where she went. She probably should have just mentioned that like "hey I needed a ___ so went looking for it" etc You can always ask but she'd probably be like "I thought you weren't spying on me" which to be fair to you both you weren't, but now you kinda were since you actually found something on video. If you felt she did a good job otherwise you might just casually ask her, if you were less than impressed then I just wouldn't rehire her.

Just keep the footage in case something else comes up missing that would have been stored in those areas, for a while at least.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That’s awful. I know someone else this happened to, too. Hard to know who to trust.

 

[cobright]

Oh she was definitely snooping. But if you call her on it she's already got an excuse primed and ready. She nicked her hand opening a can and was hoping for Neosporin ... or whatever. Just do a really thorough inventory through the rest of the house.

 

[kanerf]

She was most likely looking for drugs that she could use or sell. How did you find her? If she is registered with some service or something they need to be notified so that she does not get any more jobs.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

I guess I'm naïve, or maybe a sucker, but a female looking through drawers in a bathroom, my first thought would be she had a, female emergency and was looking for personal hygiene products. I would leave it be unless I noticed something missing.

 

[maxaroni]

A little different but I was looking for a babysitter when DS was young. We had a family function to go to, our usual sitter was unavailable. I called my neighbor and she said she wouldn’t recommend the one they just used. She said they hadn‘t been at their party long when the sitter called them. The sitter called our neighbors and said they needed to come home as she was not feeling well. They came home and while the husband was taking the sitter home, our neighbor went upstairs to get changed. The shower was wet, a wet towel was on the floor and then she noticed that the closet was gone through. The sitter was 18, just graduated HS. Evidently, she got a call to go to a graduation party last minute.

 

[Carol_]

Sounds like relatively innocent snooping to see if you’re on anti-psychotic medications or what kind of face cream you use… If she didn’t take the whole bottle of pain pills, she’s probably not an addict… yet.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

I have been pet sitting for years as a side gig. I love it and take my job very seriously. I never snoop where I don't need to. I hate feeling like I'm violating people's privacy.

I have looked through medicine cabinets on a few occasions when I needed medicine/bandaids that I did not bring with me. It's only been three or four times in well over a decade. If it had been me, and I knew about the cameras, I would have told the family/homeowner about it and the reason for it by the next day. I can't imagine needing to do so for a short cat visit (I usually watch dogs overnight, up to three weeks straight).

There have been other times when I needed to look for other kinds of supplies, and I always hate it. I feel like a creep.

If she left most of the pain meds, then she might not have taken any, or only taken an amount she thought you wouldn't notice. All the people I've known with addiction problems would have just taken the whole bottle, though.

 

[Living42Day]

I have been pet sitting for years as a side gig. I love it and take my job very seriously. I never snoop where I don't need to. I hate feeling like I'm violating people's privacy.

I have looked through medicine cabinets on a few occasions when I needed medicine/bandaids that I did not bring with me. It's only been three or four times in well over a decade. If it had been me, and I knew about the cameras, I would have told the family/homeowner about it and the reason for it by the next day. I can't imagine needing to do so for a short cat visit (I usually watch dogs overnight, up to three weeks straight).

There have been other times when I needed to look for other kinds of supplies, and I always hate it. I feel like a creep.

If she left most of the pain meds, then she might not have taken any, or only taken an amount she thought you wouldn't notice. All the people I've known with addiction problems would have just taken the whole bottle, though.

Can I hire you?!?! lol

Seriously, I wish I had someone who I could trust to treat my cat kindly and also respect the privacy in my home. It sounds like you do a great job and I wish there were more people like you.

 

[GAN]

There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation - she had a headache and was checking to see if you had tylenol? I would ask. She could just be a curious person, not looking to steal anything, just wondering how other people live. When I was a bored teenaged babysitter, I used to look around people's houses. I never had any ill intent, just curious about people.

She was there for 10-minutes ...she couldn't wait to get a Tylenol from her own home??? They aren't paying her to be curious -just to care for the cat. It's an intrusion and not right. Drug addicts go for medicine cabinets -never leave drugs in a bathroom when having strangers in your home, even if you're there. The OP did the right thing hiding them beforehand...