Pet Sitter Snooped Through the House

[disykat]

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.

Curiosity does not make it okay to invade people's personal spaces. That is NOT a reasonable explanation! When I read the OP, that is exactly what I read as making her feel violated - someone going through her personal spaces.

Not sure why people are jumping to stealing because OP didn't mention that at all.

If I am curious about someone I might look at their bookshelves, (or back in the day music or video collections on open shelving) but opening drawers etc. is NOT okay!

 

[dclpluto]

Why do people think she was looking for drugs and a drug addict? What are they going to find in most people homes. High blood pressure medicine. Think she was just snooping doesn’t make it right but doesn’t think she was looking for drugs. What can a druggie do with high blood pressure medicine and other common legal drugs People take.?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not sure why people are jumping to stealing because OP didn't mention that at all.

Because the OP mentioned 2 pills were missing but she couldn't for sure connect it to the time period of the pet sitter or if the place filling the meds didn't give her enough

If I am curious about someone I might look at their bookshelves, (or back in the day music or video collections on open shelving) but opening drawers etc. is NOT okay!

So it's okay to look at people's books and other items on a bookshelf or music or video collection but not okay to actually open a drawer? All of those are someone's personal space, do you expect people to hide all their books and music collection when they leave for town? Of course you're going to notice something here or there but going to someone's bookcase and looking at what their collection is is the same thing as going through someone's drawers--you're looking at what they own/have. A notepad on the counter is out in the open too. You say if you're curious, couldn't that just be what this woman was too? I'd think if you're of the opinion that personal space is personal space you don't just go perusing at stuff intentionally out in the open or not.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Why do people think she was looking for drugs and a drug addict? What are they going to find in most people homes. High blood pressure medicine. Think she was just snooping doesn’t make it right but doesn’t think she was looking for drugs. What can a druggie do with high blood pressure medicine and other common legal drugs People take.?

I agree with you here on this one. A bit surprised how many jump to the addict, pill stealing person. Sure that could have been the situation but a bit of a reach to just immediately go to that.

 

[Living42Day]

I edited out the pills since I cannot make a 100% connection that she took the pills, but I do find the timing convenient.

So it's okay to look at people's books and other items on a bookshelf or music or video collection but not okay to actually open a drawer? All of those are someone's personal space, do you expect people to hide all their books and music collection when they leave for town? Of course you're going to notice something here or there but going to someone's bookcase and looking at what their collection is is the same thing as going through someone's drawers--you're looking at what they own/have. A notepad on the counter is out in the open too. You say if you're curious, couldn't that just be what this woman was too? I'd think if you're of the opinion that personal space is personal space you don't just go perusing at stuff intentionally out in the open or not.

I'm fine with people looking at stuff out in the open. It's when you start digging around in areas that are more private that I begin to feel violated. Pictures on the wall? Sure, go ahead. My books? Yep. Knick knacks on the shelf? Absolutely. But to see if I'm on "psychiatric medication" as another person said or to see what products I use in the bathroom is something else entirely.

If you start under the bathroom sink, you're not going to hesitate going into the bedside table. Then the closet. Then the filing cabinet. Maybe my financial and health documents would be of interest to her. I haven't reviewed more than that one video and don't have cameras where my filing cabinet is at but I can only assume that those items were browsed upon as well. If I hire someone, I expect them to behave professionally and to treat my home in a manner that they would want their home treated.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I edited out the pills since I cannot make a 100% connection that she took the pills, but I do find the timing convenient.





I'm fine with people looking at stuff out in the open. It's when you start digging around in areas that are more private that I begin to feel violated. Pictures on the wall? Sure, go ahead. My books? Yep. Knick knacks on the shelf? Absolutely. But to see if I'm on "psychiatric medication" as another person said or to see what products I use in the bathroom is something else entirely.

If you start under the bathroom sink, you're not going to hesitate going into the bedside table. Then the closet. Then the filing cabinet. Maybe my financial and health documents would be of interest to her. I haven't reviewed more than that one video and don't have cameras where my filing cabinet is at but I can only assume that those items were browsed upon as well. If I hire someone, I expect them to behave professionally and to treat my home in a manner that they would want their home treated.

And I totally understand where you're coming from I was really only responding to the poster and how they viewed it in relation to what they did when they were curious. Everyone is different, some don't really have a problem with xyz, some do.

But if I think someone's personal space is their personal space I'm not going to make a rationale as for why it's totally fine for me to go looking at what stuff they have in their house just because it's out in the open. I'm still snooping around, looking at what they have. I just don't have to open a drawer to find out what is there.

Whenever I have pet sat for my in-laws despite being over at their house all the time I don't look at what their mail is on the counter, I don't look at what the medication they have in the pharmacy bag on the island, I don't go looking at the numerous post it notes they have on the counter for what they say, etc. I expect that to be the case when we have them (or my mom) pet sitting for us. To me I guess that's professional and respectful of our privacy despite the fact that we're family. And I treat their home just like I expect my home to be treated as well.

 

[GAN]

Why do people think she was looking for drugs and a drug addict? What are they going to find in most people homes. High blood pressure medicine. Think she was just snooping doesn’t make it right but doesn’t think she was looking for drugs. What can a druggie do with high blood pressure medicine and other common legal drugs People take.?

Most look for prescription pain meds. I know people who would do it and I know people who have had it happen to them ...it's more common than you'd think.

 

[sam_gordon]

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.

I think that's quite a leap you made. While that's one of the possibilities, I don't think it's the most likely scenario. My guess is she was actually looking for something, bandaid, tylanol, tampon, whatever, or she was nosy.

 

[AnnaS]

The sitter is in her 40s and was aware of the cameras.......I am not sure what to think.

Is it someone you will ever see again? Of course you won't be using her again.

Maybe just say, "I saw so and so playing, etc and you searching for something, I hope everything went well and you found everything you were looking for". See if any explanation was offered. She could have forgotten there was a camera in the house. Who knows.

There are cameras everywhere today and everyone has a smartphone. It takes a second for someone not to "think" and the outcome is not always a positive one. I still shake my head when people do things knowing that someone is probably filming

 

[tzolkin]

Why do people think she was looking for drugs and a drug addict? What are they going to find in most people homes. High blood pressure medicine. Think she was just snooping doesn’t make it right but doesn’t think she was looking for drugs. What can a druggie do with high blood pressure medicine and other common legal drugs People take.?

I do agree with you that it's a leap in this particular situation and that she most likely was not looking for drugs. That said, people definitely steal drugs all the time so it is something to be aware of. There are lots of "common" prescriptions that people abuse (and would therefore steal to obtain either to use themselves or to sell). These include meds for common issues like anxiety, depression, ADHD, insomnia, etc. Most people I know have bottles of pain meds including opioids that are left over from a surgery or medical procedure. I have two partial bottles of oxycodone.

 

[wenrob]

I keep Neosporin and bandaids in my medicine cabinet. I also keep ointment and ear stuff for my dog in there. Eye drops, q-tips, cotton balls, grooming stuff like clippers and scissors, alcohol, peroxide those kinds of things. It’s plausible she was looking for something like that. The sticking point for me is that it’s a ten minute gig.

I’ve had my DD’s friends dog sit and if they’ve needed to look for something they’ve told me straight out that they went looking for it. Have you spoken to her at all? Maybe give her a chance to say she went looking for something before you bring it up. That said I have someone in my life who does not hesitate to go through cabinets and drawers to take whatever they want so if this person didn’t notify they were looking for something needed right away I’d not have her back.

Sort of OT but I’m surprised that people actually keep meds in their bathrooms. I read years ago that it was a terrible environment and degrades them. Most say “keep in a cool, dry place” on the label. A bathroom is the opposite of that.

 

[anniemae]

I would confront her. I would be direct. This is your home and she knew cameras were in the house, you have every right to ask. No need to sugar coat it. I would say something like, "I noticed on the cameras that you were looking for something in my bathroom." Then let her explain.

Oh, then report back to us. LOL

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I guess I am very non-confrontational. I would just not say anything and never hire her to pet sit again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Most say “keep in a cool, dry place” on the label.

I keep ours in the pantry downstairs at least at the moment but you're totally right. My mom has a medicine cabinet in her bathroom and there was at least some meds there with the rest being downstairs in a cabinet next to the kitchen sink.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My first thought was that she was just nosy (not really "OK", but not uncommon either.)

My second (less likely, but it definitely happens) was that she was looking for drugs to sell.

But I really hope it's just that she needed a band-aid or feminine product. (Yes, it was a 10-min gig, but she may have had several more of those in a row before she would get home.) She should have left a note, though.

 

[winterwhite]

I personally think you are not equipped to have other people enter your home and watch your animals if you have this level of paranoia that you believe someone stole exactly 2 pills and put everything back exactly where they found it. What would be the point of that high-risk, low-reward effort?

It's obvious that you didn't trust this person before she even arrived. She knew you had cameras, which leads me to believe that she probably wasn't doing anything untoward - or maybe she assumed you aren't a creep and don't have cameras in your bathroom.

 

[GAN]

I personally think you are not equipped to have other people enter your home and watch your animals if you have this level of paranoia that you believe someone stole exactly 2 pills and put everything back exactly where they found it. What would be the point of that high-risk, low-reward effort?

It's obvious that you didn't trust this person before she even arrived. She knew you had cameras, which leads me to believe that she probably wasn't doing anything untoward - or maybe she assumed you aren't a creep and don't have cameras in your bathroom.

Huh? Good morning!

 

[Living42Day]

I personally think you are not equipped to have other people enter your home and watch your animals if you have this level of paranoia that you believe someone stole exactly 2 pills and put everything back exactly where they found it. What would be the point of that high-risk, low-reward effort?

It's obvious that you didn't trust this person before she even arrived. She knew you had cameras, which leads me to believe that she probably wasn't doing anything untoward - or maybe she assumed you aren't a creep and don't have cameras in your bathroom.

You got me...I'm quite the psycho.

 

[tasha99]

I think she was looking for opiates and took the pills. Not much to do at this point, but never have her over again. So glad I have my daughter to house sit when we travel, and we keep her cat at my house if she has to be gone more than 12 hours (her cat is diabetic). I don't want paid strangers in the house and would probably board my cats if she couldn't house/pet sit.

 

[winterwhite]

You got me...I'm quite the psycho.

Why would you entrust someone with your pet that you trust so little you feel the need to check bathroom security cameras?