Stolen money from my piggy bank

[Monika70]

I have experienced unpleasant issue in my house today... I am hosting two different persons in two rooms of mine... Been doing this for a year and have not have any problems.. However, i came back after work last night, was very depressed, as I run out of money, and havent got my salary yet and decided to take the money from my piggy bank.. As soon as I took it, I was in shock, it was empty!!! I had there round 15 euros, and inside was only 1 euro left.. Few days ago I was cleaning the house, and remeber lifting my piggy bank, it had still money inside.. I have contacted my sister straight away, as she lives with me, but now it is on holidays, and left same day as our guests arrived.. she has a piggy bank also.. She asked me to check her money, I did, and there was only 32 euros, while last two months, she was puting money inside, sometimes, 5, sometimes 6, somethimes 2 euros a day... there was much much more than 32 euros... And what to do in this case?! Airbnb is not covering cash loose, and who took the money? Which guest??? And how to blame them, nobody was catched in the crime... Such a smart way to steal money, as nobody know how much they have in their piggy bank and it will take time to reasile, or will never..... We are so sad and we are so dissapointed... These people are still in my house... What to do what to say? The place where the piggy banks were standing is not shared, but dont have a lock.... we put a lock today straight away, but how to take my money back? :(((((((((((((( because we did not imagine people can come to your house, pretend they are nice people and manage a way to steal money from your piggy bank!!!!!! 

Any opinions? 

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

@Monika70  There's little you can do at this point except confront your guest about it if you are absolutely positive it was that person.  From reading your message, you don't seem it know which guest it could have been.  Lesson learned not to leave money around the house.

[Monika70]

How to know which one took the money? Not that he/she took it, they manage to find a way to took them from piggy bank without damaging it... thats art as well.. I have no idea which one... And what about the lesson? I dont feel comfortable anymore host people in my house, that I have to hide my things, and be afraid if something else will be missing.... I will not die from loosing 15 euros, however my sister had a lot in there, most probably like 150 euros, and left with 32 in coins... 

[Rachael26]

@Monika70

I am so sorry this happened to you (and your sister), especially after such a long and successful time in hosting.

But you asked for opinions.

So here's mine. You are way too trusting. I say this with love in my heart for you - and I do not want you to change as a person. But you must treat everyone and all guests the same - with zero trust. It doesn't mean you don't like them, or are suspicious of them or do not want them to be in your home - but that you respect the fact that everyone has different levels of morals and life experiences which will not be the same as yours. 

So my code is 'prevention is better than cure'. If you want to earn money by letting strangers into your home and renting them a room - then decide to have everything and anything you have available to them for them to use. And if you have anything you do not want them to use, touch, break or take - then lock it away in a closet/cupboard or keep in your own private bedroom. And make sure you use the locks all the time. I recommend paying extra for a combination lock system - it means you can give your sister the code and you never forget the key or leave it behind - so it means that everytime you shut your door you know its locked and you can't forget.

The odds of someone breaking into a locked room to take something they can't see are very very small. But the odds of someone taking something that doesn't belong to them when it is out in the open are much higher. So you can do something about that. Protect yourself by preventing the opportunity to take or steal in the first place.

Best Wishes.

[Monika70]

 Thank you for your opinion, you are very correct about what you have said... My idea of airbnb was to meet nice people and ear extra cash... And i think it is very smart way of stealing something, as you have no idea how much money you have in your piggy bank, and maybe you will never realize that they were stolen.. However i knew how much I have, because I am broke and that was for my blackest day.. And in this case, you can not confront the person, because of course he will deny.. in my country we have a saying'' if you are not catched, you are not a thief'' and this is what happened. 

[Rachael26]

@Monika70

Keep your head up - this will pass. Remember it could have been worse and more things taken. But please learn from this and protect yourself, and your things.

My favorite country is Cyprus and I visited many many times when I lived in London. Larnaca is so beautiful and I love the spirit of the Cypriot people. So keep saving your hard earned money - and plan a trip to the United States! There are lots of Airbnb hosts here - including me - so come and visit! 🙂  

Best Wishes.

[Joanna85]

I am sorry this happened to you.  I don't know how peole do it- renting multiple rooms in their homes and leaving their home for work while strangers are roaming around.  I rent a mother-in-law quarters and either my husband or I am home at all times...and I bought a cheap lock so that nobody can access any part of my home that is not exactly the mother-in-law quarters. Soon I"m going to buy a camera that faces the door that comes and goes into that space from the outside.   If I was you, I would lock EVERYTHING you don't want to share- even tie down the t.v..  You can buy cheap locks for the cabinets and for the door to your room.  Put in cheap cameras- they make them real cheap now- so you can see what's going on in the common areas of your home while you are out.  I bet even if you put in a few cheap cameras that people could see in the common areas nothing would happen.  People do things if they think they can get away with it---even if it is as simple as stealing from your piggy bank.  If they know they are being watched they wouldn't do any such thing.