# So where did I put that $4,000? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518 "2011-12-27T15:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/81 "2012-01-02T18:53:37Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > I feel for you. Two years ago, when we were leaving on a trip to Italy… Reminds me of ages ago when in NYC, I bought two rather expensive round trip tickets by train, with sleeper car, to Chicago for Christmas. Two days before trip, could not find tickets anywhere. Eventually figured out I had put them on pile of newspapers and junk mail that Mr. Clean roommate had thrown down the garbage shoot several days prior. Had to buy new tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/82 "2012-01-02T19:17:32Z")
Tokyo, you sure you didn’t already pay that bill, or deposit it? Had a scare over Christmas when I couldn’t find the watch I’d bought for my husband, because I’d outsmarted myself by 1. Wrapping early and 2. Put it into a HUGE box filled with other stuff so he wouldn’t know it was a watch. Spent half a day tearing the place apart before I finally started tearing open gifts. So…maybe you were just too efficient? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/83 "2012-01-14T10:42:23Z")
A serious update. Unfortunately we don’t have proof, but it looks like the cleaning lady may be the culprit. My wife is also missing some jewelry. :mad: The woman had worked for one of our friends for more than 3 years, and so we hadn’t worried about her. She only comes 3 or 4 times a month, but she did straightening up in the room where I had put the money as well as where my wife has her jewelry. She was the only person who had access to both rooms during the period in question. Since we don’t have proof, then the police won’t be of any help. Damn. Oh well. At least it wasn’t my wife, daughter, baby or the neighbor’s fictitious cat. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/84 "2012-01-14T13:52:40Z")
**TokyoPlayer** , sounds like it is time for a small safe. It keeps the honest honist, and slows down the dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/85 "2012-01-14T14:00:48Z")
Aw maaaan. That’s sad to hear. Is there some way you can get someone to ask the cleaner or put some pressure on her or something? Do you need us to PayPal you anything? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/86 "2012-01-14T14:46:56Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > **TokyoPlayer** , sounds like it is time for a small safe. It keeps the honest honist, and slows down the dishonest. Ya, I think so. . . > [@Sunspace](#): > > Aw maaaan. That’s sad to hear. Is there some way you can get someone to ask the cleaner or put some pressure on her or something? > > Do you need us to PayPal you anything? We talked to the friend who just to hire her. the cleaner had lived with the friend’s mother for several years, so this wasn’t just a random stranger. The friend thinks that if we confront her, she could likely fess up. (Assuming it is her.) The woman is from the Philippines, and her work in Japan supports a lot of relatives there. With the number of expats in Tokyo disappearing since the nuclear “event”, her work has significantly dropped off and she may be headed back. I’m fine for money, thank you for the kind offer, though. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/87 "2012-01-14T16:43:25Z")
It’s just that $4000 would be a huge amount of riches to me right now, and I was afraid that without it you’d be seriously struggling, in a “what bill do I not pay this month” way… ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/88 "2012-01-14T18:02:02Z")
Well, you could always install a nanny-cam and leave $50 or something in an envelope and watch what happens. If you catch her in the act, it might be easier to get her to confess (and pay you back). ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/89 "2012-01-14T18:03:42Z")
I doubt that she could pay him back. She’s probably already sent the money home. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/90 "2012-01-14T18:32:19Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I doubt that she could pay him back. She’s probably already sent the money home. That’s what I think. I suspect that I’ve involuntarily contributed to the PI’s GDP. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/91 "2012-01-16T11:41:25Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > A serious update. > > Unfortunately we don’t have proof, but it looks like the cleaning lady may be the culprit. My wife is also missing some jewelry. :mad: My condolences - and apologies, I hadn’t realised this wasn’t a joke thread. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/92 "2012-01-16T14:00:01Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > My condolences - and apologies, I hadn’t realised this wasn’t a joke thread. If it makes you feel any better, I had thought that the money would turn up at some stage. That’s why I wrote things in a light vein. The money doesn’t matter, it’s the gifts from Grandma which can’t be replaced. We were stupid for trusting a friend of a friend, but in the end, you have to remember that locks keep some people honest. I’ve done things I’ve regretted in live, so I’m not in any place to point fingers, but has she simply stole the cash, and not the gifts from Grandma to the kids, I would be less likely to wish harm on her and her progeny, but she stole memories which can’t be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/93 "2012-01-16T14:14:31Z")
I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/94 "2012-01-16T14:15:20Z")
I’m very sorry this happened to you, though I congratulate your lighthearted thread approach. It kept me fooled. For the future, may I recommend both a safe and some inexpensive hidden cameras? Even if any future help doesn’t have theft issues, you can learn a lot about people by observing them when they don’t think they are being watched, and anyone you have in your home unobserved who has been hired for a job is fair game in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/95 "2012-01-16T23:07:26Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > For the future, may I recommend both a safe and some inexpensive hidden cameras? Even if any future help doesn’t have theft issues, you can learn a lot about people by observing them when they don’t think they are being watched, and anyone you have in your home unobserved who has been hired for a job is fair game in my book. I am fairly certain that this is illegal in many jurisdictions. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/96 "2012-01-16T23:22:21Z")
> [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > I am fairly certain that this is illegal in many jurisdictions. I certainly can’t speak for Japan but in your own home is usually fair game. Any jurisdiction that has a problem with it, Maryland for example, has a problem with audio recording, which it considers ‘wiretap’. Video with no audio is acceptable in most places I know of. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/97 "2012-01-17T01:02:56Z")
We’re going to get a safe. It’s a good idea, anyway. You can only let sometime take advantage of you to the extent you let them. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/98 "2012-01-17T01:50:22Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > I certainly can’t speak for Japan but in your own home is usually fair game… Just tell people it’s part of the baby monitor. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/99 "2012-01-17T05:22:07Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518/100 "2012-01-18T09:20:49Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > A serious update. > > Unfortunately we don’t have proof, but it looks like the cleaning lady may be the culprit. My wife is also missing some jewelry. :mad: … This sucks. It’s bad enough misplacing something yourself or inadvertently throwing it out with the rubbish but to discover that someone you trusted has stolen from you is much worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-i-put-that-4-000/607518.md?page=6)