Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: TomCrowther on March 06, 2014, 06:31:25 pm
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Why is it always the window cleaner?
Customer of four years rang me today. Asking if it was me who cleaned her Windows yesterday. Yes, why, is there a problem?
Yes, items were stolen from the garden!
Turns out, the items were taken from a skip in the back garden. Told her with 100% certainty it wasn't us. She replied, well I only have your word for that.
I am absolutely livid. I would bet money it was the scrap guys who were driving round the area on the same day (sorry to all the scrap guys who don't enter people's property to look through skips).
It was a tv and some bits of scrap. What on earth would I want with a broken tv in a skip?
The only funny thing about the whole stupid story is.....the customers business is skip hire. I'm not joking.
Rant over but why is it always the window cleaner????
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Some lad broke into one of my customers house late one night...
The woman phoned the police and said it might have been one of the window cleaners for no apparent reason... ???
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With the ultra low prices I charge, I'm always on the look out for stuff to rob from gardens. Can't get by on just windy money and JSA 8) Relax, just make sure you put the scrappy in the frame. ;)
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Why is it always the window cleaner?
Customer of four years rang me today. Asking if it was me who cleaned her Windows yesterday. Yes, why, is there a problem?
Yes, items were stolen from the garden!
Turns out, the items were taken from a skip in the back garden. Told her with 100% certainty it wasn't us. She replied, well I only have your word for that.
I am absolutely livid. I would bet money it was the scrap guys who were driving round the area on the same day (sorry to all the scrap guys who don't enter people's property to look through skips).
It was a tv and some bits of scrap. What on earth would I want with a broken tv in a skip?
The only funny thing about the whole stupid story is.....the customers business is skip hire. I'm not joking.
Rant over but why is it always the window cleaner????
Disgraceful mate. I feel for you, I really do.
I once had a customer who I cleaned for twice.
A while after the second clean the back of her house was broken into. The next visit she told me about it adding " ...but I'll let you keep on cleaning" The way it was said indicated that there was a clear insinuation that I was a strong suspect. I queried it with her. I'm not one for being rude to customers even when they deserve it but I made an exception that day. I left the house half cleaned too - never went back. If I'd stuck around, I have a horrible feeling I would have lost control.
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If you are burgled one of the first questions the police ask is "Who is your window cleaner?" We are lucky we are so well known round here that if one of our custys gets robbed the police just ring up and ask if I noticed anything
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Cheek of some people. ::)roll
I was approached recently by an old boy on a posh estate. He was asking a few questions about the system then asked if I'd ever been convicted of a criminal offence. I was a bit shocked but said no and asked why. He said he was an ex magistrate and lost count of the number of window cleaners he had had before him on various stealing charges.
Make of that what you will!!
Cheers, Tom
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I've never been
caught in court for stealing.
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i got pulled over by the police a few weeks ago
there was a burglary on the estate i was working on and because i had ladders on my van they thought it was me.
what burglar puts his bloody phone number on his van lola
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Cheek of some people. ::)roll
I was approached recently by an old boy on a posh estate. He was asking a few questions about the system then asked if I'd ever been convicted of a criminal offence. I was a bit shocked but said no and asked why. He said he was an ex magistrate and lost count of the number of window cleaners he had had before him on various stealing charges.
Make of that what you will!!
Cheers, Tom
That doesn't particularly surprise me but it's not about window cleraners being dishonest.
It's about thieves getting caught and when it gets to court, they need to appear to be working as it can lessen the chances of going down. So saying they are a self-employed window cleaner is like saying, "I am working and will lose my work if I get locked up." So they need to say "self employed" in the hope it's harder to track. And they need to choose something that doesn't have a specialised skill because they could act the part if needed.
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I just make sure i dont get caught!
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i know of a few windies with a plain van or car that are dodgey as hell . its a dodgey sign ,not having any signs
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what a load of crap , why dont you just tell her that stuff is worth absolute poope
what thief would even want it,how about its in a skip and some passer by took it ,
or tell her your day rate and tell her to get lost, most window cleaners make good money what on earth would they want with a load of chunk from a skip,sounds like she just wants to cancel and needs another insane excuse.
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It was hard not to go off and give her a right mouthful. Never been so angry about something in this job.
Next week I may have calmed down >:( >:(
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i would of asked if they had phoned the police , if she said no , I would of said good because you were going too as you have northing to hide and that you wont have your name spreed about as a thief and these people need catching
I would of rang the police as well , your in your right to do so , seems over the top ????? not as over the top as her now telling the full street your a thief which will in turn lead to the next half a street being told ect ect
buy you making a fuss and ringing the police yourself , she would poop her pants , and start back tracking her mouth , making her feel a like a right willy this way she would not dare tell anybody so your name stops out of the lime light
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It was hard not to go off and give her a right mouthful. Never been so angry about something in this job.
Next week I may have calmed down >:( >:(
I assume you probably won't be returning to that house?
I suggest that if you do dump that custie, write a (polite) letter explaining why you are not returning. Just not going back could be miscionstrued as guilt.
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i would of asked if they had phoned the police , if she said no , I would of said good because you were going too as you have northing to hide and that you wont have your name spreed about as a thief and these people need catching
I would of rang the police as well , your in your right to do so , seems over the top ????? not as over the top as her now telling the full street your a thief which will in turn lead to the next half a street being told ect ect
buy you making a fuss and ringing the police yourself , she would poop her pants , and start back tracking her mouth , making her feel a like a right willy this way she would not dare tell anybody so your name stops out of the lime light
I like the way you're thinking.
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Guys and gals..
We are prime suspects.
I have cleaned windows since 1990's on and off.
During this short period I have been questioned for casing a Lloyds bank.
I was actually Sitting waiting for a boots branch to open to clean inside.. What a laugh.
I broke in a house of a customer!!!
As she had shut the door with her keys inside.
She was by my side all the time I may add. Externally beaded windows are so safe! she was glad as she needed to pick her disabled son up from school.
Had my finger prints taken after smash and grabs on 5 stores I cleaned.. they caught the gang and they weren't window cleaners.. They were professional thieves
I could go on and on and still not reach 2000.
I got stopped once for driving with ladders on the roof of my car at 3.30am.
Police asked were I was going at that time of day.
I said to work... bells ringing then to them.
Burgling is it?
I thought I best open my boot and show them what I had hidden in it.
Bucket and squeegee of course.
I said may I get going as Mc d's need me to clean before they open and I have 4 to do before 6.30am.
Smiles on their faces "off you go then"
I don't get the same things anymore not since I updated to a sign written van and uniform. Security cards and a list of accreditations under the hood I gained a lot more respect.
I am still the same window cleaner I was all the way back then. HONEST
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Next they will be saying window cleaners employ more guys than they should be able to afford, drive big vans full of all the latest gear all as a cover to sell drugs.
As if that's ever likely to happen!!!! ;)
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Guys and gals..
We are prime suspects.
I have cleaned windows since 1990's on and off.
During this short period I have been questioned for casing a Lloyds bank.
I was actually Sitting waiting for a boots branch to open to clean inside.. What a laugh.
I broke in a house of a customer!!!
As she had shut the door with her keys inside.
She was by my side all the time I may add. Externally beaded windows are so safe! she was glad as she needed to pick her disabled son up from school.
Had my finger prints taken after smash and grabs on 5 stores I cleaned.. they caught the gang and they weren't window cleaners.. They were professional thieves
I could go on and on and still not reach 2000.
I got stopped once for driving with ladders on the roof of my car at 3.30am.
Police asked were I was going at that time of day.
I said to work... bells ringing then to them.
Burgling is it?
I thought I best open my boot and show them what I had hidden in it.
Bucket and squeegee of course.
I said may I get going as Mc d's need me to clean before they open and I have 4 to do before 6.30am.
Smiles on their faces "off you go then"
I don't get the same things anymore not since I updated to a sign written van and uniform. Security cards and a list of accreditations under the hood I gained a lot more respect.
I am still the same window cleaner I was all the way back then. HONEST
lol ;D
its shcoking isnt it we have all had similair stuff over the years,one guy actually told me years ago i want to be in cos you are a window cleaner and where i am from (have no clue) they aint trusted he was actually extremely polite about it but this was his reason for wanting a time and date to make sure the window cleaner wouldn't steel anything......
oh i told him sorry but we turn up on route if you want a time and date thats extra wont be making exceptions for your excuse my honesty ridiculousness
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Why is it always the window cleaner?
Customer of four years rang me today. Asking if it was me who cleaned her Windows yesterday. Yes, why, is there a problem?
Yes, items were stolen from the garden!
Turns out, the items were taken from a skip in the back garden. Told her with 100% certainty it wasn't us. She replied, well I only have your word for that.
I am absolutely livid. I would bet money it was the scrap guys who were driving round the area on the same day (sorry to all the scrap guys who don't enter people's property to look through skips).
It was a tv and some bits of scrap. What on earth would I want with a broken tv in a skip?
The only funny thing about the whole stupid story is.....the customers business is skip hire. I'm not joking.
Rant over but why is it always the window cleaner????
i would feel the same as you mate,someone once said to me that us window cleaners are at the bottom of the food chain,it infuriates me to think that people think we are low life's,we are businessmen who work hard to warn a decent living,
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I've been stopped before several times with the ladder as the excuse. I've never been stopped since getting a van signwritten though. It may just be coincidence but I do wonder. Perhaps burglars should go around in signwritten vans.
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Yep I think they do!!
In fact sometimes with Irish plates!
Perhaps even selling generators.
Now I am not sure about it being winda cleanas
Lol
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One of my custies was a blind diabetic and he collapsed on the sofa and I could see him through the lounge window so I called an ambulance. Paramedics wouldn't break in so called the police. Copper couldn't get through upvc porch door and a neighbour got some screwdrivers and unscrewed an opened window from its frame to let in his lightly built son who could get the keys from the inside and let in the paramedics.
So there we were, two coppers, two paramedics, neighbour and son. One of the coppers looks at me, grins and addresses the group and says dunno why you had to call us, window cleaners can break into most places can't they?
Nice.
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your not considering still cleaning for this "customer" are you ??
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I got accused of stealing 14 grands worth of jewerly . She even told the other custermers . I was fuming . I got in touch with a national lie detecter company , offered to be tested in front of all her family . She declined and said it might have been her family. All the neighbours stuck bye me and said they didnt believe her. But mud sticks in my eyes though .
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I got accused of stealing 14 grands worth of jewerly . She even told the other custermers . I was fuming . I got in touch with a national lie detecter company , offered to be tested in front of all her family . She declined and said it might have been her family. All the neighbours stuck bye me and said they didnt believe her. But mud sticks in my eyes though .
Omg this is getting worse and worse now a window cleaner was accused of a serious theft that would carry a heavy prison sentence its insane how fast they are to point the finger ! So many window cleaners are successful own there home , higher bracket tax payers who employ and contribute to our Society, for some reason that window cleaners can't help as someone said we are prime suspects lol
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But mud sticks in my eyes though .
That sounds uncomfortable.
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I go to work wearing my stripey pyjamas complete with ball and chain.
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In Scotland you must have a license to be a window cleaner. To get one you must not be a scallywag.
Result = no thieving Scottish window cleaners. Yay.
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I go to work wearing my stripey pyjamas complete with ball and chain.
No ball and chain for me - getting divorced :)
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About 15yrs ago a long standing customer rang and asked if I could call around in the morning. I get to there house at the agreed time to be greeted by him on there drive. We both get out and start to get ladders off. He said can I speak to you inside, we went to go in and he said no only you.
Any way gets in to the house and he said 2 days ago we were burgled and they stole all our silver. My mouth must have hit the floor as he said "do you know anything about it?" :o
They had broken in through two old wooden french doors, on the outside off the doors they had screwed one pain of secondary glazing, the ones with the little tabs that you turn to remove the unit. All the did was turn these tabs take the unit out and walk in through the unlocked french doors. ::)roll
I explained I knew nothing about it and could vouch for the boy working with me. He did admit he was clutching at straws. But wanted to see my face when told. :o
They moved about 2yrs later, but I always felt uncomfortable after that.
Roy
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i picked up a new job a couple of years ago.young family with kids just moved in.nice as pie.paid up on time etc.they then got burgled twice in the space of a few months.they asked me did i know anything about it.ive been cleaning on this estate for over 15 years.
they then cancelled my services and just blank me when i see them now. ::)roll
ive also had a guy phone the police thinking i was a burglar.police car turned up but were fine when i explained that im a legit window cleaner.he recognised me as he d seen me working in the area for many years.
another time a customer had been spreading gossip that it might be "the window cleaner" who robbed a neighbours house!i went round to see her and let rip.her husband came to the door and backed off when he seen the size of me!and in the end AGREED WITH ME!and started having a go at his wife!! ;D ;D
there is another couple of occasions where its been insinuated that it might be the "window cleaner" thats responsible for a local burglary.luckily i have a lot of very loyal customers who stand up for me.
thats why i refuse inside work usually.i was accused of stealing from a very posh house once.they had loads of tradesman working there.prince edward has stayed there!they cancelled.i was really angry with that one! >:( >:(
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In Scotland you must have a license to be a window cleaner. To get one you must not be a scallywag.
Result = no thieving Scottish window cleaners. Yay.
More like \they havent been caught yet! ;D
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There was once a thread on this site about an old window cleaner that had been doing his rounds off ladders since he was a boy.
He employed the services of a young lad to clean tops whilst he did the bottoms as climbing ladders was getting more and more difficult for him with age.
The area started to experience a lot of targeted break-ins and it was eventually traced to this young lad checking the customer's homes out and telling his mates of where good pickings were. This lad got done as an accessory to crime. But it didn't take long for the old boy to start loosing his customers one by one. Eventually he had to call it a day and had a reputation in town as the thief.
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I've not been going long but already been pulled in by the police, myself and the missus were canvassing a development and when we got back to the van a cop car was waiting to say they had a report of suspicious activity. Showed them the leaflets and said we were doing a bit of canvassing and they just replied "there are too many busy bodies with nothing better to do than ring the police" and drove off!
I don't know why we are the first thought in people's minds when a burglary happens? There are other jobs a thief could benefit from but never hear them being suspected of anything eg binmen, postmen etc who will know when people are at home or on holiday.
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I don`t understand were is the theft of things in a skip that would be thrown away anyway.Its a matter of principal I would expect.Taking some thing without permission.I do understand but its just a big high handed of one calling it theft. Again it will be a waste of police time to satisfy a principle. Senseless
If a tramp took food out of your bin is this theft. We only through things we have not value for anyway.Were is the principal.
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I don`t understand were is the theft of things in a skip that would be thrown away anyway.Its a matter of principal I would expect.Taking some thing without permission.I do understand but its just a big high handed of one calling it theft. Again it will be a waste of police time to satisfy a principle. Senseless
If a tramp took food out of your bin is this theft. We only through things we have not value for anyway.Were is the principal.
Where is the principal? Headmaster's office I guess.
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i would of asked if they had phoned the police , if she said no , I would of said good because you were going too as you have northing to hide and that you wont have your name spreed about as a thief and these people need catching
I would of rang the police as well , your in your right to do so , seems over the top ????? not as over the top as her now telling the full street your a thief which will in turn lead to the next half a street being told ect ect
buy you making a fuss and ringing the police yourself , she would poop her pants , and start back tracking her mouth , making her feel a like a right willy this way she would not dare tell anybody so your name stops out of the lime light
+1 I'd DEFINATELY do this!
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Well I slept on it and decided to report it to the police myself.
Took all the details, times, date etc and I explained I was worried about the business reputation. They completely understood and someone else will deal with it over the next day or so.
What they will do I have no idea but I will update the post when something happens.
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Well I slept on it and decided to report it to the police myself.
Took all the details, times, date etc and I explained I was worried about the business reputation. They completely understood and someone else will deal with it over the next day or so.
What they will do I have no idea but I will update the post when something happens.
Def let us all know how you get on. Good luck.
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I had one about 10 years ago. It was a first clean, nice detached house in a small village. The owners also ran the post office next door.
Just before the second clean was due, I had a phone call from the lady asking me to cancel. I didn't ask why, but thanked her for letting me know, and left it at that.
When I was in her area I went into her shop to buy a choccy bar. As I was paying for it, the lady asked if I wanted to know why she had cancelled. I said she didn't have to explain herself, but she was at pains to tell me.
Apparently just after I had cleaned her windows she was burgled, losing cash and jewelry. I said I was sorry to hear that this had happened to her, and asked if she knew who may have been responsible, and when it had happened, and had she reported it to the police. She then said that she thought I might know something about it. I said that I didn't, but offered to go to the police to make a statement, and provide proof that I wasn't party to the crime. She then said that I may have told friends what she had in the house, who may then have burgled her. I then told her that I do not look through people's windows, as I have no interest in their possessions, neither would I tell anyone else if I did see anything. Moreover, anyone I may know who steals is no friend of mine.
At this point, her assistant, who was a long standing customer who knew me well, intervened and gave her boss a glowing character witness of me.
Tom Crowther, don't let this incident get to you. As we can see, many of us lowly window cleaners have been accused of stealing, but most of us have integrity, and so have nothing to worry about.
John
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Cheers Johnny.
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Well I slept on it and decided to report it to the police myself.
Took all the details, times, date etc and I explained I was worried about the business reputation. They completely understood and someone else will deal with it over the next day or so.
What they will do I have no idea but I will update the post when something happens.
Their going to get quite the shock if they made it up as an excuse to get rid of you.
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I havn't read all three pages of this thread, but window cleaners stealing? Never? Mind you there's fellas here employing weed smokers and drunks, both of whom seem to be worried about it. But somehow don't mind them going and working on peoples properties :-)
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your right to to angry, i would have been furious. But its easy to see why we do project the wrong image. I remember an hilarious thread on here a few years ago (wish i could find it) which was basically a "confessions" thread which went on forever where windie after windie fessed up to their criminal past, i actually felt the odd one out. ive only ever been done for speeding. :)
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Had you thought about not nicking sht out of people's bins?
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I had one about 10 years ago. It was a first clean, nice detached house in a small village. The owners also ran the post office next door.
Just before the second clean was due, I had a phone call from the lady asking me to cancel. I didn't ask why, but thanked her for letting me know, and left it at that.
When I was in her area I went into her shop to buy a choccy bar. As I was paying for it, the lady asked if I wanted to know why she had cancelled. I said she didn't have to explain herself, but she was at pains to tell me.
Apparently just after I had cleaned her windows she was burgled, losing cash and jewelry. I said I was sorry to hear that this had happened to her, and asked if she knew who may have been responsible, and when it had happened, and had she reported it to the police. She then said that she thought I might know something about it. I said that I didn't, but offered to go to the police to make a statement, and provide proof that I wasn't party to the crime. She then said that I may have told friends what she had in the house, who may then have burgled her. I then told her that I do not look through people's windows, as I have no interest in their possessions, neither would I tell anyone else if I did see anything. Moreover, anyone I may know who steals is no friend of mine.
At this point, her assistant, who was a long standing customer who knew me well, intervened and gave her boss a glowing character witness of me.
Tom Crowther, don't let this incident get to you. As we can see, many of us lowly window cleaners have been accused of stealing, but most of us have integrity, and so have nothing to worry about.
John
Top marks, Johnny B for being so calm when dealing with this woman.
I never thought I'd say it but I like Susan Deans post; just goes to show, if you wade through enough muck you'll find brass!
;D ;D ;D
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Seems like most have had this in one form or another.
Must have been about a year and a half ago, I got a new customer who grabbed me while I was doing a job round the corner from her. First clean went well, she chatted to me, made me a cuppa - thought to myself it was going to be a good customer. Said the gate was always open, so no worries about access.
Next clean, I go round and the gate is locked, was an annoying gate I couldn't jump so I did a front only. Next clean, same again. After the 3rd clean I still hadn't been payed, so suspended her off the round and tried calling for the money. On 2 seperate occasions I knew she was in but had obviously seen me and was ignoring the door.
She owed me around £50 so I couldn't let it lie. Sent my Mrs round as a decoy, woman answers door straight away (surprise surprise), first she starts blathering on about being ill for 3 months (But was okay to commando roll around the lounge avoiding answering the door) and then mentions (the real reason) that she was burgled a few months back via the back of the house. I got my money and took her straight off the round.
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On one occasion I cleaned the gutters on a customers house, as previously requested. Whilst up there I noticed that a tile had slid into the gutter so I manouevered it back into place.
I put my ladders back in the van and started to clean windows with pole system when half of Cheshire police force turned up at least 3 vehicles, plain clothes etc. they knocked at door of house I was cleaning, went inside and then a very young policeman started to question me.
Apparently daughter of the house was in bed and thought I was trying to break into the house through the roof and rang the police. Vivid imagination and too many late night horror films ???
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I broke into an elderly lady's house....after hearing her screaming out for help. I gave her first aid as she'd had a nasty fall and was loosing a lot of blood through an open wound. Nightmare trying to deal with her and speaking to a nurse on the line simultaneously after phoning for an ambulance with the lady in shock screaming. Multi tasking is not easy, first aid is. Got a big thank you from her son later that evening.
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On a positive note my 17 year old son started Woking with me after Christmas. We were out collecting on Thursday night.. At one dole, A 10 year old asked for change of £20.. After giving him and leaving he noticed a £10 wrapped inside the £20... Turned immediately and when the mum answered the door she just took it... No thanks or pat on the back...some people should be gratefull sometimes
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Well I slept on it and decided to report it to the police myself.
Took all the details, times, date etc and I explained I was worried about the business reputation. They completely understood and someone else will deal with it over the next day or so.
What they will do I have no idea but I will update the post when something happens.
good for you , I am sure this will help towards keeping the gossip to a min , even if you have to spend an hour of you time it will be worth not loseing customers , and look at it the way , it easyer filling statements in for the police and door knocking to replace customers
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Yeah, they said someone would call me back within 24 hrs. That was Friday am and no call yet.
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I'm in my 11th year of window cleaning. Drove vehicles without signwriting for 9 of those, work in the villages and ive never been accused of stealing or being involved in a burglary.
I would stop cleaning any customer who questioned my integrity or honesty. Though I wouldn't take it personally if I was asked about anything missing. I'd tell myself it's as much to rule me out as to point the finger.
The nature of our work (especially those of us who don't knock till we've finished) means we're in the trust business.
Most people recognise that around here.
The posts on here make me realise how lucky ive been so far.