Modus operandi of a maid - beware!

Here in Korea, it’s not common to have a maid or a househelp. Labor here is sooooo expensive. I once met a Filipina here who asked me if I knew anyone who would like to hire a maid. I was able to find her a nice Korean family. She asked for 600,000 won a month for a 5-days a week 10-hours a day work schedule. I would love to have someone who I can trust to help me with household chores and take care of my son from time to time when I need to do some errands. I guess that’s next to impossible for now.

While checking out Pinoyexchange this morning, I came across the story of a couple who got robbed by their maid. Let this serve as a warning to people out there…

Modus operandi of a maid

I would like to share to you the sad fate we faced with a maid who robbed us. Her name is Cecelia Lazo Pacis, a native of Lupao, Nueva Ecija, as evidenced by a copy of the police clearance presented to us. I was able to interview her on April 12, 2008 when she arrived with her Auntie Letty at my mother’s house. She came with her auntie because according to her, she does not know much about Manila and is afraid to travel.

At the course of the interview, she told me that she stayed in her last employer for three years. But when the granny she is taking care of died, she went back to Lupao. She further told me that she does not avail day-offs from her employer. She offered to bring a police clearance should we chose to hire her.

Believing that this maid is a good person, we officially hired her as house help last April 18, 2008. We asked her, how she would like to be called, she told us to call her Celia. At the time she went to my mother’s house with her aunt in tow, I was made to believe that she really knew very little about Manila. Their sincerity of coming to our place with her aunt is one factor why we hired her. The offer to present a police clearance is another factor.

We still have an existing house help at home, Lorna, who is scheduled to leave first week of May. On April 19 and 20, 2008, first two days of working at our place, Celia showed no sign of irregularity. She even performed household chores very well.

On April 21, 2008 (Monday), the two maids were left at home as my husband and I have work. She made a story to Lorna that she knows of an employer who could give Lorna a high salary. She even offered to advance Lorna’s fare to Baclaran.

Believing on the story Celia concocted, Lorna went to Baclaran. According to Lorna, Celia gave the cell phone number of her Auntie Letty who will accompany the employer to Baclaran. They were exchanging text messages all along, updating Lorna of where they are (Auntie Letty and the employer) from time to time.

Around 3pm, Auntie Letty texted Lorna to inform her that the bus encountered problems and had malfunctioned. She also told Lorna that she had terrible headache that time. She then instructed Lorna to go back home and will just text her the following day.

Around 6pm, my husband and I arrived at our residence. No one was in there. Celia left the back door open. We were surprised to found out that Celia robbed us of all jewelries and my husband’s personal valued stuffs. She forcibly opened our drawer with the use of a screwdriver. I checked on the maid’s room and found out that she had no more personal belongings there. Lorna went home at around 8pm as the money offered by Celia as fare is not sufficient.

We reported the incident to the barangay, went to two precincts and even went to address on the police clearance she presented, only to find out that she gave a fictitious address.

We never imagined that this could happen to us because the maid is really good in concocting stories. I believe that Celia and her partner in crime, Auntie Letty have been doing this modus operandi for a long time as they have already perfected their story.

You will not have any idea that she can do such crime because she acted really good. Even the people who have met her say that they couldn’t believe that she can do it because of innocent looks.

I hope that this modus operandi will serve as an eye opener to everyone and could only wish that we will be her last victim.