[dirt diggler]

I have learned yet another very valuable lesson:

I recently began giving some work to a friend of mine (known for 10+ yrs) after he was laid off from his job. In fact, I was letting him stay with me as well till he got back on his feet.

Well, he wasn't the best worker (hardly any construction experience, if any really) and was pretty lazy really. But good for gophering, and being the third and fourth hand. So i swlallowed that. One thing I really got ticked off about was the fact he kept asking "how much does this cost??"

Yesterday, we're finishing a small in/out project and I leave him to clean up tools, trash, etc., while I go seek out the client to have them see the work. I spend about five minutes withe client, and then start walking back to the truck ... and I round a corner and see this:

My friend is in my truck going through my CHECKBOOK

I walked up and snatched it out of his hands. I was disgusted. Apparently, he was "just curious" --- I put him to grunt work for the rest of the day, and on the way home, I fired him and told him to find a new place to live.

[go dart]

make sure you've gone thru and made sure no checks are missing from the back

[AAPaint]

Damn dirt....his curiosity could get him killed. This isn't a cat we're talking about is it?

Seriously though, go dart is right. I had someone write a check out of the back of one of my checkbooks before. Never knew about it until I went to spend that money.

[Tom R]

There's no excuse in the world for him lookin' in your checkbook.

Good thing you caught on early (hopefully).

Ditch him as a 'friend', too.

Forever.

[painterjim]

Yup, the friendship would end there. The locks on my door would get changed. And I'm not sure, but he might have ended up with a bitch slap depending on the mood I was in at the time. Keep your enemies close, and your friends closer.

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by painterjim

And I'm not sure, but he might have ended up with a bitch slap depending on the mood I was in at the time.

I'd have thought you'd give him the 'paintbrush', painterjim, - - that's where y' jack him up by his hair with one hand, - - and slap him repeatedly (back 'n forth) with the other . . .

[PipeGuy]

Originally Posted by go dart

make sure you've gone thru and made sure no checks are missing from the back

I'd consider closing the accont and opening a new one. His level curiosity is a little more than just annoying.

[Brushslingers]

That would have been a baseball bat to the back of the head. I only have three cardinal rules, and that breaks number one... don't mess with my money.

Hell I thought about breaking my wifes arm once, but that would break rule two... don't mess with my family... heh

[smokepole]

I just went thru something similar. It was a 30 yr friendship that was lost. I had him helping me on some jobs cuz I knew he needed work. He lied to me about getting some work himself and wanted me to help him on those jobs. Mainly cuz he didn`t have any tools other than what fit in his pouches. well I went up and did the 1st job. waited for my money. listened to his lies about where the money was.I called the guy "we" did the work for. was told that "friend" was paid in full and he had no more work for "us". "friend was confronted and got VERY upset when told I knew the truth. I have yet to see my money and he ended up with my paslode framer. On the plus side I have spoken to the guy I did the work for and he likes my work and is sending more MY way. I also have spread the "word" around x-friends town (my hometown also)about what he done and I don`t think he will be working anytime soon.
God I hate LIARS!!!!
In your case I would have fired him at the first corner I came to that was far enough from the jobsite and made him walk. By the time he got home his stuff would have been outside and locks changed.

[Double-A]

Originally Posted by dirt diggler

I have learned yet another very valuable lesson:

I recently began giving some work to a friend of mine (known for 10+ yrs) after he was laid off from his job. In fact, I was letting him stay with me as well till he got back on his feet. I fired him and told him to find a new place to live.

You did the right thing in all cases. You're a good person and he doesn't deserve a friend such as you. Helping out each other is what life is all about, but helping yourself to others things without permission, privacy included... almost unforgivable.

I'm sorry this happened to you, DD, but I'm glad you found this man's true worth before you lost anything more than some time and a friend.

[dirt diggler]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Good thing you caught on early (hopefully).

oh you're totally right ---

i tell ya though, that is pathetic!

[Peladu]

Dirt,

Ya think of it like this....he lives with you, you fired him, when you go to work is he still going to be in your crib? If so, you gotta big problem.

Secondly do not overlook the obvious; This was the FIRST time you caught him, I will bet anything that there were numerous times you didn't catch him.

[dougchips]

My brother in law worked for me until he stole 2k that I hid in my work truck......he also borrowed some checks from his own mother and step father.....he lives in the state prison now.

My neighbor's kid worked for me for 3 days, day one he wanted a cell phone, on the 3rd day he stole one from one of my cusotmer's. Cost a lot of money to make that customer happy.

And there was a sub that worked for me who decided to send one of my customers panties......her kids opened the box! Her husband would call and say he was going to kill the guy, I told him that he would have to stand in line. Panty man has his own company now.

Then there was the sub who I let do a small roof for one of my customers. He hired his brother to do the job, his brother was a roofer for years. Oh, his brother was also a junky with a big issue with the needle. On day one he stripped the roof before lunch went to the pawn shop sold all of my subs tools, got high as hell and went back to the customers to chilll out for a while. Needless to say, the customer figured out what happened, felt really bad for us and wondered about their roof. The state of MA has his kids now.

People wonder why I conduct background checks and drug test....oh, and this little issue with trust.

(not proud, but all true stories)

[Terrence]

Keeyod!

These stories make my skin crawl.
I have to go take a shower now.
If he stole a check, send him to jail!

[Thewoodman]

That sure sucks. Glad you found out sooner than later.

[dayexco]

why would you keep 2k in your truck?

[theworx]

Not totally work related but similar situation. My brother moved in with me, I didn't realize at the time, but the biggest drunk you've ever seen... At that time he was pawning his own stuff when he was broke. He ended up quitting drinking and took up Gambling instead. That's when two of my guitars were all of a sudden missing (he told me he knew nothing of it). And then I'd go to the garage to get a power tool I needed for that day and it was gone (like my Hilti, a $1500.00 tool). It was gone, my brother had sold it to a pawn shop...

I've heard of people being short of cash, but someone taking away a part of your livelyhood is just not there. My brother took me for a $5,000.00 ride when I wanted to give him a chance to get himself back on his feet. I kicked him out and he now lives with Mom and Dad. Live and learn...

[wackman]

Wow, seems we've all learned the hard way about peoples demons.

My old girlfriend had a friend who had a sob story about getting hurt at work, losing his job, etc.. and asked if he could crash with us for a couple weeks. I knew he was trash and that he had made bad choice after bad choice but to make her happy (and not seem like a heartless monster) I said yes. As soon as I was gone he started stealing all sorts of weird stuff, socks, playboy magazines, food. I booby trapped our room and showed it to her to prove he was going in our room and that's when SHE told him to leave. Until then she thought I was crazy because it was so weird.

Well the sneaky f--ker had figured out how to open my lock box and I never noticed he stole a whole book of checks (from under the pile so I wouldn't notice for months) I got $1500 stolen and then about 20 bounced checks. I filed a police report but still got collections on those and it seriously hurt my credit score for years.

If I ever see that guy I might knock his teeth down his throat.

[widco]

---

[Thewoodman]

I've been burned too. I am now to the point that I won't extend that helping quite so easily. I still help the people that ran out of gas on the freeway, but thats about it. "Once bitten twice shy" Hey I think thats a song