Sri Lanka Police says that it has received several complaints regarding incidents where individuals employed in domestic service have allegedly stolen valuables such as gold, cash, foreign currency, and other property from the households in which they were employed.
In view of these incidents, the Sri Lanka Police seeks to raise public awareness and provide guidance to help prevent such occurrences, according to a statement issued by the Police Media Division.
The employment of domestic workers in private residences is a common practice in Colombo and its surrounding suburbs, including Mirihana, Maharagama, Dehiwala, and Mount Lavinia, as well as in many other areas across the island.
Domestic workers are often recruited through agencies, intermediaries, and business establishments, while in some cases, they are hired directly by homeowners.
However, investigations into complaints received by police stations have revealed instances where certain domestic workers have dishonestly removed valuables, including money, gold, property, and foreign currency, from the households in which they were employed.
Based on observations made during the investigation of such complaints, the Sri Lanka Police considers it important to provide guidance to the public in order to prevent similar incidents, the statement said.
Accordingly, the public is advised to follow the guidelines below when employing individuals for domestic service.
Recommended Precautionary Measures
Sri Lanka Police further emphasizes that by raising public awareness and adopting these precautionary measures, it will be possible to significantly reduce and prevent such fraudulent and theft-related incidents.
