Doing a background check when hiring a nanny or a housekeeper is essential because it is effective in giving you and your home the security that you need, preventing your possessions and properties from being stolen, avoiding any traumatic events that may scar you or your family for life, as well as keeping away from threats against you and your children. However, if background checks on them were not done properly, you might be potentially exposing yourself and your family to danger. 

Garden City, SC – Wesley Locklair hired Cheryl White as nanny for his 5-month old daughter, Caroline. After watching a report about nanny abuse, Wesley Locklair set up a hidden camera in their home, and he caught the nanny grabbing the crying baby, lifting her into the air, and shaking her. The father then handed over the video to the media and to the law enforcers, which prompted an arrest and charges against the offender. Although the parents conducted interviews and background checks on several applicants prior to hiring Ms. White, they still were not able to escape from such traumatic situation.

Cherokee County, Georgia – Constance Smith, aged 23, was arrested for abusing a 13-month old boy after his parents handed a video showing the said maltreatment. Smith was hired as a nanny from a national online childcare service with a specialization in in-home childcare. The parents noticed a different kind of behavior from the child so they decided to install a hidden camera in their living room. As shown in the video, Smith slapped the child’s face, pinched the child, and pushed the child to the ground. 

Reported cases of child abuse are present in other states as well. In California, a nanny was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder when she committed a hit-and-run, leaving two children dead.  In Texas, a nanny was caught using her hand and verbal abuse to punish the child she was taking care of.  In Chicago, a nanny was seen repetitively slapping an 8-month old child. In Louisiana, a nanny was caught tossing around a three and a half year-old child with cerebral palsy.

Based on the above situations, not doing a proper background check may imperil you and your family.  Children are the most common victims, as they are left defenseless. Some parents would never know that their children had been maltreated because the kids were just too afraid to tell or perhaps they just didn’t realize that they have been treated wrongly. The nanny or housekeeper that you hired may also have committed crimes in the past; you can never be too sure that they won’t commit the same crime again.  Another danger is when nannies or housekeepers steal money and/or other valuables from you; once this happens they effectively steal your security and comfort away from you too. 

Sex offenders are another type of people that you have to be wary of too. Therefore, beware of the nannies and housekeepers that you will be hiring, they may come clean of any criminal record, but there is no guarantee that they would not commit any wrongdoings.