Dealing with Illegal Finds in Clients’ Homes: Navigating Drugs, Firearms, and Risky Clean-ups

Discover how to handle illegal finds like drugs or firearms during clean-ups, with practical tips on navigating risks and protecting your business.

Cleaning homes can come with unexpected surprises, and sometimes, those surprises are more than just a forgotten corner of dust. What do you do when you encounter illegal substances or weapons? Navigating these situations can be risky, but it’s crucial to handle them professionally and within legal guidelines. Here’s how to manage such discoveries while protecting yourself and your cleaning business.

Stay Calm and Don’t Touch Anything

The first rule when encountering anything illegal, like drugs or firearms, is to stay calm. Don’t touch or move the items – doing so could not only contaminate evidence but also pose a risk to your safety. In the case of firearms, for example, handling them improperly could result in accidental discharge. Stay hands-off and immediately assess the situation.

Notify your Supervisor or Business Owner

If you work for a cleaning company, your first move should be to notify your supervisor or business owner. Each company should have protocols in place for situations like this. The owner may decide to contact law enforcement or the client, depending on the nature of the find. If you are the business owner, follow your company’s guidelines and make a decision based on the severity of the discovery.

Contact the Authorities if Necessary

If the items in question are illegal substances or unregistered firearms, you may need to contact the authorities. While it’s uncomfortable to report your clients, it’s your legal responsibility in many jurisdictions. It’s important to have a clear understanding of local laws so you can handle these situations properly. This is where consulting with a lawyer before setting up your cleaning business pays off.

Avoid Confronting the Client Directly

As tempting as it might be to confront your client about what you’ve found, this could create a dangerous or awkward situation. It’s better to report the issue to the proper authorities or business management rather than engaging the client directly. Your safety is the number one priority, and you don’t want to create an unnecessary risk for yourself or your staff.

Have a Written Policy for Handling Illegal Finds

If you haven’t already, now is the time to create a formal written policy on how to handle illegal findings in clients’ homes. This policy should be part of your employee training and cover situations such as finding drugs, firearms, or other illegal items. Clear protocols give your team the confidence to act appropriately without panicking. Having this in writing also protects your business legally.

Maintain Confidentiality and Professionalism

While it’s critical to report illegal finds, it’s equally important to maintain professionalism and confidentiality. You don’t want to tarnish your reputation by discussing your client’s situation with others or sharing it online. Always maintain discretion, even after law enforcement or authorities are involved.

Finding illegal items like drugs or firearms inside a client’s home is a serious situation, but it can be managed professionally with the right protocols in place. By staying calm, reporting the find, and following the law, you can protect both your business and your staff while maintaining your professionalism. Always prepare your team with proper training and a clear policy on handling these risky clean-ups.

You can hear this episode of CBL (Cleaning Business Life) podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155653/episodes/15723264

Shannon can be reached at https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/

You can listen to her at https://cleaningbusinesslife.buzzsprout.com

You can watch her on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

Maids Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themaidsnetwork

Categories: : Business Mindset, Cleaning Business, Entrepreneurial Journey