---
title: "Helper steals $2,000 from family after working for only 1 week, nabbed via serial number on $50 note"
url: "/trending-now/helper-steals-2000-family-after-working-only-1-week-nabbed-serial-number-50-note"
published: "2026-11-01T04:32:44.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-01T04:32:44.000Z"
section: "Trending Now"
authors: ["Cherry Tan"]
tags: ["TNP News","theft","domestic helper","cash","stealing"]
---

# Helper steals $2,000 from family after working for only 1 week, nabbed via serial number on $50 note

*A domestic helper who had been working for a family for just over a week stole more than $2,000 in cash from her employers and their family members.*

A domestic helper who had been working for a family for just over a week stole more than $2,000 in cash from her employers and their family members.

Febrini Yuliana Tamengkel’s employer grew suspicious after money went missing from his wallet and decided to record the serial number of a $50 note to check if it was still there.

The note was later found among the 31-year-old helper’s belongings, exposing her theft.

## Money missing within a week

According to Shin Min Daily News, the Indonesian national started working at the home of a 64-year-old man on Aug 29, located in the Hougang area.

The household consisted of five members: the employer and his wife, their two sons and a daughter-in-law.

At about 10am on Sept 9, the daughter-in-law called the police to report that she suspected the helper of stealing money.

Investigations revealed that the employer’s wife had first noticed money missing from her wallet on Sept 5 and informed her husband.

Suspecting that the helper might be responsible, the employer decided to keep track of a $50 note by recording its serial number.

On Sept 7, he checked and confirmed that the note was still in his wallet, which contained $120 in cash at the time. However, the money had disappeared by the following day.

The family discussed the matter and decided to report it to the police.

## Maid confessed to stealing cash more than once

When officers searched the helper’s belongings, they found a $50 note bearing the same serial number the employer had recorded.

Febrini admitted that between Sept 7 and 8, she had been cleaning the employer’s desk when she spotted his unattended wallet.

She then decided to steal from it, taking $120 without his permission and hiding the money under her clothes in her wardrobe drawer.

She also admitted to stealing cash on at least two occasions from the eldest son’s bag and cupboard.

The total amount taken from him was about $2,053, including Australian dollars, Malaysian ringgit and Chinese yuan.

Additionally, Febrini had also stolen belongings from the employer’s wife and younger son.

All the stolen money and belongings were recovered and returned to the family. The helper was arrested by the police that afternoon.

Febrini pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, with two other similar charges taken into consideration during sentencing.

She was sentenced to six weeks’ jail.