Guest stealing from closet - need advice please

Hi All,
First time in 6 years in business. This morning guests check out, we go cleaning rooms and realize 80% of our flat sheets from linen closet are GONE. There's only 3 of us running the place as a family and joke is outruled. Of course all of our doubts are on guests who were very strange yesterday. But our linen closet is always locked and it was open only for about 30 minutes during housekeeping last afternoon. There's about 12 flat sheets missing, it's a big pile too. I am panicking because we are full house until September and it was new product, good quality, etc. Going to cost us good money to compensate.
Have you ever had anything like that? What do you do? Would you confront the guests if you don't have proof? Charge them? Leave it? Help please before I go crazy in thoughts

Unless you actually saw them with the sheets you can't prove they took them. So sorry this happened. It does shake our confidence when these things happen.

I know right?...Thanks Morticia. We are in such a safe area too. I had a funny feeling about these guests. Should always go with your gut instinct. Have you ever had anything like that?

Like Morticia said, if you can't prove it, you can't charge them. I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm afraid you'll just have to purchase more sheets and keep that door locked.

This is absolutely horrible. Were they your only guests? If so, I would call them and ask if they happened to have inadvertently packed 12 flat sheets when they left. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but I'm serious. If they were the only guests and they know they were the only guests, this is going to put them in a spinner, and they should be very worried about what you will do next. It is incredible that they think they could get away with this.

I do not agree that if you did not actually see them take them, there's nothing you can do. You can file a police report, listing them as suspects, and get a case number. Unless you're going to file an insurance loss, the case number will do nothing for you. But this guest needs to be called out!

I am with Banana. I would ask if they accidentally packed up some sheets. Now at least they know they haven't gotten away scott free. I wouldn't just let it go. that is alot of cash out of your pocket.

Morticia said:

Unless you actually saw them with the sheets you can't prove they took them. So sorry this happened. It does shake our confidence when these things happen..

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I had a guess open up a locked trunk and stole a wool sweater from Sweden and my beloved bear. We sent off a message and as you may guess they never answered.
We just found out the other day that my wine glass are gone. well not all gone they were kind enough to leave us 2 glass. they matched the set of china I had. these people this time I am not sure which couple took the glass.

Time to put a wireless camera in there. Set it to email on movement. And put a notice that it is under surveillance at all times.

We had a portrait taken off the wall in the common area. Didn't see anything so nothing could be done about it. It happened Feb 2016 and still no answers. You may never find out what happened. So sorry this happened to you.

oh, no! I think I would call on the phone (shaky voice and all) and ask if they happened to SEE the sheets. Could they have put them under a chair cushion to raise it? You know, random head scratching questions. How terrible. As you are sure it's not staff/family, what is the alternative?
I had sheets go walking first season I was open and realized it was a very poor chambermaid. One of the most uncomfortable conversations I ever had as I asked if she had borrowed them (she admitted to borrowing but said she was going to bring them back - which of course she then did) I then invited all staff to go through the linens with me every three months or so and take some that were threadbare or 'pilly' or had a stain.

this is why I go mad with my room staff - monday to friday person is really crap about locking the cupboards which have linen, new pillows, new duvets and stock for next door waiting to go, touch wood we havn't had anything knicked but have told her now if it is and she has left the cupboard unlocked Im billing her.

We have walk in closet/laundry room that stays closed when we have guests. Never notice anything stolen but before we put the lock we had people taking extra towels or using the washer/dryer - "private" sign did not apply to them. Sorry that happened to you - keep your closet locked all the time.