Mother in nursing home and home is for sale. Thankfully I have been able to install wireless cameras at entrance of home. It is amazing what you can see and hear. Worker that was to check boiler in basement instead went through every drawer and cut open sealed boxes. Even turned on dryer?? Police were called and company. It seems it should be closed to an apology and the worker's word he did not steal. He was just curious. I am too angry to think straight right now. Any suggestions?
What I would do is research or on Monday call the state department that licenses certain trades. I'm assuming this man worked for an HVAC company? I don't know if they would have to be licensed in your state, but if so, file a complaint with the state department of licensing.
I don't know how much, if any, action would be taken, but it would reflect on the company's profile. If you call, though, do ask what other action can be taken against the company.
If I understand correctly, the company merely apologized and accepted the worker's denial of any theft. I wouldn't be particularly comfortable with that. I think good companies would fire the worker.
It wouldn't hurt for you to contact the company directly and ask what further action will be taken. If none, obviously that company comes off your list of acceptable tradesmen.
You might find a trade association of HVAC people with whom you could file a complaint. Any company that doesn't respond to this kind of personal invasion of someone's space is a company that I would consider an undesirable one, and others have a right to know.
If you got this company through Angie's List or other similar organization, do file a complaint with them.
Be prepared for retaliation though and boost up the security on the home with an extensive alarm system. Change the locks or the combination on the lock box.
You could also file a complaint with the BBB, although I think they merely list the complaint on the company's profile on the BBB website. I would give the owner a chance to explain first though.
Now I'm wondering....was this worker hired by you or by the realtor? If the latter, I'd find another realtor.
When my Dad moved to senior living, and had me put his house on the market For Sale, there was a lot of stuff in the house, especially of interest were tools in the basement. I use to meet the trades-people at the house to let them in, and wait. Once the house was almost empty of "stuff", then I would give the trades-people the code for the contractor's spy-box to get the key.
My boss had a real estate client who lived out of state, and the client needed to have his home repaired of a large water leak. Since many tradesmen were involved, the Seller and my boss came to any agreement of an hourly rate for my boss to be at the house to over-see the work. The Seller knew it wasn't fair to pay my boss nothing for all of his time.
Thanks for providing more information, and please let us know how this works out for you. I might be facing a similar situation soon, although I'm close enough to be on site when tradespeople come.