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A cautionary tale: Theft from room

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by farkingidiot, Jun 23, 2014.

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  1. flyguyfl

    flyguyfl MIA

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    My wife doesn't take any expensive jewelry with her on trips for this very reason. We take all our funds to the casino floor/shows, etc and leave bought items in the car trunk.
     
  2. Willy Makeamess

    Willy Makeamess Tourist

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    I had the misfortune of having my mobile phone stolen from the room after forgetting to lock it away.

    What bothered me more than the actual theft was the fact that the hotel security showed no interest whatsoever when I reported it,even though the culprit obviously phoned the room to make sure the coast was clear as it was flashing when we got back in.

    The following night we returned to our room the light was on and we'd definitely turned it off when we went out.

    We now tend to leave the 'do not disturb' sign on now as we got a bit of a fright with that episode,although not as much of a fright the scumbag thief would've got if I'd walked in on him.
     
  3. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    I don't get that line of thinking...why buy nice things and then leave them at home because the possibility exists that they'd be swiped by some thief? I have a nice watch and the same electronic gadgets like many others have. I also have a nice Jordan collection and I wear some nice threads. Why leave those at home and change wardrobe's or go without items that I bought?

    I expect a hotel to provide a safe environment. I certainly expect their employees to be vetted when it comes to their backgrounds and if there are any instances where theft or something similar is on their records then they should not be hired. And perhaps newer hires shouldn't be allowed unsupervised access to guests belongings?

    If I, as a guest, leave my door open or do something extraordinary that opens myself up to theft then I have myself to blame. But if I simply leave my room and housekeeping (or any other employee) decides to help themselves to my valuables then I would be livid and demanding reimbursement.

    Solutions? If they hotel does not have a system to show when a keycard (and whose it was) was used in the door they should be required to have that. They should also be required to have video in the hallways. Those two safeguards would cut down on a lot of the stealing I think.
     
  4. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    Jeez I haven't heard of anyone stealing Jordans since high school. Does that actually still happen? I mean by adults.

    Seriously though, you're right that not everything can fit in a safe but there's a point where you just have to "risk it". I have dress shoes that cost way more than Jordans and I've never even thought about the possibility of them getting stolen. Does someone really want used shoes that badly? Same with expensive suits. I've never even thought of the possibility that someone might steal them and frankly I'm not prepared to do anything to stop them from stealing things like that.

    I don't know why people are jumping down the OP's throat either. I'm not naive to theft. I've had things go missing at home after the maid cleans, I once had several thousand in cash stolen by a contractor I carelessly left out, growing up we had our car stolen 3 times right from our house. Shit happens and I know you feel very violated by it. I don't blame him for feeling he got a cold reaction from the hotel even if from the outside we can see the hotel has no choice. But at some point you have to just live your life and not worry about everything you own that could be stolen. Otherwise it makes no sense to buy those things in the first place, which may not be a bad idea.
     
  5. Jameezy

    Jameezy RIP Riviera

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    Retro Jordans are an easy target these days. Can flip them on eBay easuly these days. Same with gucci shoes and all that other jazz. All of it can be sold "HoT" on ebay. I know people who had it happen.
     
  6. Jerseyguy

    Jerseyguy MIA

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    A few things I agree with, If the maid stole it she handed it off right away. (these people arent totally stupid)
    Dont take the crown jewels on vacation unless you have them insured and documented.
    Thats my opinion.
     
  7. The Stig

    The Stig VIP Whale

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    If the hotel are providing a safe in your room and your not using it and something valuable goes missing that would have fitted in the safe then your on a sticky wicket, yes the hotel are partly responsible as they are failing in there security duties because it is highly likely that it's an inside job but at the same time you have to hold your hand up and say yes I should of put it in the safe.
     
  8. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    i left my luggage at ballys between stays for a few days tipped nice when i dropped them off , they went through them they way i know i found a ladies ring in my bag and they stole my weed .

    i assume nothing is safe anymore, wich suxs but thats the world we live in, we check luggage at airports, so theres nothing we can do,i dont let the maids in thats ill a can do
     
  9. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Also dont forget about the Red October Yeezys!
     
  10. Nick61

    Nick61 MIA

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    Did you report the stolen weed to the police, lol?
     
  11. mykidsdad

    mykidsdad Low-Roller

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    As to the hotel's liability, sometime take a moment and read the notice on the back of the door. It almost certainly quotes NRS 651.010, which says that "1. An owner or keeper of any hotel, inn, motel, motor court, boardinghouse or lodging house in this State is not civilly liable for the theft, loss, damage or destruction of any property of a guest left in a guest room if:
    (a) The owner or keeper provides a fireproof safe or vault in which guests may deposit property for safekeeping;
    (b) Notice of this service is personally given to a guest or posted in the office and the guest’s room; and
    (c) The property is not offered for deposit in the safe or vault by a guest,
    unless the owner or keeper is grossly negligent.

    As to property that won't fit in the safe, the statute goes on to say there is a $750 limit of liability for property that won't fit in the safe or vault, unless the innkeeper receives the the property for safekeeping and agrees in writing to assume a greater limit of liability and in the agreement the owner of the property has to state the value of the property.
     
  12. Nick61

    Nick61 MIA

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    I understand fully what you're saying. Nobody enjoys having their lives controlled by the possibility of something like this (a room break in) happening to you.

    There's only one way I can describe it, after personally experiencing this nightmare. You would understand it more, if God forbid it ever happened to you.

    If your cherished items were suddenly taken away from you. As I stated in my post, we lost irreplaceable items of great sentimental value during our room burglary, while visiting Rome, Italy. To recap, we put these things in the room safe, and they removed the room safe from the wall--and it didn't appear they had much of a problem doing it either. Primarily it was jewelry, special pieces such as a tennis bracelet I got for my wife on our honeymoon, and some family heirloom jewelry my wife had received from her deceased Grandmother. Particularly the stuff my wife received from her Grandmother, they can't be duplicated, they're one of a kind pieces.

    I realize our situation is unique compared to most. I have never personally known of anyone other than us, that had this situation where a room safe was removed. But I see all these people, putting all their trust in these room safes, and I know better not to trust them.

    When thieves steal these items from you, it makes a permanent indelible forever lasting impression. And it makes you feel terrible, that you put them at risk and lost them. It's obviously a matter of personal choice for you. But after our experience, we choose no longer to travel with these type items. We want to avoid as much as possible, that situation ever again recurring.

    Overall, travel time is a very small percentage of our life. Also, after this incident, it marked the first time we invested in a bank safety deposit box. It's quite painstaking to take those items back and forth to the bank. Further, you can't enjoy them while they're tucked away in a vault. But we find it to be a fully necessary inconvenience. And as crazy as it sounds, I'm still not sure I trust the safety deposit boxes 100%. I remember reading a story about a French bank burglary, where the thieves were able to get away with some safety deposit boxes. I guess the bottom line is--nothing in life is full proof.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2014
  13. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    yup they gave some of there stash so all was cool and i pawned the diamond ring so winning
     
  14. Someone

    Someone High-Roller

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    doesn't get any lower than that right there :grrr:
     
  15. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Holy cow! The safe being removed would've blown my mind! Sorry that happened!

    I understand what you're saying and I've been a victim of theft and the feeling of violation is off the charts. I bought my truck brand new and I'd had it two weeks and I came outside and it was on blocks. This is a Ford F-150 FX4 with the stock wheels and tires. Granted they're 20's but still I had no idea stock wheels were a hot item. I know now. But I was furious!

    I've had my Mustangs broken into to steal gauges and tachometers and stereo stuff and I was pickpocketed in Peru and each time I was so angry I wanted to rip someone's head off.

    I've never had a hotel room burglarized though and perhaps I've been quite naive and just expected the hotel and maids weren't shady. I always use the safe for money though and I've always said that if I hit a big payout then I'd find a bank branch to deposit or use the cashiers cage deposit boxes. iPads will fit in the wall safes so I always use that.
     
  16. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    Even locking stuff in your suitcase isn't safe as they can easily be broken into no matter what type of lock is on it. Watch this video:

    [video=youtube;mf-DGKUNffI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI[/video]
     
  17. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    No, the suitcase isn't that safe either. In fact the thieves could just wheel or carry out your suitcase if they wanted to, opening it later when they are away from the scene of the crime. I use the suitcase more as a deterrent for theft from employees (housekeeping, etc.) and thieves that may go into my room when it is being cleaned. I put the suitcase in the back of the closet or away from the normal walking areas so someone would have to spend the time looking for it. Normal thieves don't spend a lot of time in a room, they basically want to get in and out quickly so they won't be caught or spotted. The suitcase is just another deterrent. Unfortunately other than the safe or safety deposit boxes, a determined thief will be able to get at your valuables if given enough time and he knows that you have something of value.

    I usually use the safe for my most important valuables (money, camera, laptop, etc.) and use my suitcase for stuff I usually pick up while in vegas (trader joe's, etc.).
     
  18. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    We always put the "Do Not Disturb" notice on our door even when I leave in order to possibly prevent any intruder from entering into our room..

    In the morning and afternoons this can only be done by guests that never use housekeeping. At night anyone can do it.
     
  19. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    Same here. If I need towels or washcloths, I go get them.

    I want hotel staff to stay the f*** out of my room.
     
  20. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    Yup, I have known this for years. This makes locked suitcases at the airport meaningless. Even more crazy is that a person would think they left something since the suitcase is sealed.

    I have found that using a Pacsafe wrapped around a semi-permanent structure is best ANNNND hidden (like behind a bed post). That and Do Not Disturb.
     
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