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Is it safe to keep money in a safe in a Las Vegas hotel?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by JWBlue, Jun 25, 2012.

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  1. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    I have heard a couple of stories of people while in LV having things stolen from a hotel room safe. I have no idea how, but it deters me from storing cash in a safe.

    In Aria standard rooms, the safe is in a drawer in a stand next to the bed. It doesn't seem difficult to remove the drawer the safe is in and walk away.
     
  2. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    I have used the in room safe at many different properties over many different trips and have never had any problems. Last trip we had my nephew's laptop and our iPad in the safe. I would have to think any incidents of things going missing are very much the exception and not the rule.

    That being said, if I had a HUGE amount of money (like, tens of thousands) I might consider using the hotel safety deposit boxes or depositing it with the cage.
     
  3. VegasGroove

    VegasGroove VIP Whale

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    I have used the room safes in Vegas every trip for many years and have not had anything stolen from any of them.

    I use the safe for my week's gambling budget, my week's entertainment budget, my TITOs, my dig camera and sometimes my laptop. Never had a problem.

    That said, if you feel leery, you can always use the casino cage store your money.
     
  4. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    I would love it if someone had first hand experience (not they heard about) having something stolen from a room safe in Vegas and posted it here.
     
  5. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    i use the safes and have never had a problem.
     
  6. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    I’d be willing to bet that the majority of stories about folks having money stolen from the safe in their room end with those people finding the money in the washing machine after doing the first load of laundry upon returning home.


    …I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, or that it won’t happen to you…but the above scenario is far more likely.
     
  7. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    That was my feeling also. Don't know about the washer, but drunken stupor may be a factor.:beer:
     
  8. LucyR.

    LucyR. VIP Whale

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    Safes in hotel rooms

    I think it is really stupid to install a safe in a drawer at the Aria. I wouldn't use it. The Aria is assuming that nobody will steal it. "Duh"....

    I think hotel safes are 99% safe to use. There is always that one percent
    chance of non-safety. This is why I don't carry expensive jewelry or lots
    of money.
    I just store my airline ticket and passport in the safe and a little bit of money. I don't really trust safes that much.
    Every time I store my things in a hotel safe I feel I am taking a risk.
    But... I feel less safe carrying all of my money in my purse. So I take the risk.
    One time I saw a man run out of the bus and chasing someone who stole
    his wallet. I think he caught the thief.
    All we can do is trust that the safes are safe for our things. Lucy
     
  9. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I've never had any problems over several decades. Of course the maximum I can ever remember putting in a safe is not that much.

    I'm sure that if this were a major issue, the hotel managers would have realized it and done something about it.

    A few years back we checked into the Flamingo and found the safe locked. We phoned the desk and they sent up two people, a techie and a "suit" type security guy. The techie had the safe open in a few seconds and both of them observed the contents, or in this case, the lack of any. "Empty-empty." is what they said to each other.

    It's obvious that they took the incident seriously, and having two people (as well as us as witnesses) they did not want to risk someone claiming they had left $$$$$ in a hotel safe.
     
  10. queuetee

    queuetee VIP Whale

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    We had the same thing happen at Paris. The safe was locked and we couldn't get in it. Two men also came together and both examined the safe and the security man telephoned something to someone . I would guess that there must be some kind of double check of verification if the technician's device is used.

    We have never had a problem in all our trips.

    I would think the any "missing" money may have made its way to a luxury store???
     
  11. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    The only answer is this:

    It is perfectly safe until your money goes missing.

    Now the odds of that might be even more remote than being struck by lightning atop the Stratosphere while wearing a g-string and garters, but it all of a sudden becomes a big problem when it happens.
     
  12. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    The safe itself is not fort knox. It is small, has a short access code, and the hotel has to have a way around that.

    But someone has to KNOW you have something in there worth stealing, they have to get into your room, get into the safe, and get out with all of it, and without being busted by the camera.

    So if you're talking really large amounts, some other measure might make sense. But for most of us, yeah its fine.
     
  13. queuetee

    queuetee VIP Whale

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    That is true of a lot of things. You are safe in an airplane ...until it isn't and it "becomes a big problem when it happens". SO your options are to stay home and wiat for lightning to strike your roof or someone to break in.
     
  14. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Exactly. Even if someone here had first-hand experience with a theft involving a safe at Aria, it's still an outlier event.

    It's like so many other aspects of travel or life in general. If you have a concern over something, it doesn't really matter what the statistics tell you, you're concerned. And if that concern is going to detract from the experience, there always are other options available that while they might not prove any more or less reliable/safe/whatever, one just might bring peace of mind if peace of mind is what is needed.
     
  15. jr7110

    jr7110 VIP Whale

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    Lucy - having stayed at Aria many times (as a matter of fact I will be there again a week from Friday) I can assure you that the drawer safe is not as flimsy as the previous post made it sound. The entire drawer that is the safe is very solid, sturdy, and well built - it does not separate from the cabinet and you absolutely cannot just "walk off" with the drawer. You would have to take the whole piece of furniture with you, and good luck with that one.

    Of course there is absolutely a way to reset in room safe codes but Security is the only department that can do that and you must be present in the room (and show ID proving you are the registered guest) for them to reset a code for you. I do not think anyone has to worry about things missing from a safe when staying at one of the better Strip hotels. I think more people run the risk of having things go missing when they foolishly leave valuables lying around the room when they are out for the day instead of locking them up, either in their suitcases or a safe. And by suitcases, I mean a locked suitcase (but that is a lot easier to take than the safe).

    Here is a photo of what the Aria drawer safe looks like. The dresser is a lot bigger and heavier in person than it appears in this photo. It is just as secure as any safe that would be attached to the wall inside a closet. I have used it many times, and never had any problem whatsoever:

    http://www.google.com/imgres?q=aria+drawer+safe&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=599&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=7qfS4LEEfqTy5M:&imgrefurl=http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyaltytraveler/2010/12/11/hotel-detail-aria-resort-and-casino-las-vegas-in-hd/&docid=BrKBVGPxxkcjUM&imgurl=http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyaltytraveler/files/2010/12/Las-Vegas-Aria-3-071.jpg&w=336&h=448&ei=IavoT9jfB8rd0QHeoOj2CQ&zoom=1
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2012
  16. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    I bet a lot of those also involve not daring to tell their spouse they lost it all the night before playing craps, etc
     
    Easter again..:
  17. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    I have a feeling it is a lot more difficult than it appears to walk off with an Aria safe drawer. The designers must have accounted for that possibility.

    It would be interesting to find out what would happen if a 300 pound man jumped off the bed and landed on one.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    a Darwin award nomination?
     
  19. vegas_or_bust

    vegas_or_bust High-Roller

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    The Aria drawer safe is a genius invention. It is simple to operate, and it effectively stores your goods. In addition, I love the location next to the bed, rather than jammed into the corner of a closet like some hotels. One of the coolest features of the Aria room (IMHO).
     
  20. jr7110

    jr7110 VIP Whale

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    If a 300 lb man jumps off the bed, lands on the safe and is still able to get up and walk out with the contents, then I say he has earned them lol

    (as well as that Darwin Award he is sure to win)
     
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