A now-closed thread mentioned a theft from a guest's room at a Marriott property. Realizing that this may have been discussed previously, I was still curious what experience other posters might have had with in-room theft.

Down through the years, I've been victimized twice. In each case it was at a full-serve Marriott about ten years ago. Each involved a Sony Walkman The similarities ended there. The outcome of each couldn't have been more different.

The first incident was at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. I went for a quick swim, and when I came back, my walkman was gone. No apparent forced entry to the room. The front desk staff and managment couldn't have cared less. Too bad for you, fella. End of story.

A couple of months later, the exact same thing happened when I returned from dinner in Louisville, KY (Louisville East Marriott). In this case, the manager told me to go out and buy a replacement Walkman and send him the receipt. I did....and he sent me a check right away for the full value to reimburse me. No questions, no hassle.

I haven't had a problem since, but I do take a couple of steps before leaving my room. First of all, I try to make sure if I have anything of value, its in a secure place. Secondly, when I leave the room, I leave a couple of lights on and the TV tuned to ESPN or another sports broadcast. Then I put out the "Do not Disturb" thingy. The idea is to create the impression that the room is occupied....by a male guest. The supposition is that a would-be theif won't chance it, and seek an easier target.

And yes....I'm aware that using electricity while I'm not in the room is not an environmentally sound practice.....but a TV and a couple of lightbulbs for an hour or two while I'm out isn't going to create an undue strain on either the planet's resources or Bill Marriott's bank account!

Great thread idea.

I've never had anything stolen, but I worry about it - I use room safes where provided, esp. at resorts. I also wonder if I should take better care of my laptop, I suppose I should lock it.

This thread may spawn some good stories. I have never had anything stolen at Marriott but a colleague did get his Rolex lifted while staying at the N.Y. Marquis. It was during a sales meeting so there were several long-time Platinums who were also guests. His initial claim was turned down by the hotel but after some friendly contacts with Marriott HQ executives, the property reconsidered and sent him a check covering his loss.

I have experienced one theft, at a Hyatt, many years ago. If others post some interesting tales, I'll enter mine in the competition.

My wife had some money stolen from our room at the Renaissance Wailea Beach some years ago. We went to breakfast and she left her wallet in the room. Some money was left in it to make it harder to discover, but we found it shortly after we returned, it could only have been an employee, housekeeping or other.
The hotel was not at all helpful or even sympathetic and did nothing.
Now I/we always put out the do not disturb sign, use safes if available and/ or take jewelry/money with us.

Use the safe. When it comes down to something being stolen its your word against the hotels. They will always back their own people unless you have some hard evidence. It really sucks.

I've never had anything stolen from any hotel. I never leave any wallet, cash, jewelry, camera, credit card, or calling card out while I'm away. I always leave the laptop because it won't fit in the safe and isn't practical to take it with me.

Years ago, I stayed at a Raddison hotel in downtown St. Louis.

The door didn't close by itself. I notified the front desk about the problem, and made sure that the door was secure every time I left.

Low and behold, I returned to the hotel at some point during the stay to find that my leather jacket was stolen from the room.

The hotel and the corporate offices couldn't have cared less, even though they were negligent because I reported the problem with the door. All they did was cite MO state law without considering the fact that I had reported the problem with the door.

Two behavioral changes since then. I haven't stayed at a Raddison property since and never will, and I won't accept a room with a door problem, unless they get it fixed immediately.

-David

I would also go as far as to advise everyone to lock their bags if you have new purchases such as cosmetics as my wife had this stolen one time. Again, it is your word against the hotel staff and without proof, a hotel will always side with their employees.

Since I travel often on business and rarely shop, I hardly lock up my bag but like NWA-PLAT, I always take all my valuables with me even if going to breakfast or out of the room for a short time.

My uncle is in the security industry selling concealled cameras etc. He always sets one up in his room (because he too has become a victim in the past). Since he started doing that 2-3 years ago, he has had 15-20 evidence of employees going through his things, and 3-4 actual thefts. It is amazing how a GM and management feels when you call the police and they are with you when you approach them about a problem...with evidence.

I've been fotunate, I suppose, in that I've not "lost" anything substantial in about 20 years now. The last item taken, believe it or not, was a brand new tie in Atlanta at the Hilton!

All I try to consistently do is to check to see that the door is entirely closed and locked behind me and always place valuables, including the laptop in a drawer.

And I do always stay on a high floor. Some time ago I read that most hotel crime occurs on the first and second floor.

Mark

While I secure the items usually deemed of value, I've had more mundane ones disappear from my room, such as:
- brand new art book stolen from the Holiday Inn Paris-Saint Germain des Pr�s. Front desk staff feigned ignorance and denied all responsibility/compensation, as usual. Theft for monetary gain; I never return to these properties.
- nifty japanese travel stapler, contact lens case etc., the kind of things one would just assume they lost or forgot at home. Opportunity theft for personal use; I chalk it up to learning, and travel with disposable accessories whenever possible. There is only so much one can do not to affect quality of life however.

I work with a lot of hotels on theft/loss and other risk management issues. Allow me to add my $.02 to this great thread.

From a hotel's perspective, it is often impossible to prove that a theft actually occurred, vs. the guest is making up the story. Exceptions are when the thief is actually caught or the electronic lock shows an entry using a "manager's key" -- both rare instances. Most of the time it's the guest's word without any evidence of the crime. Imagine if hotels had to pay out every time there was a claim; most of them would be bankrupt and out of business fast.

The limitation of liability laws enacted in all states (and posted in small print behind doors) generally immunize hotels from liability for theft except when they are proven negligent, so long as a safe is made available for guest valuables. It may be inconvenient, but resist using the in-room safe in favor of the larger one behind the hotel registration desk. The in-roof safes have been stolen themselves, and court rulings often protect the hotels against liability even in those situations when a "registration desk safe" was available (again, unless the hotel's negligence can be proven).

This may be hard to believe, but in my experience most allegations of theft turn out to be false, either because the guest is totally making up the story, or because the guest claims the loss of an item that he misplaced himself and found later, or because the guest never brought the item to the hotel in the first place (jewelry especially).

Some of you have been compensated for your losses. When this occurs, it is probably because the hotel wants to keep your business, as opposed to the GM making a legal decision on liability. It's always worth a try to get compensation.

The best advice is for you not to leave anything in the room that you can't afford to lose. Since experienced travelers know that hotel employees can access the room at any time, and will certainly enter to clean, check the mini-bar, etc., one should never tempt them by leaving a wallet, jewelry, or other valuable items in the room. Most hotel employees are honest, but of course there are exceptions.

Maybe a little OT, but I've had situations where doors don't shut tight behind me. Especially in brand new hotels, for some reason. FWIW - now I always give the door a push once I'm out to be sure it latched. (doesn't call for slamming the door, however! )

once had my laptop stolen from my room in dallas

PHLesq...

Good post, good perspective. I think the best advice is still "don't leave valuables lying around in your room....secure them". I also agree with the poster after you who makes the excellent point to make sure that your door is closed securely behind you when you leave the room.

While I think its sometimes true that managers are putting themselves at undue risk if they accept everyone's tale of theft, I think there are also managers who are in denial about this. In the two instances described in my OP, I have every reason to believe that the problem was due to a dishonest employee. In fact, the Manager of the Louisville Marriott East admitted this to me during the incident that occurred ten or so years ago.

I also had an instance at a conference center (not a Marriott), several years ago in North Carolina. Several members of our group of about 30 or so reported items missing from their rooms. Hotel management couldn't have been less sympathetic. In my own case, I was in my room taking a 20 minute siesta between sessions one afternoon, when there was a knock on the door from housekeeping, followed by a very quick attempt at entry with a key. No waiting whatsoever for a response from me to the knock. I attempted to ask the housekeeper why she needed to be in my room, but she had vanished during the few seconds it took me get to the door and open it.

There was no reason for housekeeping to enter my room. It had already been serviced. (There was no mini-bar or anything else needing attention). I reported the incident to the front desk, who couldn't explain why a housekeeper was showing up at my door at 3:30pm. But they were definitely not concerned enough to attempt to make any connection with the thefts involving other members of our party.