I stayed at a New Jersey property over the weekend. When I arrived back at the hotel at 9PM, I discovered that the security latch had been used to prop the door open. I know the cleaning staff do this when servicing a room, but there was no evidence of any employees in the vicinity. I pushed the door open with a sense of dread I can not describe. In addition to the usual travel stuff, I had a $3000 laptop computer sitting within sight of the door. The room had been made up and a cursory inspection led me to conclude nothing had been pilfered. I was relieved but still quite distraught; I was simply lucky. There were plenty of people in the hotel that night, including a large contingent of teens fooling around just down the hall. Anyone could have walked into my room and made off with whatever they wanted.

I'm about to send an e-mail to the manager, but want to make sure this issue is brought to the attention of the appropriate people. I'm not interested in punishing the hotel staff, but want to make sure someone else doesn't arrive back at their room some evening only to discover they have been robbed.

First, I get it, we live in the electronic age - but if I were as distraught as you explain that you were, I would be calling the manager on the phone or paying him/her a visit in person, not sending an email.
In many years of travel, I've had this happen to me a couple times and that's what I did.

Glad your laptop wasn't stolen! Is there a reason you didn't ask for the GM when checking out? Also I agree w/ the above. Don't email; call & talk to the GM.

Cheers.

I had something similar happen to me a month ago.

I was checking in to a hotel at about 10:30 p.m. and they gave me a room on the third floor. I went up to the room, and it was propped open with the security latch. the room appeared to be dark, but I wasn't about to go in.

I went down and asked for another room, explaining what the problem was. While the desk clerk and I were both certain that the maid had left it like that, I wasn't about to walk in and risk finding someone in there. You were lucky.

Agree.

Had it been me, I would have either gone back to the front desk or used a house phone to call and demand that either a manager, security person, or police accompany me in entering the room.

THis has happened to me. I did NOT go in the room. I went to the elevator bank and called the front desk.

Security took me into the room and did a check for me. I also received a call from the manager apologizing etc.

I also had this happen when checking in to the Ren Charleston. Back to front desk where they apologized and give me a new room with no issue. I am certain that it was just housekeeping, but better safe then sorry!
DO NOT GO INTO THE ROOM! GO GET SOMEONE!!!!