Laptop + purse stolen from safe at W Washington - NOW FOUND, but very odd
Nov 25, 2011 | 2:14 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
This is just idle speculation on my part, but if you were not local and able to go back to the hotel to follow up semi-agreesively without too much difficulty, it would not surprise me if your purse and laptop were never "found". I have not been so lucky trying to locate items my family members have left behind in hotels that were an 8 hour flight and an ocean away. Not making any accusations, just saying......
When you say lockers, are you talking about in the security room? Or employee lockers? It makes me wonder if they are trying to cover something up. Also, I don't believe I've ever been passed on to hotel security for items I've forgotten. You would think that the front desk would have looked into it for you?
...I would ask to speak to the general manager. I think anytime police set foot on the premises they start to see the gravity of the situation. I'm also guessing if you are in the lobby it doesn't exactly look good for the hotel to have police officers taking down a report of stolen items.
There is nothing better you could possibly do that hang out right in the middle of the lobby while the Police prepare a report. Make sure it takes a long time and includes the bonus round of the hotel staff 'telling what they know/what they did/what they didn't do' to the man.
If there is any chance to get your stuff back, this will help speed said process along.
Nov 25, 2011 | 2:19 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Times Square
Programs: SPG Gold, AAdvantage
Posts: 1,397
Originally Posted by ScatterX
If there is any chance to get your stuff back, this will help speed said process along.
Nov 25, 2011 | 2:23 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
This reminds me of two similar occurrences. The first was at a SPG property in Venice. When I got into my room, I found a wallet and other valuable items in the hotel safe. I first called this lady's credit card companies and informed them that I had these things, including a detailed inventory of what I found.
I then called down to the front desk. They sent a security person, some type of hotel manager, and some third person. The manager took every item and identified it while the security director wrote the inventory down in nauseating detail. The third person was a witness. They then took the items and put them in the hotel safe.
In the other case, I was in a hotel and inadvertently left the safe open. When I returned to my room, I found a note. It was signed by both the security manager and the hotel manager. They had followed the same process. They took an inventory with a witness and locked my stuff up in the hotel safe. Obviously the housekeeper was honest enough to call security in the first place. And this was in a foreign country not known for honest behavior.
These two examples are how IT SHOULD BE DONE. It is very sad that this does not always happen.
I then called down to the front desk. They sent a security person, some type of hotel manager, and some third person. The manager took every item and identified it while the security director wrote the inventory down in nauseating detail. The third person was a witness. They then took the items and put them in the hotel safe.
In the other case, I was in a hotel and inadvertently left the safe open. When I returned to my room, I found a note. It was signed by both the security manager and the hotel manager. They had followed the same process. They took an inventory with a witness and locked my stuff up in the hotel safe. Obviously the housekeeper was honest enough to call security in the first place. And this was in a foreign country not known for honest behavior.
These two examples are how IT SHOULD BE DONE. It is very sad that this does not always happen.
Nov 25, 2011 | 2:26 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
My comments are for the next person in your situation. @:-)
Nov 25, 2011 | 9:16 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
You got your stuff back. Be happy and call it a day. Don't lose any sleep over it.
Nov 26, 2011 | 12:25 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
+1. If you don't ALWAYS automatically check the safe before leaving (like I do), it might be a good idea to take a punch list with you listing all the items you need to do before leaving the hotel.