Disney Hotel Manager Accused Of Stealing From Guest

[meloneyb21]

http://www.local6.com/news/16646307/detail.html

A manager of a Walt Disney World hotel is charged with stealing from a guest.

Sheriff's deputies in Orange County said Patrick Noze, who works at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, stole a credit card out of a guest's wallet and charged $1,200 in auto repairs.

The owner of the transmission shop told sheriff's deputies that Noze told them he had permission to use the credit card.

Disney has placed Noze on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

[DiznEeyore]

:eek:

Can't imagine what he was thinking!!

[TheTXTaylors5]

:confused: So, did he pickpocket the guest or take it out of his room? The story didn't elaborate. :sad2: Obviously, he wasn't thinking. A DISer from my cruise last year (we all still keep in contact on another thread) had her cell phone taken out of her room at AKV last week by housekeeping (mousekeeping). She had the "privacy please" sign up, but they still entered while she was gone. However, that is all still pending. Disney has been NO help to her. Disney Security is a joke!!!!!!! :mad:

- Jennifer

[meloneyb21]

:confused: So, did he pickpocket the guest or take it out of his room? The story didn't elaborate. :sad2: Obviously, he wasn't thinking. A DISer from my cruise last year (we all still keep in contact on another thread) had her cell phone taken out of her room at AVK last week by housekeeping. However, that is all still pending. Disney has been NO help to her. Disney Security is a joke!!!!!!! :mad:

- Jennifer

Wow...ok, question, are the safes in the resorts really helpful? Are people using the safes or not? My cellphone would definantly be in the safe but is there a way for housekeeping to get in the safes anyway?

[mommytoone]

Wow...ok, question, are the safes in the resorts really helpful? Are people using the safes or not? My cellphone would definantly be in the safe but is there a way for housekeeping to get in the safes anyway?

I would like to know this too!! I can't imagine what that person was thinking.

[CarolA]

Wow...ok, question, are the safes in the resorts really helpful? Are people using the safes or not? My cellphone would definantly be in the safe but is there a way for housekeeping to get in the safes anyway?

Having had to have work done on my safe I can pretty much tell you that you have to be a manger to get in to them. Housekeeping doesn't have the master key either. I have always used the safes and never had a problem

(Just yesterday I read a story on budget travel where the guest was screaming that "housekeeping stole my Rolex" Manager went to the room, searched it and found it on the floor under the guys shoes! Apparently he dropped it while putting it in the safe)

However, no hotel is going to do much when you claim "theft" so don't take a lot of cash or valuables. They have NO proof you had the cell phone, cash, jewerly etc. and there are a LOT of folks out there who use "theft" to basically steal!

They had to replace my lock and the maintenace guy had to wait on a manger to come use the master key. He told me that only mangers have them.

Now I still don't know how this guy got this credit card, it could also just have been left at the front desk. People do that at regular hotels and with all the junke Disney gives you I can see people getting confused!

[matthewsmom1]

On my very FIRST Disneyworld trip I STUPIDLY left my money locked in the safe, but the key on the table. I thought all was well because I had the 'do not disturb' sign on the door. Well, the 'mousekeeper' came in anyway, stole my cash ($600) and my son's Gameboy Advance. Disney was pretty good about it....sent balloons w/some free toys & an autographed Mickey picture for my son.

They pulled the security lock codes from our room & found that there was only 1 other entry into our room...mousekeeping. Well, I didn't realize that I hadn't filed a report with the police, & called them to report it when we were hope (per Disney's request). When the detective called me back, she was VEERRRRRY helpful to my case. She informed me the 'mousekeeper' had been terminated by Disney & that he had been questioned in 2 PRIOR incidents with hotel guest thefts in the ONE MONTH he had been working there. Well....armed with that info I got a QUICK check from Disney. The 'mousekeeper' was not prosecuted. UGH!

[TheTXTaylors5]

Wow...ok, question, are the safes in the resorts really helpful? Are people using the safes or not? My cellphone would definantly be in the safe but is there a way for housekeeping to get in the safes anyway?

:thumbsup2 We ALWAYS use the in-room safe to put our passports, wallets (credit cards), extra money, my jewelry, etc . . . We've had no problem of theft. Also, one thing I like to do is let mousekeeping see our faces and our kids. We say "hi" very friendly to them. It might make them think twice before stealing from us, if we've seen them before. ;)

- Jennifer

[Moonpie]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that article. I'm glad the manager was caught, and I'll be sure to keep a close eye on my belongings when I go there.

[TheTXTaylors5]

The 'mousekeeper' was not prosecuted. UGH!

Sorry that happened to you. That is very frustrating. I hope he's still not up to his old tricks. :headache:

- Jennifer

[kayleighnik]

We *always* put the most important things into the safe, and take the key with us. Anything that won't fit in the safe, we put in our suitcases and lock them.

[Eljay]

If I was an honest Mousekeeper, I would be in constant fear of somebody claiming that I took something that they misplaced! :eek:

Wait a second, since this guy was a manager, could he have gone into a room safe with a master key and stolen the credit card? Yikes!

[mickeyfan1226]

I am planning on taking my laptop with me on our next trip but now I am worried. My brother took his on our first trip and had no problems. Last trip I took soooooo many pictures I had to empty my cards on to his computer, good thing he had it that is why I am planning on taking mine.

[noladave]

maybe we have just been lucky, but we bring a laptop every vacation, and have never had a problem. Is it really that common to steal a laptop??

You can buy locks for laptops, so maybe I will invest in one before next February.

[fall08CP]

I have no idea how this could have happened. We (front desk CMs) never ask for anyone's wallet and would have no reason to try and take anything from it- and that's taking a stupid risk if you ask me. When we enter your CC info, it all comes up as circles- like if you type in your code at an ATM, and we can only see the last 4 digits. The managers are NEVER at the front desk anyways unless there is a serious guest issue, but it doesn't say anything about that. I'm guessing there is some missing info..

Anyways, for your peace of mind, the hotel manager's office has several safety deposit boxes. Only the managers have the clearance to open these boxes so not just anyone can get into them. You can leave your valuables and there's no way housekeeping can get in... I'm not sure about housekeeping's authority to access the safes in the rooms but I guess better safe than sorry. Ask at check-in for a safety deposit box and you, and only you, will be able to access it whenever you want.

[karibritt01]

We have always used the safe for our credit cards, cash, jewelry, etc with no problems. We generally hide the key in the room (inside the case of water or somewhere similar) so as not to lose it!

[Lynn5700]

Wow that is crazy. We have been lucky and now that I think about it,I leave valuable things in the room all the time. I do lock jewelery in the safe. I bring my laptop too...It's a pretty big laptop lol so I would like to see somebody try and steal it.

[Pooh Lover]

Last June, I stayed at SSR and had a pedicure at the Spa. I used my credit card to pay for it and the CM stole the info. She was easily caught because she used my card to set up monthly automatic payments for 2 things. Duh! I still can't believe she did that. I mean, if I was going to steal someone's credit card info, I would never buy something that I had to attach my name and address to!

Anyway, she's now doing LOADS of community service and no longer works there. I also use my room key to pay for things when I can.:worried:

[bas71873]

Wow...ok, question, are the safes in the resorts really helpful? Are people using the safes or not? My cellphone would definantly be in the safe but is there a way for housekeeping to get in the safes anyway?

We used the safe everyday in our room at Pop in February and had no issues.

[pilgrimr]

I don't know how isolated these incidents are, but we have never had problems before. We also don't have many valuables with us. We usually put our wallet and cash into the safe. We only take our key to the world, some cash, and one credit card. With our laptop, I will be honest we leave it out sometimes. Other times we try to hid it in one of our suitcases. But I think that people that steal don't take the big items that people would know immediately or to hard to hide in their carts.

[kdepot]

We have always used the room safe and taken the key with us. Our son has brought his laptop and left it on the table or in the bag on the floor. With the room access codes they can see who has entered the room and when. We have had no problem. I have even left my camara on charge and gone out and found nothing missing. I'm sure there are some bad apples out there but, so far I have no complaints.

[CanadianGuy]

This is a better fit on the Disney Rumors & News Board.. than here on themeparks.. I'll be moving it over there.

Thanks,

Knox

[eliza61]

I think the basic morale of this story is to be as vigilant at Disneyworld as you would anywhere else.

We actually still use Travelers checks. If stolen American Express replaces them and we don't have to worry alot about Identity theft because we're not giving up our CC all that much.

I hope Donald, Mickey & Goofy drag this guy in the alley and beat the crap out of him.

[Buzz Litebeer]

I'm guessing there is some missing info.
There is.

According to the website the OP linked to, there were only two people involved: The suspect and the victim. However, according to the video on the website, there were three: the suspect, victim, and the victim's husband, who according to the suspect, gave the suspect authorization and use of the credit card.

I find that particularly interesting: he's not claiming "it wasn't me!" He's admitting he used the card -- with authorization. For all we know, they knew each other previously.

Now the simple fact of the matter is that I wasn't there, and odds are, neither were you, so none of us know what really happened. That's for the courts to decide. So quotes like "I hope Donald, Mickey & Goofy drag this guy in the alley and beat the crap out of him," may be a bit presumptive and premature.

[DesigningMouse]

Are the safety deposit boxes available at each of the resorts?

[Violet Crayon]

Are the safety deposit boxes available at each of the resorts?

I am now wondering this too!

I read about the boxes before, but two years ago we were at ASMo checking in and I mentioned my laptop and a safe place to store it daily.The CM directed me to the luggage services and the guy there said the room would be safe. I was really nervous and asked if there was a place to lock it up, and he just told me it would be locked up in back until our luggage arrived and then brought to the room. He wouldn't let me leave it in a locked place after inquiring and asking if I could do it every day while in the park. So, last year I didn't even try and have had no problems, but would really like to use a safe/box where it will fit.

[KYMickey]

Any of the safe deposit boxes that I never used in the resorts were or not even close to being big enough for a laptop. They're intended for cash, jewelry, passports etc. If you take the laptop (which I usually do) your best bet is to leave it in the trunk of your car or use a cable lock to lock it to something secure in the room.

[Uncleromulus]

I agree with Buzz Litebeer--there may be more to this than meets the eye.

[dee47]

I always bring my laptop and leave it in the safe in the room. I take the key with me. I've been going at least once a year for AGES and never had a problem with the room safe. I also leave cash and CC there. I wouldn't leave valuables out in the open, though enough people say they do and have no problem. I was raised somewhat paranoid, I guess... :)