Has Anyone Ever Encountered Theft or any type of Crime...

[brunette8706]

When you are vacationing at Walt Disney World, have you ever encountered any type of theft or crime? Just curious. I never have heard anyone say that they have, but who knows. I, personally have never encountered this, to the contrare. Just curious if anyone else has.

Thanks All!

Brunette

[Whitegloves]

I had a friend whose family went to the parks while they waited for check in time. They had an rv parked in one of the lots by check-in. (I think it was the campground.) Anyways, someone broke in and stole some of their stuff including cash and a purse they had hidden in the vehicle. They also took a debit card and managed to clean out the checking account. (Not sure how they got the pin?) Their bank actually covered that loss for them.
:sad1:

Personally we have never had a problem.
:thumbsup2

[rwdavis2]

We stayed at the Contemporary and someone stole a case with prescription and over the counter meds and the management there could not have care less. We should have called the police.
Bob

[Cool-Beans]

It hasn't happened to me, but it happens.

A couple weeks ago they mentioned on the DIS podcast that someone at an ATM was robbed in the middle of the day in a hotel lobby. Not a Disney hotel, but close enough.

A good reminder for us to not let our guard down while at Disney.

[Sleeping Becca]

I'm a criminal, so I witness crime all of the time, my own. I commit all kinds, just because I go on vacation, doesn't mean I vacation from commiting crimes. How else am I going to pay for my vacation???? :confused3

Just joking! :rotfl2:

Seriously though, criminals do take vacations some of them even to WDW.

[Mom2twinboys]

Hardly a crime worth reporting but someone took my yellow lei off of our stroller outside of nemo and friends and it took us quite a while to find our stroller :rotfl:

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Hardly a crime worth reporting but someone took my yellow lei off of our stroller outside of nemo and friends and it took us quite a while to find our stroller :rotfl:

haha, was that your lei? I thought it was mine and saw it on your stroller and just knew it was the same one

LMAO. jk obviously

We have never experienced any theft at Disney, thankfully. But I am sure to not bring anything that isnt replaceable.

[sdzman]

I got charged $5.00 for a water once

[L&Lfan]

I've seen shoplifting at the Emporium and World of Disney.

[selina4disney]

I had my coat stolen at Epcot. Sucked too because it was December and cold and damp. Had to buy a Christmas Mickey fleece jacket ($46), still froze at Candlelight Processional, so I bought a Donald Duck hoodie ($63) to wear under it. $109 I was not planning on spending :( But I love my jackets and wore them through two winters so far. Last winter I never wore a coat at all, just layered my jackets.

[RMulieri]

Unfortunately bad things even happen at Disney, you may not hear about the bad stuff as often, but things can and do happen .At Pop ,I have seen people complaining that money they left out in the open was missing after they came back from the parks, I have also heard several people claim their GPS was stolen out of their cars.Nothing ever to me, but I treat Disney like any other place and secure or leave my valubles at home.

[dudelydude]

I paid to see Hoop Dee Doo.

But seriously, just a few days ago on this board, I read a post about someone getting cash stolen out of their purse while (I think they said) waiting at the resort for the ME to take them back to the airport. And I googled "crime at WDW" and read things about cars getting broken into. Things could be worse....I hear from posters about the crime in Anaheim at DL. Could you imagine exiting the park (tired but happy) and having to deal with your car being busted up. :eek:

[disnut8]

I've never had anything stolen or seen any crime at Disney World although I did have two occasions when I could have really had problems. A few years ago, I walked away from having a snack and left my video camera bag (a huge one back then) sitting on the floor. It was a busy place too. I didn't even realize it until we were on the way towards the exit of the park. My husband ran back and it was still sitting there.

And the other time was really bad. I had opened my car door in the Swan parking lot to get some things out. I got everything out and walked away with my husband to the hotel. We came out four hours later and my car door was still standing wide open! We had a laptop and cell phones in clear view in the back.

[tndisneyfan]

I've never had anything stolen but my sister swears she had $200 stolen by Mousekeeping at CBR.

[JeffZ]

I read a report on line last year about a couple abducted from Downtown disney parking lot --taken to an ATM -forced to draw out money and robbed of other valuables they had on them. I think it was in the Orlando Sentinel paper.So just because you are in the world of magic doesn't mean you're completely safe. People are out there preying on tourists everywhere. It wasn't that long ago that they rented cars in FLA. w/ license plates that said "rental" on them . It was an advertisement to criminals--"Hey come rob me --I not from around here". Now they have regular plates--but they still have that little BAR code sticker on one of the windows--a sure giveaway it's a rental.

[mkel34]

I believe there was a followup to that story which said the whole thing was made up, someone got ripped off on a drug deal.

[mickeyluv'r]

Once at Universal (I know not WDW) a greedy squirrel made of with our french fries as soon as we put them on a stroller.

Another time, birds stole our Popcorn.

Don't leave food on top of a stroller in plain sight!

Those are the only thefts I've had. Once in the 70's I had a pocketbook turned in - with all it's contents. More recently, my cell phone came out of a back pocket. The next person riding called DH as soon as he got off the ride. (last number called) I was standing right in front of him as he called- we had a good laugh - as DH was describing me while I was stainding in front of him!

[Cruella 66]

A couple of years ago a friend of mine went into the restroom in Fantasyland, took off her fanny pack, did her thing, washed her hands and left. About a half hour later she realized she forgot to put her fanny pack back on, ran back and it was gone. It contained all their money (close to a thousand dollars), credit cards, park passes (room keys), her ID etc. Yes, she's blonde ;) but it was never turned into lost and found. Does that count as stealing???

[Robo]

About a half hour later she realized she forgot to put her fanny pack back on, ran back and it was gone.
Does that count as stealing???

Yes, stealing.
But, with an "assist" by the owner of the goods.
;)

[Robo]

I read a report on line last year about a couple abducted from Downtown disney parking lot --taken to an ATM -forced to draw out money and robbed of other valuables they had on them.

I believe there was a followup to that story which said the whole thing was made up, someone got ripped off on a drug deal.

Correct.
The whole story fell apart after police questioning.

[ahecht]

There were reports at Disneyland of a 4-person camera theft ring. One person would offer to take a tourist's picture for them with their camera. That person would then have the camera "stolen" from him by one of his accomplices who would run off with it. Meanwhile, two more accomplices with strollers would accidently block the victim's path so they couldn't chase after the person with the camea.

[secretpantssam]

I know for a fact that in the parks they have a ton of cameras everywhere. When I went in High School with the marching band, during an emergency Disney was able to find the director of the band in a few minutes with a brief description because they had the park covered. So I feel pretty safe, at least in the parks themselves.

[IloveStarbuck]

It wasn't at WDW but it was on a shuttle we took frm WDW to the airport. We left our camcorder bag in the shuttle and the guy took off with it. His calling system was on but he ignored it. We never got it back.

[mom2faith]

I all seriousness - and I do think this is an improtant and serious thread, I do know someone who had many items stolen.

It was from one of the PIN lockers in MK. They did not protect their PIN and the locker was accessed while they were on Splash Mountain. They came back to an empty locker.

The sad thing is: it was their last day and the locker contained their camera with the memory card containing photos of the entire trip. The Mom said they could have it all even the camera, but why could/t they have left the memory card!!

Moral: PROTECT YOUR PIN!!!

[ajsmommy1129]

AT TL, I lost the clear case containing my debit card, mine and ds KTTW, and $50.00 while in the wave pool...it was one of those things you wear like a necklace. Whoever found it turned it in, including the cash. I was amazed!!!

[GrumpysGal]

Similarly my daughter left a digital camera on the Magic Carpets...no more than 5 minutes later she realized that she had forgotten it. Hurried back, told the CM who checked his area and then checked all the carpets...no luck. Was never turned in to L&F. The only consolation was that although it was a nice camera, it had been dropped and the lens and zoom didn't work properly anymore. Sometimes it took good pictures, sometimes not. Thus the reason we had given it to our daughter after we purchased a new one. So at least whoever "found" the camera didn't get a great one. It taught my daughter a valuable lesson although it did dishearten me a bit that no one turned it in...not to mention the troubling fact that some person with questionable morals got numerous pics of my family.:scared:

[sorcerormickey]

We had our gas stolen out of our tank at DHS during Star Wars Weekends. The tank had been just been filled at the Hess across from DHS just before we went into the parking lot. When we came out, it was almost empty. :sad2:

[disneymamaof2]

Not much of a crime, but at BCV in May DD swimsuit was taken right of the hook on the bathroom door, assuming mousekeeping, while we were in the parks. On the same trip we had some friends who left their camera/camera bag on a ledge outside of Expedition Everest. She called me on my cell to make sure we didn't pick up when leaving, which we did not. We thought for sure it was never to be seen again, someone did turn it in.

[k5thbeatle]

A colleague of mine had his room safe broken into and some cash and jewelry stolen at the BC. This was several years ago however.:surfweb:

[fla4fun]

About a year ago, one of my co-workers was staying at YC with friends. They decided to go down to the pool, and one of the women left her watch and earrings out on the nightstand instead of securing them. They were gone when they returned to the room. A lot of people would have been quick to blame housekeeping (or maintenance, or any of the other people that come and go in the average hotel room), but she accepted the responsibility because she didn't put them away before she left the room. An expensive mistake, but one I'm sure she won't repeat any time soon.

Bottom line, most crime is a crime of opportunity. Don't give the criminal the opportunity to make you a statistic.

[brunette8706]

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for all your posts. I enjoyed reading them, they were very informative! Looks like for the most part there really isn't that much crime at Disney. I understand if people leave things they are not recovered though. That's ashame. I would at least turned a lost item into the GUEST SERVICES or the LOST AND FOUND! Remember Do Unto Others....

I'm staying at a patio level (or at least hope so) at the Polynesian which is about 30 feet from the pool. I was wondering if I should lock it or not, since access out to the pool is just seconds aways via the patio door. All valuables if any would be in the safe. Has anyone ever done this before???

Again, thanks for all your posts!

Have a Safe Trip Everyone!

Brunette

[LilyWDW]

Bottom line, most crime is a crime of opportunity. Don't give the criminal the opportunity to make you a statistic.

Exactly.

I think it is common sense, even though you are at Disney it is still a large place with a large number of people. Treat it like you would if you were visiting New York or Chicago. Also, don't have just one person carrying all your cash/travelers checks. Split up the money between people in the party and don't take every cent with you every day. Personally, I don't carry a ton of cash because you can not replace it if it is lost or stolen like you can a debit card or travelers checks.

It was amazing to me the number of people who seemed oblivious to the idea that theft could happen at Disney.

People keeping their doors propped open while they ran to the pool or food court. Sorry, doesn't take long for someone to slip in and grab your camera/cell phone/cash off the table inside.

People leaving shopping bags, purses, or camcorder bags on their strollers while they were on rides. This is like leaving your steak dinner on your coffee table when the dogs are in your house. Someone can just walk past and grab it as they go past. It's so fast most people wouldn't notice it unless they were looking out for it.

I mean, Disney isn't the streets of Rome near the bus station, but it's a great area for thieves. Just take reasonable precautions and the odds are that you will not have any issues.

[LAS321]

:wizard: Years ago we were at River Country ( the water park that has since closed). My kids were swimming and my DH put our bag on a lounge right behind him. He turned around to get a towel and it was gone. Our really good camera, clothes, etc were all in the bag. Luckily, I had taken my small bag with me to get drinks for everyone so I had the money and credit cards. I also had the car keys (we had driven down). When we went to report it there was a couple there who also had their bag taken but they were actually in the water so everything of theirs was taken. The WDW security staff did nothing for us or the other couple. It was disappointing.

[chell]

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for all your posts. I enjoyed reading them, they were very informative! Looks like for the most part there really isn't that much crime at Disney. I understand if people leave things they are not recovered though. That's ashame. I would at least turned a lost item into the GUEST SERVICES or the LOST AND FOUND! Remember Do Unto Others....

I'm staying at a patio level (or at least hope so) at the Polynesian which is about 30 feet from the pool. I was wondering if I should lock it or not, since access out to the pool is just seconds aways via the patio door. All valuables if any would be in the safe. Has anyone ever done this before???

Again, thanks for all your posts!

Have a Safe Trip Everyone!

Brunette


I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my door unlocked when I'm away from the room.

[minster22]

On one of our stays at BW, my DH was in the hot tub and had his Cape Cod Harley Davidson tee shirt stolen. I know, not a huge crime but it was his favorite...a limited edition and he was crushed that someone took it.

[J3nn78]

I have not had anything stolen AT Disney World, but 10 years ago we were there with family. We drove down. We were checking into the hotel when the front desk gave us a message to call a relative back home. Our house was broken into and my car had been stolen and crashed into the woods down the road.

It was devistating. I had planned this vacation with my parents and grandparents for months. It was a once in a lifetime trip. My Dad was just about ready to hop on a plane to go back home. Fortunately, my cousin is a cop and agreed to act on our behalf and stay at our house for the rest of the week.

Other than my car, nothing else was taken. They never found out who did it, but we suspect it was neighborhood kids looking to joy ride.

[DisneyMim]

y brother and sister-in-law had their stroller taken in the MK while they were on a ride. It was their own, not a rental. Thankfully they had taken all their bags with them. We always did that anyway. You need to be just as careful in Disney as you would be at home, or anywhere else.

[dizzneebabe]

Back in 2006 during a rainy showing of Fantasmic, we had one of our ponchos covering our daughter's stroller (we brought our own), in hopes that it would be dry enough for her to ride in afterwards. That was not the case--someone had taken our poncho, so the stroller was soaked.:sad2: I guess it could have been worse--they could've taken the $300 stroller!

Still, I was PO'd that someone would steal something used for a child! :confused3 There's just something creepy about that to me!:eek:

Other than that, we've always been very trusting and left all kinds of souveniers, bags and other items in the basket of our stroller during rides and never had a problem. Crossing my fingers for the next trip!

[momtimesone]

My son on our very first trip bought a sovanier light up toy thingy for the parades and he was sitting down to play with it waiting for the parade. When the parade started he put the toy at his side and was watching the parade. When the show was over we collected our things minus the toy, someone had stole his toy that he bought with his own money. He was very upset but I told him that person who took it must of needed it more and that next time we buy something mom will just hold it till we get back to the hotel. The next trip when he bought his stitch hands he had me hold them the whole evening so they would not get stolen.Disney is super fun but I treat it like I treat all things I watch my stuff and play it smart.

[mccathy]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: I got charged $5.00 for a water once

[Narnia]

[/QUOTE]someone had stole his toy that he bought with his own money[/QUOTE]

That's just rotten. I'm planning on buying few things in the parks because I have bad luck when it comes to things stolen( we JUST had our house robbed). I bought a gift basket for the kids and I might buy them little stuff I can shove in a backpack. I'm also taking an aroung the neck type pouch so I won't need to have a purse. I'm also just bringing cedit cards and travilers checks because they are replaced if they do get stolen most banks wont cover debit and cash is just plain riskey.

[YodaGirl]

I wouldn't feel safe leaving my room unlocked. An experienced thief could always break into the safe.

Allow me to be extremely paranoid for a minute...

Even if no one was able to steal anything, what about the possibility that someone could hide in your room and wait for you to get back? I know it's not likely to happen, but there's always that slim chance, ya know? There's some really weird people out there...

[Akelaknowsbest]

My son had his wallet stolen last year. We were in the Lego Store at Downtown Disney. He had saved his money for a year and had about
$120.00. He was shopping and picked out several things. My dh was sitting on the counter near the pick a brick wall helping ds2 stuff his container with legos. My ds1 put his things down next to his dad and put his wallet on top.
He didn't tell either of us the he was putting his wallet there. When he turned around his wallet was gone. It just took a second. He learned a hard lesson that night. Of course we came to the rescue and got him his things, but it was still so hard for him. His wallet was found and mailed to us after we came home. All that was left in it was his scout id card.

It was a tough lesson to learn, but he learned it well and has been very careful since then, and so have his brothers.

[NashBridges]

We had planned to leave cash and travellers cheques in our room safe at AKL... is this not a good idea??!?!

[hdietsche1]

Sigh, this still makes me tear up. Last year at Epcot, my camera was taken from the after ride area at figment. My sons and I were sending postcards home from three different stands. So we were all kind of going back and forth. Camera was put on top and when I was done, it was gone. Please please please learn from my mistake and use smaller memory cards, or print pictures out nightly. A 9day trip including P&P party, birthday celebrations, etc all on one card. THe only thing that saved us was the photo pass. All week we were going crazy having them take our pictures, without a real thought to actually buying them. Well for a little over $100 I still have some good memories. But oh how I wish I had my own memory card. Now I am sad again.

[stemikger]

Years ago, I was in EPCOT near and they had sterling silver rings outside in these kiosks. I was looking at them and a guy picked up a ring, looked around and put it in his pocket.

I told the CM there, but he did not follow up.

[melancholywings]

Kind of OT, when I was a kid my parents went on kids 'free vacation' and were killed in a motorcycle accident. (sucks-but my life is good now) They had on them their camcorder that recorded their vacation. Some one stole the camcorder from the accident scene, the police said they couldn't find any of it's pieces - though they found the pieces for their other camera. And they put in requests at the local pawn shops hoping to find it. They really felt bad for us kids. I've learned that location and situation won't stop thieves.

[stemikger]

Posted by Melancholywings
Kind of OT, when I was a kid my parents went on kids 'free vacation' and were killed in a motorcycle accident. (sucks-but my life is good now) They had on them their camcorder that recorded their vacation. Some one stole the camcorder from the accident scene, the police said they couldn't find any of it's pieces - though they found the pieces for their other camera. And they put in requests at the local pawn shops hoping to find it. They really felt bad for us kids. I've learned that location and situation won't stop thieves.


Wow. I think you might need a :grouphug:

[Little Flower]

It didn't happen in the world but Kissimee. Last June (07) we went for breakfast in Perkins on the 192 (next to camping world) and the waitress told us that we were lucky to get in as the police tape had just been taken down and the camera crews had just left. :scared1: :scared1:

Apparently there had been a shooting nearby!!

The couple that got "Kidnapped" - that happened during the same vacation - it was extremeley suspicious! But i noticed that it didn't seem to change the level of awareness at WDW at all - people were still fairly oblivious

[CanadianGuy]

Moving this one to the ThemeParks Community Board.

Thanks

[ConcKahuna]

I paid to see Hoop Dee Doo.


It could be worse, you could have paid to see the Luau :scared1:

Last time I was at Citywalk, a guy ran by and grabbed a woman's purse. Citywalk security was nearby, and we watched them chase and tackle the guy. No harm done, but made for some good entertainment :laughing:

[brunette8706]

I really don't think, in my humble opinion, my post should have been moved to the "Theme Park Community" board since this forum talks mostly about games, photo's and other fun things. I think my thread was a serious post about what were people's experience was regarding any type of theft or crime within all the theme parks.

Is there any way you can move it back to where it originated?

Thank you Canadian Guy.

Brunette:flower3:

[HappyDisneyMemories]

I haven't at Disney World but I had a sweatshirt stolen out of our stroller at Disneyland years ago. I left it in the stroller while we went on a ride and when we came back it was gone.

[L107ANGEL]

It could be worse, you could have paid to see the Luau :scared1:

Last time I was at Citywalk, a guy ran by and grabbed a woman's purse. Citywalk security was nearby, and we watched them chase and tackle the guy. No harm done, but made for some good entertainment :laughing:

Says the guy with the stealing bird in his sig ;)

[melancholywings]

Wow. I think you might need a :grouphug:

Thank you^^ I was afraid I was going to kill this thread.

On a lighter note our first trip to DL at an offsite good neighbor hotel came with a late night parking lot gang fight, complete with LA choper fly over and spot lights. My whole family slept through it but me - I got the full LA experience on that Disney trip.

[splashmtrider]

nothin big for me
stroller stolen, only items lost were bag with chips water ten bucksmaps and time guides. stroller was rented. it was stolen at the mexico pavillian

[tinkerbellmom31]

Just 3 weeks ago we left our resort mugs in the back of our rental stroller while we rode Splash Mountain and somebody stole one. I hope Karma bit them because the one taken was my dd"s. She just had the flu the day before. :lmao:

[ahecht]

My GF had her hat stolen from Sounds Dangerous at DHS last Tuesday. She left it on the seat next to her when she put on her headphones and forgot it when we left the theater. It never made its way to Lost and Found.