Because of recent threads on theft what are you doing different during your stay?

[Kris & Steve]

Just subscribing...Thanks for the ideas

 

[MommaluvsDis]

A couple of years ago, there was a thread on here about thieves that were targeting autos with automatic locks. They have some kind of equipment that would make them unlock and then they would steal the contents inside the cars while parked at the resorts and especially while the unsuspecting people were enjoying the parks. A lot of people check out on their last day and got to the parks with their cars loaded for one last fun time before heading home.

Anyone else remember reading about this?

 

[foxfire]

We will do the things we usually do. We will keep valuables in our possession at all times wherever we are. We make sure to not pack anything of real value that would have to be left behind. It's amazing how much we've been able to pare down what we think we need to take when we realize it could be stolen if left in the room. Maybe not everyone can manage this but we've continued to be very selective in what we take and it works for us.

If we go out at night, we put out the do not disturb sign and turn the tv on with the volume up just a little louder so it can be heard from outside the room. This is so, hopefully, anyone with intentions of breaking in will think someone is in there. I don't know how effective that really is but it's a tip I once read suggested by a house detective. Even if someone does break in, they aren't going to score a haul...but I'd rather try to deter a thief coming in regardless.

We always double and triple check locks at night before going to bed.

Sometimes before going to bed, we push the table over near the window so it's an obstacle to anyone trying to come in that way. Also, it might cause a thief to make more noise and alert us.

 

[liltoot]

I make sure we don't walk down any dark alleys at the Magic Kingdom.

I took normal precautions before (used room safes; made sure outside doors, including balconies are always locked); don't carry or ever flash excessive cash (especially when villains are around) and continue them today.

What do villians look like? Hmmmmm......

 

[NJBlackBerry]

What do villians look like? Hmmmmm......

You know, the bad guys. Chernabog. Ursula. Captain Hook. Those villains. You can't be too careful. And Stitch. Always keep an eye out when Stitch is around.

 

[beccasmom]

Here are the modifications we have made without actually realizing we were making them over the years:

· We have not used either a front-desk or room safe in several years. If I were forced to carry a lot of cash or valuables for some reason (can’t imagine that though), I would probably use the front desk safe.
· We use primarily our credit cards for payment and if we need cash for incidentals, we use the ATM’s. Carrying large amounts of cash is not wise or practical, IMHO.
· On the odd occasion that DH or I bring a laptop computer, we never leave it in plain sight when unattended. It is always locked in our luggage and the luggage is out of sight. A device that locks the computer to a desk would work too, but it is rare when we bring our notebooks with us.
· Don’t leave anything out in plain sight that you value – cash, credit cards, park tickets, jewelry (I don’t bring any jewelry other than what I wear every day), cameras of any kind, computer equipment, iPods, expensive toys, etc.
· We are DVC members and don’t normally stay in one unit long enough for full housekeeping services. We don’t require them at four days, when all that is done is emptying trash (we do that ourselves) and replacing towels (we wash them).
· I always make sure to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door when we leave the unit. If someone needs to access the unit, they can leave a message on our voicemail and one of us can arrange to be around.
· Don’t leave your purse/wallet/backpack/fanny pack/valuable whatever unattended, especially while at a buffet meal. I’ve seen plenty of folks do this. The wait staff is too busy to watch over these things and that is not their job anyway. How do they know what belongs to whom anyway?
· Don’t leave extra room keys lying around your room. Take them with you so that no one except those in an official capacity has easy access to your room at any time.
· If your unit has sliding glass doors, make sure they are locked when you are not there or at night - especially with first floor units at both the resort hotels and at DVC locations.
· Make sure to use the double bolt lock on your room door at any time you are inside.
· If you need to store your luggage while waiting for your room to be available, make sure you lock it. This is easy to forget if you fly to WDW because the airlines want your luggage to be accessible. Also, make sure there are no valuables left inside unlocked luggage pockets. Don’t store any luggage that does not lock, or if you absolutely need to, take out anything valuable like cameras or prescription drugs.

I know this sounds like I don’t trust anyone. I think most of the folks who work with and for Disney are wonderful folks and bear no grudge against any of them. But WDW, as wonderful as it is, is not perfect. I don’t believe in asking for trouble, either. Disney seems to have an “everything’s fine and safe here” appeal for many folks and I think lots of people tend to leave their guards down. That is neither practical nor sensible and can lead to headaches, possible identity theft and countless other hassles. I do not live in a community where locking my front door is necessary, but I do it anyway (and my back sliders too). Taking commonsense precautions that one would probably take while at home anyway can save much heartache.

 

[liltoot]

Looking for some opinions. Is it better to leave your curtains open and everything put out of sight so the room does not look tempting or to close the curtains and leave the tv on and/or lights on?

 

[safetymom]

I leave my curtains closed and still put away anything of value.

 

[spot28]

Booked the segway tour, booked an ADRs for character breakfast, booked the Candllelight Processional Package, booked the MVMCP... this all started as just a little 2 day trip down to Disney. Then I started reading the disboard and found all these great ideas. DH just rolls his eyes everyday when I say, "LOOK what else we can do!" (My big ideas got axed before I could extend it further to see the Osborne Lights--I guess that will be another year.) All these years I just walked the parks and caught counter service wherever we were at a given time. So glad I found out about some of these special things in advance.

***Oops missed the word THEFT originally. I am kinda a 'safety sue' anyway. Grew up in Florida and kinda used to be wary of everyone ..

 

[Meezers]

In addition to everything listed here.

I always lock up my medications in the in room safe....some of the pills I need to take are worth $10-$20 each on the street. And I really need to be trying to get refills on migraine and other meds while on vacation...not!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have to smile here at everyone saying they will NOt bring cash but rather use credit.

What happens if someone steals your credit number charges you up and you have nothing to fall back on?

Last April we stayed at POFQ which I totally loved!!! I stayed 4 nights 2 rooms. I then moved offsite to The Marriott Grand vista. Had a great time, used my cedit card never realizing somthing was amiss.

When we returned home more than a week later, there was a message from the Orange Co sherriffs dept. Saying I was a witness to a crime at POFQ.
I thought really? this was news to me? I did call the sherriffs dept as well as my local PD to verify the veracity of the phone call.

It seems a front desk employee of POFQ stole my credit card information and stole 3,000. He also did this to 5 other people between the hours of midnight and 6 am. so while I peacefully slept at POFQ he was robbing 6 people.
Because I typically pay mostly in cash I never noticed the charge, wouldn't have until I got my statement some 30 days later. Now kudos to Disney for noticing the pattern of charges and the 12 grand deposit put into this persons creit union account. They infact caught him. and alerted me to the situation before I knew myself. I struggled with telling this on teh boards lest I be labeled a trouble maker. I had just seen several posts particualrly I remember DM ricks post about her grandsons game boy. This theft was right around that time.

The reason I bring this up now is 2 foldhold this thread again has brought it up.
Second I am sure most of you would be surprised that despite theft from 6 people totally 12 grand. And MY expressed desire to press charges against this person, Disney chose to drop the matter and this person was not punished and I as the victim was not allowed to pursue the matter. as he hasd actually hacked into the Disney mainframe computer not simply taken the number he actually stole from thier system. Still to this day I can not believe this was not prosecuted. I really think the desire to keep everything hush, hush, was the defining factor here.
My point is theft of all kinds happens at disney as well. you simply do not hear about it.

 

[philaround]

I didn't read ths whole thread so I don't know for sure if anyone said this yet but here we go.

I don't plan on doing anything more then usual in regards to preventing theft, this applies to DW, any other vacation destination, or at home. I will keep all valuables, money, keys, charge cards, ID's, etc in as safe a location as possible. Where I am able to lock things up I will otherwise I will make sure that nothing is just out in the open in palin sight.

I always remember what my drill sargeant back in basic training told us. All a lock does is keep honest people honest and no lock can keep a determined thief out.

Just use common sense and make sure your insurance is up to date just in case. Remember most homeowner's and renter's insurance policies will cover any monetary lose you incur. I know there can be no compensation for lose of "memory items" such as photos or videos. Just do the best you can to protect them.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I'm doing what I usually do...keeping things in the safe, making sure doors are locked, using precaution when out at night--like walking with groups of people rather than straying alone. And I think Disney is pretty safe

 

[kaytieeldr]

i have just cancelled my December trip due to worring, fear, pandering and an over active imagination. I suggest you all do the same. I instead will be spending the week at the Compton Holiday Inn. It has a gated parking lot!!!!

I'm curious why you think the Compton Holiday Inn's gated parking lot is any safer than any of the Disney resorts' gated parking lots? In addition, while sure there have been thefts, the majority of Disney Guests (or guests anywhere) are not generally crime victims. You just don't hear about them.

Which makes better headlines:
"Four Guest Rooms Robbed At Disney World"
or
"Four Thousand Guest Rooms Not Robbed at Disney World"?

 

[imatoad]

We use our in room safe for wallets, watches, generally stuff we don't need in the parks that might be a typical theft item. The fact that everything is on your room key is a great convenience and really don't need anything else when we leave the room, so the valuables get locked up.

 

[sweetinmaine]

i have just cancelled my December trip due to worring, fear, pandering and an over active imagination. I suggest you all do the same. I instead will be spending the week at the Compton Holiday Inn. It has a gated parking lot!!!!

I wouldn't cancel a trip due to worrying or an over active imagination. While you are staying at the Comton Holiday Inn, have you thought about transportation to and from the parks? Driving down the streets, maybe getting lost? Houses in cities and towns in every state in the union get broken into daily. Do you stay locked in your house and worry all day about that? You have to use common sense. You know, keep doors and windows locked, keep valuables out of sight etc.

The only good thing from this post is that if everyone cancelled their trip per your suggestion, the rest of us would be able to get the rooms that we want when we want them.

 

[tanmar]

Honestly if somone wants your stuff bad enough they will get it no matter what type of precautions you take.

I agree. To avoid any possible problems, I just never have anything of value with me on a trip. We bring a camera, but keep it with us and it's not an expensive one. I don't think I'd feel good about leaving anything in my room.

 

[jeancbpugh]

lock them in my suitcase

Just FYI, I've had things stolen out of locked suitcases in hotels before. The suitcase lock is easy to break...and suitcases can be taken.

 

[jeancbpugh]

I'm curious why you think the Compton Holiday Inn's gated parking lot is any safer than any of the Disney resorts' gated parking lots?

Ummmmmmmmmmmm...I'm pretty sure that was a joke.

 

[jeancbpugh]

I agree. To avoid any possible problems, I just never have anything of value with me on a trip. We bring a camera, but keep it with us and it's not an expensive one. I don't think I'd feel good about leaving anything in my room.

Same here. So I limit myself to jewelry I will wear ALL the time, including while swimming. (No pearls at WDW people!)