Housekeeping theft at Saratoga Springs

[goodferry]

The OP probably hasn't commented again because after relating the horrible story of being robbed while on vacation, she was chastised for being so irresponsible and leaving the things where someone can steal them. I am sure that didn't make her feel any better about the intrusion, and that she had already learned a lesson about leaving valuables around in any hotel room. Hopefully she will get some answers, it's frustrating I know.
DD left an inexpensive necklace on the nightstand at the Poly one time and it went missing. Not a big deal, but she was sad. We were staying in Hawaii, so I asked the CM at the front desk if anything had been turned in since my daughter was missing a necklace. He treated me like I was the one who did something wrong. The gist of his story was if you don't want to loose it, lock it up, and if you didn't, I don't want to hear about it. He didn't even make any phone calls or PRETEND he cared.
I am sure that CMs are trained how to behave in cases of alleged theft to ensure that Disney isn't liable, it's just a shame that as a society we have lost sight of compassion and doing what is right in the process of trying to protect ourselves from unjust litigation.

 

[Sammie]

I never thought of doing that. Will the front desks at Disney hotels accept valuables for safekeeping?

Yes they will.

 

[Sammie]

I am sure that CMs are trained how to behave in cases of alleged theft to ensure that Disney isn't liable, it's just a shame that as a society we have lost sight of compassion and doing what is right in the process of trying to protect ourselves from unjust litigation

Lets look at this from what we know. Saying the OP did have these things stolen, even she does not know for sure who took them. Could be Disney staff, could not be. All we know is her stuff was missing. As some said, someone could have slipped in while the room was being cleaned.

Where is that compassion you speak of for those that are being accussed of being guilty with no way to speak for themselves. I think it was wise of the OP to share what happen to let others know to be careful in any hotel, I think it was wrong to accuse SSR of being an unsafe place to stay due to housekeeping.

I am amazed at the number of people who immediately believe anything that is shared on these forums. At times when you see someone post a horror story and they only have one or two posts prior to that,at times they are either disgruntled or a fired Disney employee or even someone that works for Universal.

Crime happens every day at Disney, and the majority of it is not Disney staff. Anyone is naive to think otherwise and naive to think everyone you read is the entire story.

I don't think the OP was chatised, it is just that when you travel if you leave things in a room that many people have access to, even criminals you run the risk of having it stolen. I think the comments were more to educate others.

Too many people go to Disney with pixie dust in their eyes and blind that it is still the real world with real people and not all of them are nice.

Home owners insurance should cover it and hopefully she will find out who stole them.

 

[kapoof]

well said sammie...

 

[goodferry]

I definitely wasn't referring to the posts on this thread when I spoke of a lack of compassion, nor did I make a judgement either way about who is guilty. What I meant was that when you file any complaint, with any company, about a theft or a mistake by an employee, you don't get an "I am sorry this happened to you" You get "what did you do to prevent this from happening". For example, we have a friend who had her oil changed in her Mini Cooper at a large national chain (first mistake ) on her way home, the oil light came on, she was on the freeway, and pulled over within an eighth of a mile. The employee had torn the oring on the cannister style filter when putting it on, all the oil ran out, and the engine was blown up. Upon calling the store to report she was having trouble, the manager asked her why she hadn't pulled over the INSTANT the light came on. Not "Gee, let's get a tow truck out right away so we can see what happend" At that point they didn't know what the cause of the problem was, she was along the side of the road still, and he was already building a case for this not being their fault.
I think most people read threads about theft at a Disney resort and know that this can happen at any hotel, and that it isn't necessarily the person cleaning the room who is doing it. I know that I wouldn't make a decision on whether or not to stay at SSR based on one report of theft made on an internet board, and I think most people are the same way.
The way I read the original post was that she suffered a loss, felt she wasn't getting any information about what really happened and felt sad and frustrated, and probably was looking for a little sympathy and advice on how to proceed.

 

[minnie61650]

Lets look at this from what we know. Saying the OP did have these things stolen, even she does not know for sure who took them. Could be Disney staff, could not be. All we know is her stuff was missing. As some said, someone could have slipped in while the room was being cleaned.

Where is that compassion you speak of for those that are being accussed of being guilty with no way to speak for themselves. I think it was wise of the OP to share what happen to let others know who to be careful in any hotel, I think it was wrong to accuse SSR of being an unsafe place to stay due to housekeeping.

I am amazed at the number of people who immediately believe anything that is shared on these forums. At times when you see someone post a horror story and they only have one or two posts prior to that,at times they are either disgruntled or a fired Disney employee or even someone that works for Universal.

Crime happens every day at Disney, and the majority of it is not Disney staff. Anyone is naive to think otherwise and naive to think everyone you read is the entire story.

I don't think the OP was chatised, it is just that when you travel if you leave things in a room that many people have access to, even criminals you run the risk of having it stolen. I think the comments were more to educate others.

Too many people go to Disney with pixie dust in their eyes and blind that it is still the real world with real people and not all of them are nice.

Home owners insurance should cover it and hopefully she will find out who stole them.

 

[tlbwriter]

The cable locks for laptops is a good idea, BUT those cables can be cut. So, if a potential thief has a proprer tool with him...the laptop will be gone with only your cut cable lock remaining. Just an fyi.

Yes, cables can be cut and locks can be picked. If someone really wants your stuff, there is little you can do to stop them. But you can stop or slow down the casual thief who is looking for something easy to pick up.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Several years ago, our hotel room was broken into. We were staying offsite in the nicer area of W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. Let me start from the beginning.

When we arrived, we noticed that the sliding glass door didn't want to slide correctly. This was a bummer because it was easy access to the patio and the car which was backed up right to the patio. We used the sliding door to unload the car and the next morning two of us went out the sliding door while my husband slid it back into place and secured it with the lock and the pin.

Off we went to the Magic Kingdom. We got back to the room late and our card key wouldn't work. We went to the front desk and they said the keys had been de-activated because they had been told we had checked out early. We all kind of laughed it off and the keys were re-activated.

The next day, we went shopping a while and came back to the room later that day. The card key worked just fine. Housekeeping had come in and cleaned the room.

Later that day, we decided to go for a swim in the hotel pool. We were gone for about an hour. We changed our clothes and my daughter had left something in the car so we went out through the sliding glass door.

That evening, my sister, Lois, couldn't find her wallet. We looked everywhere but it isn't unusual for her to lose things so we just thought it was Lois being Lois. We called Magic Kingdom Lost and Found and we went to the Publix grocer store she ran to on day one.

Day 3, we started the long drive home to Louisiana. Still no wallet but that was so typical of my sister. We were about 3 hours from home and I was digging around in my huge purse for my chapstick. I kept on digging around and, finally, turned on the light in the car. The entire lining of my purse had been cut open at the seam. Then, I realized that the side pocket of my purse was torn also. I had put my wedding ring in the side pocket when we went swimming and absolutely forgot to put it back on. Needless to say, it was gone.

That's we realized that the wallet had actually been stolen not lost. Remember the sliding glass door that my daughter went out of? We realized that, when she went out, it still didn't slide correctly but it also wasn't locked.

Immediately after getting home, my sister called her credit card companies. Within just over eighteen hours, over $1,000.00 was charged to one of her credit cards and each charge was made at gas stations.

We called the Orlando Police and the case was assigned to a detective. The detective informed us that there were several "theft rings" in the Orlando area. They, literally, watch the guests coming and going from their rooms. They were probably the ones who informed the front desk that we had checked out. They were probably working with the housekeeping staff but that's not a positive. The first person in the "ring" used the card to buy gas and passed it along to another who was waiting at the next gas station and so on and so on.

We, of course, asked the Detective to keep us informed of the status but he said we would probably never recover my ring. I filed a claim with my homeowner's and I was given $1,000.00 which was my policy's maximum. My sister didn't have to pay any of the credit card charges.

So, the moral of the story is, I will NEVER, EVER leave anything of any type of value in my room again unless it is locked up in the safe. I NEVER EVER wear my wedding ring. I have bought a cheap band and ring from our local mall. It cost about $20.00. If it won't fit in the same it has no business coming along on our trip!

 

[princessgirl2238]

Forewarning to anyone staying at Saratoga Springs Resort: Beware of housekeeping staff as we were robbed of 2 laptops, 1 digital camera, and 1 cell phone charger the day after we had our 2 bedroom villa cleaned during our stay. We were only gone from our room for about 4-5 hours that evening and someone entered our room with a room key and stole our things. Prior to leaving for the evening, my husband and I separately received calls to our room phone during the day where nobody was as the other end??? We believe they were checking to see if we had left our room yet so they could come in. Security came and took a report, Orlando Police also came and took a report and although Disney Security assured us that they could tell who entered our room (cause each room key has a specific number assigned to it) we were never given any information regarding who was responsible. Therefore we could never press charges and possibly get our things back. We have been DVC members since 1998 and never had a problem like this, but we also never stayed at Saratoga Springs until this year. We were disappointed with the way Disney handled our theft as we were constantly calling Security and Management at the resort to get updated on what was discovered. They handled the case poorly and the only compensation given to us was $500.00 (that is REQUIRED BY FLORIDA LAW to cover any theft liability by housekeeping staff), and that was after many phone calls to Disney inquiring about our case and what they may or maynot have found out. Our Disney memories have been sadly ruined by this theft and we will never feel "safe at home" as we once did.

that's horrible! i was just there 3 weeks ago and my sister in a two bedroom (it was our college graduation gift from our family) and i left our brand new apple laptops out in the open on the table (to keep them connected to the internet) with our ipods and jewelry. we never once thought about locking anything up. i think now we'll think twice about leaving things out. i couldn't imagine what would happen if our things got stolen at wdw

 

[princessgirl2238]

quick side note:
op- i hope that you all didn't lose any valuable info or papers saved on the laptops. i hope you all will be able to recover from this. i don't think i'd ever feel the same about leaving my things in a hotel room again (maybe you'd be allowed to leave them at concierge next time?)
also: do you have AAA? i think there maybe a policy that would cover theft while on vacation (but i'm not sure on that)

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Well stated Sammie

but to add to this with all the Problems with the Locals at DTD I have offen stated that SSR is just waiting for easy pickings. Their should be a Security gate at the path to DTD. Then if someone is caught on Property they could be at least escorted off for trespass. I know they could just hop on a boat or bus ,but I would tink most theives would want to slip in rather then get in.

I still think this is one point where Disney should be asking why people are where they are and for what reason. Security is in place and checks at the front gate for the Cars but anyone could just stroll right on in.

 

[Sammie]

Well stated Sammie

but to add to this with all the Problems with the Locals at DTD I have offen stated that SSR is just waiting for easy pickings. Their should be a Security gate at the path to DTD. Then if someone is caught on Property they could be at least escorted off for trespass. I know they could just hop on a boat or bus ,but I would tink most theives would want to slip in rather then get in.

I still think this is one point where Disney should be asking why people are where they are and for what reason. Security is in place and checks at the front gate for the Cars but anyone could just stroll right on in.

Actually SSR has one of the lowest rates of on property crime. Others are much worse.

 

[bytheblood]

The OP probably hasn't commented again because after relating the horrible story of being robbed while on vacation, she was chastised for being so irresponsible and leaving the things where someone can steal them. I am sure that didn't make her feel any better about the intrusion, and that she had already learned a lesson about leaving valuables around in any hotel room. Hopefully she will get some answers, it's frustrating I know.
DD left an inexpensive necklace on the nightstand at the Poly one time and it went missing. Not a big deal, but she was sad. We were staying in Hawaii, so I asked the CM at the front desk if anything had been turned in since my daughter was missing a necklace. He treated me like I was the one who did something wrong. The gist of his story was if you don't want to loose it, lock it up, and if you didn't, I don't want to hear about it. He didn't even make any phone calls or PRETEND he cared.
I am sure that CMs are trained how to behave in cases of alleged theft to ensure that Disney isn't liable, it's just a shame that as a society we have lost sight of compassion and doing what is right in the process of trying to protect ourselves from unjust litigation.

That is ridiculous. Nobody chastised her as you made point to say, If anything, people were compassionate.

Furthermore, anybody who posts ANYTHING on these boards is setting themselves up for any kind of feedback.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Furthermore, anybody who posts ANYTHING on these boards is setting themselves up for any kind of feedback.

I totally agree!!!

P.S. I'm glad you put the picture back!!!!! I missed seeing him like that in your posts.

 

[bsusanmb]

Now that I think about it, on one of our stays at SSR, we were in a 2 bedroom. We were only there a couple of days, so housekeeping couldn't have gone in and reported something needed to be replaced. A man opened our door with a pass key, dressed in workman clothes, and when I came around the corner, he said, "oh, I didn't know you were in the room" and abruptly left.....I thought nothing of it, DH had a fit, and thought the guy was going to steal our things....

And here's a good one...about those pass keys....We stayed 2 nights at a moderate and we were given a room key....it was 4am, and we put the key in the door, opened the door, and low and behold, people were in bed sleeping!! Now how does that happen?

Well, I guess I don't be as trusting as I once was...and this is another reason to shop on QVC for diamonique!!!!!

 

[grannyminnie]

Regarless of whether or not the OP comes back to post, I'm glad this was reported, because it reminds me that, as someone above posted, perhaps we often have too much pixie dust in our eyes to act smartly sometimes! I agree...leave the valuables at home, and lock up what you have to bring in the safe!!

 

[mgilmer]

The cable locks for laptops is a good idea, BUT those cables can be cut. So, if a potential thief has a proprer tool with him...the laptop will be gone with only your cut cable lock remaining. Just an fyi.

I have a Defcon cable lock that emits a 110 db alarm if anyone moves or attempts to cut the cable on my lock. It will certainly deter theft and leave the thief a little deaf on top of it.

 

[bab31]

so what is a person to do if they are staying in a hotel with no safe. I have TSA locks for my suitcase and keep my extra cash locked up...sounds like that could be wrong also

so what should I do? besides carry my cash with me at all times- which increases loss also...

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want your valuables safe, you can NEVER leave them out in a hotel room, DVC or not.

You're not "home" no matter how many times they say it. They're still hotels, and there are people who don't know you who possess keys and the right to entry. Hotels have limited responsibility for anything you choose to leave in your room when you are not present.

If you're in the room you can always bolt and latch the door (and to be safe you should always use both the bolt and the latch) but that can't be done unless you are actually in the room.

and be advised of the risk before entrusting valuables to a resort luggage room or having them transferred between resorts in luggage! They're only going to be totally safe if YOU carry them.

 

[TDC Nala]

That's terrible! Personally when we travel on shorter trips, I just cancel maid service all together. I want to limit the people in and out of my room as much as possible. If I need towels/soaps I just call down once I'm back in the room for the evening. Not a perfect solution, but if we assume that some thefts occur while our room is being cleaned, that is at least removed.

This seems like a good idea if you still put the valuable items away in the safe or lock them up. If somebody with a passkey to a block of rooms wants to come into yours and see what you've got in there, the fact that you didn't authorize them to enter the room probably isn't going to stop them.