Housekeeping theft at Saratoga Springs

[JoiseyMom]

DH never leaves home without his laptop. Every year there is some sort of work he does on vacation. He does have a cable lock for it. If you don't, you can leave it with bell services, they do have a secure lock up room you can request. We never leave any valuables in the room. I even lock up the kids ADHD meds in the safe!!!

 

[CarolA]

Some of the newer "tiny" laptops will fit in the safe. My SLR will fit in the safe. My work HP will not. It gets locked to the desk.

The other thing to be VERY aware of is your rental car. Don't leave your laptop case etc in sight. This is why I refuse to take an SUV anymore. We have had at least three thefts recently where thieves saw the laptop and just did a smash and grab!

 

[safetymom]

I work with somebody who left his computer bag in the car while he went in to eat. When he came out the back window was smashed in and his computer bag was gone.

 

[kapoof]

its terrible that there are 'professional theives' out there.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Maybe the maids had the door propped open while they were out of the room, or cleaning the bathroom, other people slipped in through the door and took the stuff.. it's possible.

 

[annie1995]

I plan on locking up any important stuff in my suitcase if It won't fit in the room safe. I bought luggage locks just for this purpose.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Hmm... this thread has me rethinking bringing my laptop. I was going to take it just to check my e-mail occasionally and review my photos but maybe it's not worth the extra hassle. I think I'll look into taking a portable photo storage unit.

Sorry this happened to you OP. Please keep us updated. I hope they will be able to recover your things.

 

[CarolA]

One thing to realize is that at a LOT of hotels controls over the "pass keys" are not as good as we might like. People quit and they don't get thier key dactivated, people lose their key and "borrow" someone else's etc. Just because they know key 10 opened a door may not PROVE who stole.

A few examples from my auditing career.

1. I once had a dead man change a computer program.... Apparently prior to his death he "loaned" his logon info to a coworker. Which one, who knows? But the breakdown was that when he died no one "deactivated" his info.

2. I once audited a school system where there were 100's of employees who still had access to things who had not reported to work in MONTHS. When we quizzed the management we were told "They didn't quit" Well DUH! If you or I don't show up for work for a few weeks most places either figure we quit or just consider us fired! This place thought they "might come back" LOL!

Don't assume Disney is "wonderful" and doesn't make this error. Big corporations are actually the worst on this type of thing because there are SO MANY employees to keep track of.....

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Annie,

No flames or offense intended, but do you know how easy it is to break into a piece of luggage when it is locked? My 9 year old can pick most of the luggage locks (including the combination kind) within about 1 minute. Before you ask me why (and no, he's not in training to be a professional thief), I'll explain. He went away to camp (with a footlocker). After lecturing him (a long time) about being careful not to lock his keys in his locker...he did it anyway. His camp counselor (again, not a thief...but an experienced counselor who helps kids solve problems) showed him how to pick his lock.

Then, just for fun, he and his buds at camp figured out how to pick most of the other locks including "spreading" the numbers on a combination lock. OH...and if you're talking about those TSA locks, those are a joke...I can even break into those (and I can't open a "childproof" pill bottle!).

Seriously though. If you are taking valuables, please either lock them in your safe or take them to the front desk to be locked up. A few minutes of hassle to stop at the front desk will save hours of hassle with filing a police report and then not having your stuff. I learned the hard way...had a digital SLR (really) stolen with about 600 pictures on it! Losing the camera bugged me a lot....losing the pictures though, that was horrible!

Karen

 

[annie1995]

Annie,

No flames or offense intended, but do you know how easy it is to break into a piece of luggage when it is locked? My 9 year old can pick most of the luggage locks (including the combination kind) within about 1 minute. Before you ask me why (and no, he's not in training to be a professional thief), I'll explain. He went away to camp (with a footlocker). After lecturing him (a long time) about being careful not to lock his keys in his locker...he did it anyway. His camp counselor (again, not a thief...but an experienced counselor who helps kids solve problems) showed him how to pick his lock.

Then, just for fun, he and his buds at camp figured out how to pick most of the other locks including "spreading" the numbers on a combination lock. OH...and if you're talking about those TSA locks, those are a joke...I can even break into those (and I can't open a "childproof" pill bottle!).

Seriously though. If you are taking valuables, please either lock them in your safe or take them to the front desk to be locked up. A few minutes of hassle to stop at the front desk will save hours of hassle with filing a police report and then not having your stuff. I learned the hard way...had a digital SLR (really) stolen with about 600 pictures on it! Losing the camera bugged me a lot....losing the pictures though, that was horrible!

Karen

Thank you so much!!! I never realized how easy those locks are to get into. My camera will always be with me, no questions asked!!!

 

[bunnyfoo]

Seriously though. If you are taking valuables, please either lock them in your safe or take them to the front desk to be locked up. A few minutes of hassle to stop at the front desk will save hours of hassle with filing a police report and then not having your stuff. I learned the hard way...had a digital SLR (really) stolen with about 600 pictures on it! Losing the camera bugged me a lot....losing the pictures though, that was horrible!

Karen

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

 

[Disney Fool]

Learn to travel without expensive jewelry (take the inexpensive stuff with you); if you absolutely can't go on vacation without your laptop or other expensive equipment, learn to put these items the hotel safe (ask at reception desk). Do not ever advertise that you are traveling with large sums of money, or expensive items. Thieves are listening and watching you--and they are masters at separating your valuables from you. Oh, and by the way, one of the worst things you can carry in your handbag, ladies, is one of those leather planners that will hold all of your credit cards. Leave them at home!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

There are good tips here. I always clean out my wallet before I go on a trip--remove everything except AAA card, driver's license, and a credit card--NOT the check card. This trip I left the whole wallet home and just took my license to get on the plane. DH had insurance cards, AAA, credit card in his wallet which he always carries. I don't take my purse to the parks; I leave it in the safe.
DH almost took his laptop this time but I made him leave it at home. It is bad enough people from work can't seem to function without him and he had 3 or 4 calls a day wherever we were dealing with issues.
Robin M.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Annie,

No flames or offense intended, but do you know how easy it is to break into a piece of luggage when it is locked? My 9 year old can pick most of the luggage locks (including the combination kind) within about 1 minute. Before you ask me why (and no, he's not in training to be a professional thief), I'll explain. He went away to camp (with a footlocker). After lecturing him (a long time) about being careful not to lock his keys in his locker...he did it anyway. His camp counselor (again, not a thief...but an experienced counselor who helps kids solve problems) showed him how to pick his lock.

Then, just for fun, he and his buds at camp figured out how to pick most of the other locks including "spreading" the numbers on a combination lock. OH...and if you're talking about those TSA locks, those are a joke...I can even break into those (and I can't open a "childproof" pill bottle!).

Seriously though. If you are taking valuables, please either lock them in your safe or take them to the front desk to be locked up. A few minutes of hassle to stop at the front desk will save hours of hassle with filing a police report and then not having your stuff. I learned the hard way...had a digital SLR (really) stolen with about 600 pictures on it! Losing the camera bugged me a lot....losing the pictures though, that was horrible!

Karen

I totally agree thats why I use the put it in a few different ones with Zipties on each they have to go through alot just to get to the stuff. This is for stuff that doesn't fit into the safe only.

I only try to inconvience them to move onto the next one.


This also applies to the Airports as well. They use an icepick there stick it right into the zipper and it opens with ease. It doesn't matter what type of lock you use as it's still connected to the opened zipper and never even touched but now the bag is wide open.

 

[branv]

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.

Though the way maid service has reportedly declined over the last few years at Disney, seems if you want to keep any item safe, just slide it under the bed. If you can bring yourself to put your hand under there. Yech!

Kidding! Sort of.

I swear, sometimes I think valuables are better off in your car trunk than in your room (Notice I said trunk, not inside passenger area). At least in that case your car insurance will cover the theft. Most thiefs need to be quick, so they go for the sure thing. Those that are just going to smash and grab are going to look for visible items instead of bothering to break into car after car, popping trunks. Course if their goal is just to take your whole car, I guess you're in trouble. Anyone know what the statistics of stolen vehicles are in WDW resorts?

 

[my2princessgirls]

DH never leaves home without his laptop. Every year there is some sort of work he does on vacation. He does have a cable lock for it. If you don't, you can leave it with bell services, they do have a secure lock up room you can request. We never leave any valuables in the room. I even lock up the kids ADHD meds in the safe!!!

Just wanted to say that bell services is where my stuff was stolen from (see post 30). They knew that we had a laptop and put it in the secure room, we never saw it again.

 

[bytheblood]

Hmmm! Why hasn't the OP commented again?

 

[rwdavis]

In 1998 we had a some prescription and various other meds stolen from our room at the Contemporary and the management could not have cared less. All they said was that the lead housekeeper there would not have done it.

So make sure you lock up or take with you what you don't want stolen.
Bob

 

[GalDisney]

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.

 

[kapoof]

Hmmm! Why hasn't the OP commented again?

i was wondering the same thing...