Stealing from room safe

[karriealex]

I know the safe was locked. But the act of a housekeeper stealing from a locked safe is very, very, very (etc, etc, etc) rare. Think about how many people stay at Disney properties and how many times have you read about thefts for a locked safe? Bxccah will be perfectly safe keeping her cash locked up instead jumping through a bunch of hoops to get a vanilla card and the paying some company for the pleasure of using her own money.

Unless there were complaints then why the sting operation to catch this person?

 

[Ziggie]

Ok, I'm going to have to back out of this thread as I certainly don't want to get into a debate about using vanilla debit Visa cards. I've been using them for years without any issues.

Plus, there is a lot of misinformation being posted here about the card, it's uses, its fees, losing it, etc.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

 

[Kristibo42]

Okay so I have to ask what is a Vanilla debit Visa card?

 

[livndisney]

wrong thread

 

[karriealex]

Okay so I have to ask what is a Vanilla debit Visa card?

It is a card with the Visa brand on it that you can put money on and use it like a debit or credit card.

 

[chimo2u]

I'm from Canada, and every time we go, we bring a large amount of spending money with us -- most times around $2,000. I always put my money onto my room account, and just use my room key as a "debit card" for purchases. Last trip was the first time I decided to keep the money in Travelers cheques and keep it locked in the safe at the POLY....worked fine.
I may go back to the putting the large sum onto the room key again.....
but I think overall the safes are pretty safe

 

[robinb]

Unless there were complaints then why the sting operation to catch this person?

I am not disputing that fact. I think that some of our foreign visitors get all caught up with US crime reports and statistics and feel they need to do *something* to keep themselves safe. What I am saying is that a housekeeper taking something from a locked safe almost never happens and *I* am not the type of person to worry about stuff that has a one-in-a-million chance of happening. For most people, protecting themselves against something that has a very, very low probability of happening -- and paying through the nose for that protection -- is overkill.

FWIW, I also don't douse the room with Lysol in an attempt to kill every germ or check for bed bugs. I don't have to make everything *just so* for my piece of mind. If you are, then that's OK if it makes you feel better . If it makes you feel safer to put your cash on one of these vanilla credit cards that's OK too. It's just not for me.

 

[lmhall2000]

People worry way too much about things. We have left laptops, phones, video games, DVD players, coins, and trading pins in our rooms. Cards and cash are in the save. Never once has anything been taking.

I believe it is not worry but preparedness...those who would have prepared differently had they been aware of a risk. We carry a lot of valuable electronics, Ipad, Iphones, etc. if those are stolen, does Disney cover all expenses? Likely not, one of those caveats you signed away as a guest. Would this make you invest in comprehensive travel insurance? Possibly, our homeowners policy has a thosand dollar deductible...not worth a claim, but who can easily replace an Ipad or who would want to?

I read these threads not to worry but to find options to protect ourselves on vacation, no clue front desks had safety deposit boxes until I read this...be informed, not worried.

 

[dismom22]

Would this make you invest in comprehensive travel insurance? Possibly, our homeowners policy has a thosand dollar deductible...not worth a claim, but who can easily replace an Ipad or who would want to?

I read these threads not to worry but to find options to protect ourselves on vacation, no clue front desks had safety deposit boxes until I read this...be informed, not worried.

I work for State Farm and just thought I would throw this out there...we offer a policy called a Personal Articles Policy or with other companies sometimes referred to as an inland marine policy. It offers a zero dollar deductible and 100% replacement cost on scheduled jewelry, electronics and more...and it's only a minimum of $30/year premium. Definitely something folks should look into if you have valuables...it also helps keep your homeowners policy claim free!

 

[shyjade]

I know the safe was locked. But the act of a housekeeper stealing from a locked safe is very, very, very (etc, etc, etc) rare. Think about how many people stay at Disney properties and how many times have you read about thefts for a locked safe?

Probably about as rare as a room fridge catching fire...

 

[robinb]

Probably about as rare as a room fridge catching fire...

*snork* You have a point .

 

[karriealex]

According to our news that shows a picture of the mousekeeper she had stolen from several rooms.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Once at the Poly we returned to our room late afternoon and housekeeping had been there, but the room was left unlocked. The little latch that they use to keep the door open while cleaning was still between the door and casing leaving door slightly ajar. No housekeeper or maintenance person - no one in site. It wasn't noticeable if you were just walking by but was a little unsettling thinking about how long our room must have been unlocked. Never reported it. Likely was accident. Still... Now I really don't travel with valuables and gives more peace of mind. What little I have, bit of cash, credit cards just stays in safe. Better there then carrying around parks and pools.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ok, I'm going to have to back out of this thread as I certainly don't want to get into a debate about using vanilla debit Visa cards. I've been using them for years without any issues.

Plus, there is a lot of misinformation being posted here about the card, it's uses, its fees, losing it, etc.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Why not just state the facts? I just read through what people had said, and they have posted a sentence or two about losing it and what might happen, or saying to check the fees (always a good idea). Why not just simply state the facts as you know them as a user of the card? Why back out of it, and why see it as a *debate*? There haven't been two sides posted other than "use them it's easy" and "check the fees and don't lose it".

 

[plumsiren]

I was just thinking...I can't remember my parents ever in my life putting anything in the room safe! Of course this was before the days of laptops and whatnot, but they always had traveler's checks, and kept those and their credit cards with them at all times (I'll never forget having to call Amex to cancel from our room at CBR after dad's wallet flew out of his pocket on BTMRR - fortunately when we went back a CM had turned it in, cash still in it). I've done the same when traveling by myself.

And re: the other post about the person's watch, why would you take an expensive watch on vacation? Or are these the kind of people who don't own any other kind?

 

[bxccah]

I, uh, didnt mean to cause a debate or anything like that, I'm just a bit of a worrier!

 

[mmdisneylover]

I read a new DIS article today that said a housekeeper was caught stealing money from a room safe. I want to know why/how a housekeeper would be able to have keys to the safe?!?!?

I can honestly say we leave everything valuable laying around our room but money us usually put in safe that is crazy that they can get in but I would imagine their is a master code for the safe but you wouldn't think housekeeping should know it.

 

[Sammie]

With debit cards being accepted nearly everywhere, there is really no reason to bring large amounts of cash with you on vacation these days unless you are going somewhere like Vegas where you need cash to gamble.

However, this would be an issue with jewelry as I don't know any women who wouldn't bring their engagement/wedding rings on vacation. They might not want to wear those when going swimming or to a water park.

I don't take anything on vacation that is not insured or can't be replaced. So yes my rings stay home. I have a fake, but attractive ring I wear when I travel.

A hotel room is not a private residence, many people have access to it.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I am five pages into this thread and I have to wonder- In this day and age, why does anyone have cash at Disney? Yeah, I have a little tip money with me, but someone said $2000 cash . Goodness, front desk accepts my totally free debit card. They also hand me a KTTW or soon a band to charge everything. I can take my debit card down to the front desk and get $50 pocket tip money any time I want too. I check every night to see what I have charged. Cash? I vote paperless (and I am in the paper industry )

heck, I wish all the valet's and baggage handlers had Samsung phones that would let me tap them a tip instead of handing cash

 

[jedijuhl]

I am five pages into this thread and I have to wonder- In this day and age, why does anyone have cash at Disney? Yeah, I have a little tip money with me, but someone said $2000 cash . Goodness, front desk accepts my totally free debit card. They also hand me a KTTW or soon a band to charge everything. I can take my debit card down to the front desk and get $50 pocket tip money any time I want too. I check every night to see what I have charged. Cash? I vote paperless (and I am in the paper industry )

heck, I wish all the valet's and baggage handlers had Samsung phones that would let me tap them a tip instead of handing cash

You Hit the nail on the head! Just need a little tip money on hand (even divide it between those in your party if needed). At some table service meals we just used our KTTW to add/charge the tip. If you run out of $$ its easily accessible if you need more as a top up.

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