Theft @ OKW

[SCgoofy64]

Another potential entry is the balcony. Always keep your balcony door locked at all time. We just returned from a trip to BWV room 5013, had one of the funky balconies, enclosed lower half with huge rail about 4 feet across. The idiots right next to us left their balcony door open all the time. We could of just went across with absolutely no danger since the top of balcony rail is like 4 feet and helped ourselves to whatever of theirs we wanted. We knew when they left because they had 2 small children and we could here them. I did rent from a DVC owner and I was going to post that this may be something to look at for saving energy. I hate to think that for 12 hours straight the door was open and the AC was at it lowest setting.

 

[CarolA]

There is very little Disney can do. They have no proof that anyone actually had cash. In this day and age people lie . (Trust me, I have stood at hotel front desks and heard some stories you would not believe while I was checking in or out.) Disney Dollars are just like cash, no protection if they are gone. I always advise people not to bring cash. Take pre-paid credit cards or traveler's checks.

If you read Euorpean travel boards what you quickly realize is that YOU and I are no match for a professional pickpocket. They can get your wallet while you are right there with it!

Folks, don't take things on vacation that you don't want to lose. The only valuable I take is my camera and it is actually covered by my homeowners. Leave your expensive jewerly at home. Your family knows you have it. My grandmother lost all her jewerly years ago. She kept it in her purse for safekeeping. It fell out!

As to getting in the safe. About 50% of people who use the safes leave the key in the room. I had a friend whose stuff was stolen from a safe, she forgot to lock the safe. Made it easy for the thief to find the stuff.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Years ago when I had quite a discussion with management down at OKW ,one of the things I complained about was the lack of a security gate at the front. OKW was the last to get a security gate, all the moderates had them but not DVC(OKW). I was told they thought their security was fine the way it was. They put the gate up later. One thing that is not mentioned here is the ease that someone can enter the OKW area without going through the gate, we all know the walkway from DD, so in spite of a security gate at OKW in the front there is nothing to stop anyone from entrying from the rear at South Point. So like someone suggested lock those porch doors, and don't bother with the safe, or at least don't beleive that just because you have something in the safe it is safe.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Why do all of you take so much cash with you??? I take about $200, never more, and after I use that up, I visit the ATM for a refill. The $1.50 surcharge is worth it for peace of mind. If I am paying my bill with cash, I put it on the credit card for the points, and pay it up at home.

Twice I have found ladies' purses that were left behind, and both times they had $$ in them. The worst was a towel bag that had $4100 in it!! That's unbelievable to me! I am an honest person, but I did have a second of greed before I decided to turn it in. It was their whole vacation--but there is no reason for such foolishness.

 

[dpglow]

A police report is a must, even at this point when they are back at home. Start with WDW security (they should absolutely at least take a report) and Orlando PD. If there is a bunch of thefts going on, every little report can help the police narrow things down.

And if by chance, someone next week is caught with their hand in a safe, it is entirely possible they also have, or had, that $1200. Maybe there would be a chance, albeit a slim one, that the victim could get their $$$ back.

Unless it is reported to the proper authorities, why would the thief discontinue his/her activities? If it is an employee and they see Orlando PD talking to a WDW manager outside the victims room, they very well may decide to end that string of theft.

And as for people questioning the need for so much cash--

A. Not everyone has a CC.
B. Not everyone has even a ATM or debit card or a checking account for that matter.
C. Some people are just more comfortable with cash and have better spending habits.

I, for one, need to see that I only have $300 in green cash left to cover the last few days of expenses. If I use my debit, I would just keep on going.

Good luck to your friend.

 

[KristiKelly]

A few weeks ago there was a thread on another board - Resort Board -maybe, where a family from India (or somewhere like that) had about $10,000 dollars cash stolen from their safe @ WL. That sounds like a huge amount of cash to carry around, but folks on that board pointed out that in other countries travellers checks & credit cards are not used like they are here in US and that it would not be uncommon for some families to carry that much cash. We are not to judge whether or not people choose to carry cash or credit cards or trav. checks, but I wonder if maybe WDW has some less-than ethical people working for them that would take advantage of being able to get into rooms. We carry very little cash with us when we go.

 

[colleen costello]

I was one of the people who had a housekeeper come into our room while we were there. It gave me the willies! I was doing laundry so when she knocked, I didn't hear her and she just came on in. We startled each other! It really put into perspective for me that your room is NOT home, in that sense of the word -- there can be lots of visitors. I believe that the vast majority of WDW employees are honest, but it only takes one bad apple. I hate to admit he is right, but my hubby always checks the balcony door locks before we leave the room. When he was a kid, someone drove up to their yard and towed away their travel trailer, and now he is always careful. I think once you have been robbed, it makes a lasting impression.

CarolA, I think you got bleeped above for a misspelling that left you typing the name of the male organ. Your post inadvertantly made me laugh!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm just curious-if you go to WDW with that much cash, would it be possible to give the front desk, say, $1000, then be able to charge $1000? Sort of like a debt card or something?

 

[lovetotravel1974]

Originally posted by dpglow
And as for people questioning the need for so much cash--

A. Not everyone has a CC.
B. Not everyone has even a ATM or debit card or a checking account for that matter.
C. Some people are just more comfortable with cash and have better spending habits.

If you are a frequent traveler a credit card is a must, and the OP gave the reason ($1200 theft) why you should never carry that much cash on vacation.

We charge everything and benifit from it with FF miles. You can get credit cards now with no yearly fee so that shouldn't be an issue for not having one.

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
I'm just curious-if you go to WDW with that much cash, would it be possible to give the front desk, say, $1000, then be able to charge $1000? Sort of like a debt card or something?

I believe that you can, and then just use your room key to charge.

Like many here, I agree it's just plain foolish to bring that much cash. Now to those who do not do credit cards, just get travelers checks.

Sad comentary on the state of world we live in today, that we are even having this discussion. Once upon a time we didn't need locks, but then niether were airplanes used as weapons. I guess we have to do what we have to, just to protect what is ours.

 

[PamOKW]

There is really no way to "gate" OKW now that people can easily walk over from DD or take the ferry boat. Heck, they could play a round of golf to get in the resort.

Just like everywhere -- you have to take reasonable precautions. Lock the doors at all times. Know where your wallet/purse are. (And the purse shouldn't be hanging on the back of a restaurant chair.) It feels like a fantasy world but use the same precautions you would use staying in a NYC hotel.

 

[jbthi]

I am uneasy about leaving anything of value in my room.

This happened a couple of years ago at OKW. I had brought my 2 yr. old GD back to the room for a nap and neglected to put the latch on. I was lying down with her when 2 employees came in the room. I don't know if they knocked first but I didn't hear them.

They seemed a little flustered but they said they were checking mattresses to see which ones needed replaced. I think they said all the ones of a certain type were being changed out. She took a very quick look at the one in the master BR and I don't think she even looked at the second BR.

When they left, I called the front desk and asked if they were authorized to do this. She said she would look into it and also connected me with housekeeping. They did not get back with me and I never did find out if it was legitimate.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJR
A co-worker of mine just got back from a trip to OKW where they stayed with a DVC owner. She loved the room and the resrt, unfortunately someone got into their room and stole $1200 cash out of the safe, but didn't touch a diamond necklace or earrings or the digital cameras. I think they were in building 54 or 56 (not sure). She was able to get a voucher for 4 dinners at Olivia's but I guess he CMs weren't too helpful otherwise.

We will be going to OKW in 3 weeks, and I am now concerned that theft my be an issue. Anyone else have any problems? I've seen one or two other posts about thefts at other DVC resorts. Seems like trhe teives knew exactly where and what to look for.

Hope this isn't going to be a trend. Since this is our home resort, we've been there many times and never had a problem before.

Dave

Dave, we have never had a problem and we leave small bills out all over the place, not to mention, purchases, digital cameras, and a laptop.
I cannot imagine not taking all the other stuff and ony the cash and I find it amazing that they were able to get into the safe, was it not locked?
with all the pawn shops around there, I would have expected the jewlery to go to.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJR
A co-worker of mine just got back from a trip to OKW where they stayed with a DVC owner. She loved the room and the resrt, unfortunately someone got into their room and stole $1200 cash out of the safe, but didn't touch a diamond necklace or earrings or the digital cameras. I think they were in building 54 or 56 (not sure). She was able to get a voucher for 4 dinners at Olivia's but I guess he CMs weren't too helpful otherwise.

We will be going to OKW in 3 weeks, and I am now concerned that theft my be an issue. Anyone else have any problems? I've seen one or two other posts about thefts at other DVC resorts. Seems like trhe teives knew exactly where and what to look for.

Hope this isn't going to be a trend. Since this is our home resort, we've been there many times and never had a problem before.

Dave

If I'm not mistaken, the store is open from 7:00 a.M. to 11:00 P.M. We were just there last week, and for some reason I looked at the hours on the door.

Is your countdown wrong?

 

[RoutemanDan]

I don't think it is Gail,he stated in his post in this thread that:

We will be going to OKW in 3 weeks, and I am now concerned that theft my be an issue

Hmmmmmm............

 

[Ksp]

Always good to be careful what we bring; we don't usually have more cash than 2 -300 with us...Disney card gives us points for our vacation purchases, so our thought was why use the cash?
I hadn't thought too much about people getting into the safes...thanks for giving us the heads up about the passkeys.

 

[TiggerFreak]

In my previous career I was a locksmith for 20 years, so I can shed some light on the locks used on the in room safes at WDW

The keys used for the safes are very different than your house or car keys. If I remeber correctly they are maufactured by a company called "MEDECO" and have features which require special machines to create or duplicate keys. In addition to the special equipment, the blank uncut keys are generally only available to authorized dealers or direct large end users.
Some end users have paid for an exclusive "series" of locks that are made only for that user, meaning that no other user has access to the locks or blanks. I have no specific knowledge that this is the case at WDW, but with the size of WDW I would lean to this being the case.

With the previous all said I would find it very hard to believe that someone would have gained entry to a WDW room safe with a key that was obtained in some illicit manner. Not that it is impossible, but very unlikely. If this were true, I would look for MANY more thefts of this type, which would not likely escape the media in Orlando.

The more plausable explanation is that the story is either false or missing some details.

The companies involved, WDW and the lock manufacturer, have too much to lose reputation-wise for me to believe the room-safe was "surreptitously" comprimised. If the story said the safe was openned by brute force, I would be more inclined to believe it.
Given a few hours alone, most "amatuer" thieves could force one of these units open. A knowledgable person would only need minutes, but would still leave ample evidence of forced entry.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
If someone entered the room, then the passcard should be trackable to know who entered & when.

Did they leave the safe key "hidden" in the room somewhere or take it with them.

It doesn't make any sense that the other items were left untouched.

It makes a lot of sense, items are traceable and easy to idenify. Money isn't.

 

[cgcw]

Interesting reading, TiggerFreak. Thanks for the insight.

 

[jctwizzer]

I'll go with the idea that either details are missing or, more likely, the story is a fabrication.
Seems strange this only happened in one room...clever of someone to know which room had cash in the safe and, as noted above, the safes are not all that easy to get into. And, if its all that easy, why isn't there a rash of similar situations?
The other valuables supposedly disregarded, the way it was presented doesn't make much sense.
If you're looking for valuables, jewelry is almost too easy to convert......for one thing its from a visitor who won't be around to identify it--or you could drive 50 miles and hock it where it would never to identified. If the jewels are removed from the mountings before being sold, there is no way to identify them..The digital cameras could be sold in the DD parking lot with little or no problem....or in a gas station on 192---the possibilities are endless.
All in all the story has holes. And more and more of these stories are starting to pop up----a couple of weeks ago it was an Indian couple that lost $3000 from their room, or something. Then someone got injured in a Park with no action by the CM's. All of these things could happen, but based on our experience, over time, none of them are too likely. JMHO