Theft @ OKW

[DebbieB]

Regarding laptops, I use a cable lock for mine. I tie it around the end table in the living room. Other than that, I never leave anything in the room. I only carry about $200 with me. I used to put my plane tickets in the safe but now with e-tickets, I don't worry about it. I haven't used the room safe in years.

Regarding the security gate, the easiest way to gain access would be to get on a bus.

Regarding housekeeping entering the room and surprising a guest, always make sure the swing lock is over and the deadbolt on when you are in the room.

I lost a cellphone at OKW about 5 years ago, I wasn't sure if I misplaced it or if it was stolen from the room. I didn't plan to carry it around with me, I thought I left it in my carryon bag. When I checked for it, it was gone. The cell phone co suggested I file a police report. I called the front desk and was given the number for the Orange Co Sheriff. I called them, they took a report over the phone and gave me a report #.

 

[Dean]

I'm wondering if the safe was locked or the key lef in it. I tend ot believe the story as presented. DVC is not responsible so the meal vouchers was the most they should have done. If it happened, it was very likely an employee or former employee and I would think getting a key to a safe isn't that unlikely to happen. It's a lesson to us all.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Regarding laptops, I use a cable lock for mine. I tie it around the end table in the living room. Other than that, I never leave anything in the room. I only carry about $200 with me. I used to put my plane tickets in the safe but now with e-tickets, I don't worry about it. I haven't used the room safe in years.

Regarding the security gate, the easiest way to gain access would be to get on a bus.

Regarding housekeeping entering the room and surprising a guest, always make sure the swing lock is over and the deadbolt on when you are in the room.

I lost a cellphone at OKW about 5 years ago, I wasn't sure if I misplaced it or if it was stolen from the room. I didn't plan to carry it around with me, I thought I left it in my carryon bag. When I checked for it, it was gone. The cell phone co suggested I file a police report. I called the front desk and was given the number for the Orange Co Sheriff. I called them, they took a report over the phone and gave me a report #.

Debbie, those table legs can be unscrewed. They walk off with the leg and the computer. Or, they just lift the leg and slip the lock off.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

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

Easy to identify IF you find them. thieves don't usually go where anyone can find them.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Debbie, those table legs can be unscrewed. They walk off with the leg and the computer. Or, they just lift the leg and slip the lock off.

It can't be slipped off easily because there is a crossbar half way up, I put it above that. If they wanted it that bad, I'm sure they could find a way. But they are going to be disappointed when they find it's only 64mb ram (I only use it on vacation)!

 

[msdis]

We came back to the room one trip a while ago and discovered the safe door open. We have traveled with little cash or at least none in the safe for some time. I did a quick one over and didn't remember anything missing. The key is always in my fanny pack. I chalked it up to not properly locking it but with these reports it kinda makes me wonder. We call our DVC vacations our no cash vacations. If each of us has $100.00 in cash on us that's a lot. The air is paid for, the rental car goes on a card, every purchase we make at WDW is on the room card, we seldom eat off property except MCDonald's or BK, and we need only enough for gas and tolls.
I think for the most part the CM's are honest but in every business I have worked in, some of the most trusted employees including management have stolen from my employer. So I know it happens and no one should be trusted that much let alone strangers. We always lock and latch our door while in the room too. Heck we do it at home and we are in a very low crime area. Notice I didn't say crime free. There is no such thing. We all need to accept the responsibility up front for ourselves. When it's too late, it's too late. Prevention is the key.I always say the best lesson learned is thru someone else's lesson. This is yet another sad example.
I too don't feel Disney is responsible. They warn you not to put things in them that are too valuable. CM's letting people in rooms or giving out keys of any sorts without picture id is a huge issue!
That should NEVER be happening!

On a similar note, those safes on the cruise lines stick in the sense that you think they are scanned and locked, and then they open right back up. Always wait a few seconds then test the door with a little tug. I have had several incidents with those scan types.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by 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.

ITA! We only use plastic, and we hit the cash machines if we need more than a couple hundred in cash. My thought was that this could have been an "inside job" by a teen or even another adult in the party that was trying to cover tracks, or worse yet, trying to pretend it was stolen.

The safes in hotel rooms have never struck me as particularily "safe", so I have never used them. If the complaint was legitimate, the police should have been called. That would be the only way to investigate as well. There is definitely something missing in this whole story.

We have been to OKW many times. We always have a lap top with us. DH usually leaves it in the room, but not out in plain sight. I often leave the camera in the room too. I don't even bother to hide that. We have never even had money taken. Of course, we usually only leave a few bucks in change in a glass in the bedroom armoir.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I wonder if the resort scanned the door lock, to find out who accessed the unit. It seems that it would be fairly easy to find the thief... especially in a condo where staff do not have a legitimate reason to enter the room on a daily basis.

My understanding is that each key is coded with a unique ID, and the door lock keeps a log of entries. Staff keys can be programmed to work only in a range of rooms, or during certain hours. At most hotels when you check-out of your room, your guest key will keep working for a while... but if they assign a new valid guest key to the next room occupant... as soon as that key is used... the previously issued guest keys (yours) are invalidated.

/Jim

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
It can't be slipped off easily because there is a crossbar half way up, I put it above that. If they wanted it that bad, I'm sure they could find a way. But they are going to be disappointed when they find it's only 64mb ram (I only use it on vacation)!

I only use our very aged and S L O W laptop on vacation also and just to store digital photos.

 

[Coach Rick]

All this talk is making me a bit paranoid about my laptop. Perhaps I don't need to take it after all. I have a GPS I usually take with me everywhere, but for local maps I have to load them off my laptop. I like to watch the GPS as we fly down from RI, and see the ground speed, heading, and elapse time. I guess I have to decide what I need it for more. Probably the flight. We usually go to Disney, and don't leave the property but maybe once. I was planning on getting on DVC Chat on Sunday night from OKW, but I guess I may have to rethink that too.

Once again, sad world we are bringing up our childeren in.

 

[geffric]

Maybe I have just be lucky.. but I have always brought my laptop and left it out and never had a problem at OKW.

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by Coach Rick
All this talk is making me a bit paranoid about my laptop. Perhaps I don't need to take it after all. I have a GPS I usually take with me everywhere, but for local maps I have to load them off my laptop. I like to watch the GPS as we fly down from RI, and see the ground speed, heading, and elapse time. I guess I have to decide what I need it for more. Probably the flight. We usually go to Disney, and don't leave the property but maybe once. I was planning on getting on DVC Chat on Sunday night from OKW, but I guess I may have to rethink that too.

Once again, sad world we are bringing up our childeren in.

Coach, if I were you, I wouldn't worry.

I may get flamed for this, but I consider this, as well as the other post referred to about the theft at VWL as urban legend.

I don't doubt that an occasional theft occurs at WDW, but I am not going to lose any sleep over these posts.

The room entry is monitored via the card. Yes, if you leave the balcony doors open, you are vulnerable to an intrusion.

The safes do have Medeco locks (I was a locksmith as well) and the keys cannot be duplicated at any hardware store.

The advise above about not carrying a lot of cash is just good sense. Lock what you can in the room (or front desk) safe, and store anything else in the trunk of your car. Don't leave the safe key in the room. Make sure you lock your doors when you leave.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by 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.

That's the exact reason why I use the deadbolt and safety latch whenever I am in my room.

 

[lightningcoach]

At SSR we just left the Do Not Disturb sign hanging on the door at all times because we had computers with us. Employees will get in trouble if they breach that. It just meant that we cleaned our own room and switched out the towels and linens ourselves. No big deal.

 

[vernon]

The story, as presented, doesn't make much sense to me. I'm not saying it's a deliberate misrepresentation, just that a lot of things don't add up.

Even before our resident locksmith ( thanks tigger ) gave his professional insight I thought it would be very unlikely that (with the exception of a DVC employee) anyone could gain access to the room AND the safe without leaving some evidence. More likely that the person either left the safe unlocked or the key in the room (both scenarios it's their fault IMHO). Theft happens all over (included WDW) but in the vast majority of times it's because the mark did something stupid.

It's a useful cautionary tale, but I don't believe things happened as portrayed (not flaming the OP, I just don't think they were told the correct story)

 

[CarolAnnC]

The thought has crossed my mind, much like detectives investigating a murder, that the odds are in favor of someone related to or who knows the victim committing the crime.

You mention your coworker as having stayed with a DVC owner. I would look at the people staying in that room as being the most likely to have easy access to the safe before trying to envision scenarios of people breaking into the room and then breaking into the safe. JMHO.

 

[DJR]

Guess i should clarify. We just got back from the Member Homecoming and are due back on July 5-13! Woo Hoo!!

We personally don't take much cash with us as we always charge to the room and I am just uncomfortable carrying a lot of cash, even at home. I don't know why they had so much $$ with them other than they wer going on to Key Largo after WDW. The Orlando PD and Disney Security were there, but I guess they can't do too much. I forgot mention that the door had been jimmied open and they left the safe key in some of their clothing.

Not too smart I guess

Dave

 

[chris1gill]

Hmm, I feel very poor, if we leave on our Disney vacations with more than a hundred dollars in our pockets, that's living RICH LOL... IMHO I never carry more than I can stand to lose...

I don't consider these cases Urban Legend at all by the way, but an inside job? Certainly could be! I don't know... I remember reading one report where a guy's new wife had her wedding band stolen from the safe This stuff happens at all hotels IMHO & Disney is no exception... they do make it very easy to charge to your room though & pretty much everyplace else takes credit cards... if we do happen to need cash, we could always hit an ATM... but we've never needed cash LOL.... I love ATM machines even if I have to pay for the convenience on an off chance!

 

[RAD]

I take my laptop everywhere and usually leave it out and connected, with the screen saver locked. I'm hoping that way that a thief wouldn't want to take the time to disconnect it all.

On the $'s side, I take VERY little US currency with my. I use plastic (to get rebates/miles whatever) and Disney Dollars. I charge a couple hundred dollars at a Disney store and get Disney Dollars. That way I have some 'small change' for food carts and whatever.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The Orlando PD and Disney Security were there, but I guess they can't do too much. I forgot mention that the door had been jimmied open and they left the safe key in some of their clothing.

This is very strange because it is not customary for the Orlando Police Department to respond to any WDW calls. The County Sherrif has jurisdiction over that area, not the OPD.

Again, I am not sure about the door being "jimmied" open - my certified locksmith DH will have to comment on that, lol. But I would venture to say once again, sounds like an inside job, checking clothing pockets for the safe key. Hmmmmm.