Very Upsetting Theft At BCV

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

I see what your saying but I'd think there'd be a maintenance log that this

type of repair was taking place.

Very true, if it was a legitimate repair or service call...

 

[Chuck S]

What happens when the card entry systems break, on a specific door? If that door entry system was broken, then maintenance would not be able to access it with a card, correct?

There has to be a provision for that, where that room may be opened and the actual entry device is serviced. I am not saying that their door entry system was broken, but someone(s) would have the ability to access that room outside of the card system. There is always a provision for those "what if" situations.

I wonder if the individual door sends a notification to the software if it is taken offline for repair, still leaving a trail even if a manual entry is used?

 

[pickles]

I guess I am the only one who suspects the 16 yr old kid?

I know perfect kid would never do that.


I had some suspicous actions at AKV this last trip in April.

nothiong occured but i did have some AKV people knock on my door on several different occasions during the day. they had no excuse when I answered the door...a kind of a "just checking" this occured about 3 differet times... guess it was a bummer for them we were in the room when they were "just checking"

I would ask for a copy of the log for the electronic door..maybe disney is hiding who was there and is dealing with it personally

 

[jagson]

May I suggest those that feel WDW is safe and magical, that you read the book "The Mouse that Roared". I believe that's the title. If its not fiction, then its an eye-opener to the WDW way of doing things. Even though I read the book I still go, and have been going since the opening day way back in 71. Never had a problem myself, but have been cautious with my personal posessions.

 

[5forDiz]

I would ask for a copy of the log for the electronic door..maybe disney is hiding who was there and is dealing with it personally

It does make you wonder....

DH's colleague ( whose experience I posted about earlier in this thread )

did say they had to keep insisting that log be checked,

Disney didn't go straight to that ( or maybe they did ) when

this family first report their camera was stolen from villa - hate to think they'd try to get around

compensating a guest knowing full well another card was swiped but who knows? bottom line is

everything comes down to $

 

[Dean]

Any card swiped is recorded; couple years back a colleague of DH's who is DVC member and family stayed at VWL and found their video camera which they could not fit into safe was missing. This family was vigilant about being sure door locked behind them anytime they left villa and at first Disney was insisting that the door probably didn't lock and someone entered and took camera but they were persistent that this could not have been what happened and that someone entered with key access. Well Disney checked and a card was swiped that did not belong to the family; they were reimbursed for the camera. I think that is the only way anyone would ever be compensated by Disney - if a card is swiped that is not assigned to one of the room guests.

My heart goes out to op's family , it's not a situation I'd want to be in.

Best wishes.

My understanding is that someone who truly knows how to do this can access both the room and electronic safes and all it will show is the last card used. It might show the time. This would take a professional though. There are also jury rigs that can allow someone to access later without using a key.

I guess I am the only one who suspects the 16 yr old kid?

Always a possibility, no way for us to know and likely not the family or Disney either.

 

[cpdwiz]

I have not been on the boards here for about six months because of some health issues and personal problems that have gone on in my life recently. I always enjoyed checking the boards everyday and learning so much from so many wonderful fellow Disney lovers, and because of an incident that happened to my sister yesterday I felt the need to visit my old stomping ground here and share my story with you all.

My sharing my love of Disney and for the Vacation Club is what made my sister and her family become vacation club members also. We have shared wonderful vacations together and this time she went without my family but we have been in constant touch through text and pix messaging and cell phone calls all day long. They checked into the BCV on Monday the 29th and were put into room 452, at the end of a hallway and facing the service road and right next to a staircase that leads to that back area. Late Wednesday night she called housekeeping and said she didn't need the trash and towel service the following day because they wash their towels daily, take out their own trash, and keep the room tidy. My sister is also like me and doesn't really like knowing that someone is in the room with all of their personal stuff anyway. Call it crazy, but that's the way we feel. So, on Thursday morning they left the room in the morning and headed to MK for a bit and then off to Epcot before returning to their room at about 4 o'clock to get changed into swim suits to go to the pool. Their very responsible 16yr old son stayed in the room when they went for a swim with their other 3 children. They came back awhile later to get ready for dinner at Cape May Cafe and my sister went to get her jewelry. Now, I know I'm going to hear people say "why wasn't the jewelry in the safe" or "you should leave jewelry at home", but that is besides the point. It was not in plain sight. It was buried in a duffle bag under my sisters clothes and underwear, in a drawstring bag along with a box that held her watch. Unfortunately, my brother-in-law's wedding ring was in there also. He never takes it off but his fingers swelled from the heat, so the night before he asked her to put it with her jewelry, and so she did.

Now, is it a coincidence that she called housekeeping the night before and asked them not to come? Maybe that alerted them to think she didn't want them in the room because she must have valuables in there? Then the following day when they leave their room someone goes in and rummages through her suitcases and finds her jewelry?! It's too suspicious. To top it off, they are extremely dissappointed in the way they were treated and I am very upset too.

They first called security and the housekeeping manager came up with a little notepad. She said she was the one who took the phonecall to cancel trash and towel so nobody should have been in their room. (Oh, I forgot to mention that when they initially came back from Epcot and were returning to their room, there was a man in what looked like a maintainance outfit walking in the hallway outside of their door and my brother-in law thought he looked suspicious and made a comment about it. They later gave a description of the man to the manager). They said they would check and see whose cards were swiped that day and they could tell if housekeeping or maintainance went in their room. They came back and said nobody but my sister and her husbands cards were swiped that day so therefore... nobody was in their room. They proceeded to suggest that she misplaced her things. My brother in law said he was going to call the local police and report it and they insisted on calling themselves. He insisted back that he would be calling them but the housekeeper herself went and made the call. All the while that this is happening, their kids are starving because they are missing their 730 dinner reservation, my sister is crying, and a huge damper is being put on their vacation.

Now, one female police officer showed up along with the same housekeeping manager or supervisor (I'm not sure of her correct title but I'm going to find out). They insisted that nobody used a key and came in their room! My sister and her husband kept saying somebody WAS in their room because their stuff was TAKEN! It went back and forth with one saying "nobody used a key" and the other saying "our stuff is gone". They were rude and condescending and never made my family feel like they cared at all. There are no cameras in the hallways ,there was nothing they could do, are you sure you didn't put a box and a drawstring bag that you keep hidden in one spot somewhere else, oh you left your 16yr old son in the room alone for awhile..... these are samples of some of the things that were said. No "I'm sorry this is happening to you, we'll do everything we can, please go have your dinner while we work on this,... nothing. My sister was sick to her stomach all night and the rest of the trip is ruined because of this. I spoke to her at length during all of this and I told her at about midnight last night(while she was up because she couldn't sleep) that should she go down first thing this morning and speak to someone higher up. Not just the person from housekeeping who (I'm not accusing) but who was the one who took the phonecall the night before, who came to the room when security was alerted, and who personally called the police after my brother in law insisted he wanted to.

This morning she did go to the desk, she obviously got nowhere, and she said nobody cares and the attitudes were terrible. Not ONE person ever said they were sorry that this was happening to them on what's supposed to be a magical vacation. Not ONe person tried to make them feel better while they were upset and even when ny siuster couldn't hold back the tears from feeling so violated that someone was in her suitcases touching all of her things. Sure, they can't prove it... but her things are gone and SOMEONE took them. She just can't believe that nobody is acting like they care. Like I said, her trip is ruined because of this and neither her nor her husband want to go back again because of this incident.

So, my fellow friends here on the boards.... what suggestions do any of you have or just words of advice to make her feel better and to get the "magic" back if possible? Is there anything else that can be done? I know from previously reading the boards that other people have gone through the same thing.

Thanks for listening... and reading this looong post!!

I have only read your post and no one elses before I replied....Can I offer this...In my line of work, and what I have seen, its very possible the 16yr old might have done something...not accusing, dont know him, however, I cannot tell you how many parents I have spoke with have said NOT MY CHILD only to find out yes, their child....There is only so much Disney can do. They provide safes, and, they have no record of employee entry. Now I will read the rest, and I hope this works out for you.

 

[cpdwiz]

Have changed because of reporting....Reporting is different now..In my city certain crimes rose drastically because of how they are now reported, while others went down, and in reality it was in real life the opposite...

 

[Disney Doll]

Sorry for their troubles. It's so disheartening when something like this happens.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

I have only read your post and no one elses before I replied....Can I offer this...In my line of work, and what I have seen, its very possible the 16yr old might have done something...not accusing, dont know him, however, I cannot tell you how many parents I have spoke with have said NOT MY CHILD only to find out yes, their child....There is only so much Disney can do. They provide safes, and, they have no record of employee entry. Now I will read the rest, and I hope this works out for you.

Their own son stole the items in question, and was trying to "pin" it on Disney? Why, was the kid going to fence it to a CM? Let's say he did it - OK. He'd have to transport it home then, correct? Why not just steal it at home and then fence it quietly, a little bit at a time? Why didn't he steal it at the END of their trip, and then let them discover the missing items upon their return home? That way they could point fingers at the airlines or Disney. So many holes in that theory, though it is possible. Then again, it's also possible that mice made off with their valuables.

In my line of work you also consider all the possibilities, but you begin working with the most logical.

 

[spiceycat]

sorry for your sister's problem - but sorry anyone who takes their expensive jewerly on vacation any where - is asking for problems.

there are thief anywhere and everywhere - the professionals are very good.

if she did what you say - then she only had herself to blame.

if you want to take your jewelry did what the professionally do - have cheap copies make - so you don't lose your real stuff.

but yes it is very upsetting that someone was in her rooms.

was the room taken apart - it didn't sound like it - so whoever knew exactly where to look. if that doesn't sound strange to your - can understand it being strange to others.

especially since you say your sister hide the items well.

now if the entire room was taken part and their was stuff everywhere - then okay a thief.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

so sorry for your sisters troubles at disney......just one questions was this the first time she was looking for the watch & jewerly since leaving home or had she worn/seen it at disney...or is it possible it was left on bed etc at home and never made it in her suitcase......only asking since on our Disney Cruise a few years my sil thought some thing was stolen out of her cabin...but upon her return home...she found it sitting on her bed..

 

[TisBit]

What happens when the card entry systems break, on a specific door? If that door entry system was broken, then maintenance would not be able to access it with a card, correct?

There has to be a provision for that, where that room may be opened and the actual entry device is serviced. I am not saying that their door entry system was broken, but someone(s) would have the ability to access that room outside of the card system. There is always a provision for those "what if" situations.

If the batteries fail (which is the most common failure) maintenance can disassemble, replace the batteries and the master keys will still work. If this was the case then the OP's keys would have stopped working, because the programming would have been lost. When you first swipe your key, it reads the info for the key for check in and check out dates, number of keys, etc. This is why if they reissue a key, it will overwrite the previous programming and the lost key will no longer work.

If they replaced the lock completely, same thing would have happened. And they would have known it was a new lock because there would be no record on the lock at all.

 

[TisBit]

My understanding is that someone who truly knows how to do this can access both the room and electronic safes and all it will show is the last card used. It might show the time. This would take a professional though. There are also jury rigs that can allow someone to access later without using a key.

True Dean, but really if they are that professional, there would have been more than one room hit with thefts, Disney would have had several.

I am not misguided about theft/crime at Disney, but I have been in Law Enforcement/Security fields long enough to know that sometimes it is the simple solution. Someone moved the items, someone left the door open (possibly the 16 y/o while everyone else was out decided to go exploring) who knows.

But the OP seemed pretty intent that Housekeeping stole her sisters items (even to the point of blaming the Housekeeping Manager), but that doesn't quite add up. Disney is not going to cover up for an employee that steals, they are going to get rid of them. It would cost them more in the long run than reimbursing for a little bit of jewelry.

 

[Dean]

True Dean, but really if they are that professional, there would have been more than one room hit with thefts, Disney would have had several.

I am not misguided about theft/crime at Disney, but I have been in Law Enforcement/Security fields long enough to know that sometimes it is the simple solution. Someone moved the items, someone left the door open (possibly the 16 y/o while everyone else was out decided to go exploring) who knows.

But the OP seemed pretty intent that Housekeeping stole her sisters items (even to the point of blaming the Housekeeping Manager), but that doesn't quite add up. Disney is not going to cover up for an employee that steals, they are going to get rid of them. It would cost them more in the long run than reimbursing for a little bit of jewelry.

If they have proof they will likely give it up. Otherwise they'll just let the person go if they feel there is a concern but not proof and won't give that info to the injured party due to their own liability concerns. I'm not sure I'd agree that no other thefts (or us not knowing about it) means that it wasn't a "professional". There are people who are not truly professional but learn enough about what they deal with to do this. All you have to do is go to you tube to find out how to do much of this type of stuff if you wanted including breaking into many of the electronic safes.

 

[cpdwiz]

Their own son stole the items in question, and was trying to "pin" it on Disney? Why, was the kid going to fence it to a CM? Let's say he did it - OK. He'd have to transport it home then, correct? Why not just steal it at home and then fence it quietly, a little bit at a time? Why didn't he steal it at the END of their trip, and then let them discover the missing items upon their return home? That way they could point fingers at the airlines or Disney. So many holes in that theory, though it is possible. Then again, it's also possible that mice made off with their valuables.

In my line of work you also consider all the possibilities, but you begin working with the most logical.

Why do kids do what they do? Its very possibly that someone broke in without any signs of forced entry, or printout showing no one went in....All I am saying, in my 18yrs experience, more than once I have heard my kid would never do that, only to find out the kid did.....

PS: Also, would an employee take the time to go through and find hidden items, risking the time, or chance someone could come in? Again, add up the totality of all circumstances, and it does not add up to an employee.

 

[TisBit]

If they have proof they will likely give it up. Otherwise they'll just let the person go if they feel there is a concern but not proof and won't give that info to the injured party due to their own liability concerns. I'm not sure I'd agree that no other thefts (or us not knowing about it) means that it wasn't a "professional". There are people who are not truly professional but learn enough about what they deal with to do this. All you have to do is go to you tube to find out how to do much of this type of stuff if you wanted including breaking into many of the electronic safes.

Again, I agree, but think that it is very unlikely to be the case. You can always play conspiracy theory, etc, but usually it is the simple answer (someone left a door unlocked) or someone misplaced it. Just years in law enforcement I have learned the professionals that can do it with no trace won't be caught and won't go after a small take. The idiots from you tube, are just that, we catch criminals because they are by and large morons....haha.

I find it interesting we haven't heard from the OP again. I wonder if these items were "found" if we would hear an update?

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

I just don't think it's appropriate to cast doubt on their son...

 

[deej696]

This reminds me of a situation I ran into when I was a front office manager for a hotel in Orlando. I had a guest call to report that their door was ajar when they returned to the room. I made the mistake of asking if everything was in place, as naturally the guy called right back to say he was missing 2 watches and a pair of socks (yes a pair of socks). As it turned out, we learned that many of the doors in the hotel did not have the door pool tight enough, and the doors would not close all the way unless pulled tight. The problem was quickly recitified, but ever since I have tested hotel doors and have observed this many times, even a couple at Disney.

Not sure if this is what happened here or not, but my point is always pull your door after it closes to make sure its shut...

 

[thelionqueen]

I don't think anyone is out of line for looking at the son. Not accusing him, but there is definitely cause for question.

I for one feel very badly for the person who's things are missing, nothing could be worse than an incident like that to ruin a vacation.

That said, if the items had been locked up or left at home, there would be no issue. It seems very doubtful to me that any CM would know exactly where to look in a duffel tucked under this or that, and there be no other card swiped to get into the room. It would be the coincidence of the century if the thief took the time to scope out the room, watch and make sure everyone is gone, use something to make sure the door didn't latch, then go inside the room and find the well hidden pieces of jewelry, that he/she couldn't have known where it was placed.

If it were me, I would be upset, but more upset at myself for not safeguarding my things, and certainly not at Disney for my actions. I think they did everything they could under the circumstances. Not trying to be harsh, just seems to be too many variables in play here to have any concrete evidence of foul play or not.