Very Upsetting Theft At BCV

[edk35]

Your husband and his teammates are doing a great job! Thanks for his service.

For your home state, according to Maryland state crime reports, all types of reported crime have fallen over the last 35 years. Since we are talking about burglary in this case, you will be happy to know that not only have the total number of burglaries gone down (despite the population growing by 38.5%), but the rate per 100,000 inhabitants has gone down 40.6% from 1972-2007 (the last year I could quickly find data for). Here is the web site. Make sure you look at the rates per 100,000 inhabitants since this controls for population growth and shows the real crime rate. Cheers!
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/mdcrime.htm

Let's put it this way. He is out of the Baltimore headquarters (Balitmore I repeat Baltimore)........and don't these stats only go up until 2005? When I showed him the information...he said "REPORTED CRIME".

 

[edk35]

Let's not let this thread get off topic. It will only be closed.

 

[wulfekamp]

We were at BCV june 11th thru 19th. One after noon while setting on our balcony we witnessed at couple with a baby carrage steal a large pile of towels at the quit pool. They just stacked them on top of the baby carrage and headed for the parking lot. People that don't belong are getting in.

 

[DisFor20]

Let's put it this way. He is out of the Baltimore headquarters (Balitmore I repeat Baltimore)........and don't these stats only go up until 2005? When I showed him the information...he said "REPORTED CRIME".

He has a tough job...and thanks again for his service. The FBI is the authorative source, and their statistics speak for themselves (Google searches will find it quickly). Cheers!

 

[Swmhc]

You know, we have stayed at most of the Resorts at WDW, from value to moderate and deluxe. We use our DVC points to the max each year and usually pay cash for some trips. In other words, we go a lot. My husband and I both bring our lap tops, a camcorder, at least one camera, ipods...etc. We don't use the safe for those items (though I know we should). I think the only time we have used the safe was our wedding trip as we needed to store our rings before the wedding and he wouldn't let me wear mine until after the ceremony. I had already had my e-ring soldered to my band, so we had a significant amount of diamonds in the safe. In the 27 trips made so far, we have never had anything disappear. And like I said, we don't take the precautions we should.

One of our guests even left an expensive digital camera in the lobby of the YC on accident during all the wedding festivities and someone turned it in at the desk...nothing missing.

This isn't to say there aren't problems, but in our experience, we haven't had any problems with security. I wouldn't think Disney would try to cover for staff if they thought or could prove someone was in there. They would fire them and turn them over to authorities. They don't want the bad press and employees are easy to find down there.

My bet would be on their balcony mates. They would be able to hear when they left (the doors don't shut quietly). They could have overheard coversations about leaving the jewelry behind, that the man's fingers were swelling, etc...

Just my thoughts...good luck !

 

[Sammie]

As edk35 said, I don't want to argue about stats about crime. Disney has their own stats and they don't release those to the public.

I am sorry about what happened to the OP, I hope their insurance will cover some of the loss.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Ok folks, edk35 is right, let's keep this DVC specific, or it will be closed.

 

[edk35]

He has a tough job...and thanks again for his service. The FBI is the authorative source, and their statistics speak for themselves (Google searches will find it quickly). Cheers!

You know I appreciate your stats.....but personally I don't believe your information has anything to do with this thread topic. CHEERS.

 

[hsteacher]

Just a positive story -

On one of our DCL cruises, my son (this was many years ago) couldn't find his Game Boy with all his games which were in a black over the shoulder carry bag. He knew he packed it up (I think he was 8 or 10 at the time - he's now 17) but he couldn't find it when we got to MCO. Nothing we could do at that time but immediately called DCL when we arrived home. DCL called back within a few hours, said they found it and shipped it home to us -no charge to us! We were so happy and impressed, not only that the cabin steward turned it in but that Disney could actually find it and then promptly, at no charge to us even though it was our fault, ship it to us.

In the hotels, we always use the safes. Not only because that's what they're there for but because it actually keeps us organized with valuables we have.

Just something positive in this thread.

 

[fla4fun]

I'm sorry this happened as well. I just wanted to second the opinion that the "safes" in the BCV are ridiculously small. Hardly useful.

I was able to put my laptop in, standing up, plus a camera and a cell phone, extra cash and cc, and my car keys, so it wasn't totally useless in my studio. Of course, it does depend on the size of your laptop. I have an old 15" that I travel with and leave the newer and larger one at home for the roommates to keep an eye on.

I don't wear any jewelry on vacation. I wear an old watch, and that's pretty much it. One of my co-workers had earrings stolen at YC, so I can understand why the OP is upset. I have to wonder if the balcony door was left open on other days, and so someone watched for them to leave the room, then accessed another room to try it. I always make sure both locks are fastened on the patio doors any time I'm not out on the balcony - even if I'm in the room. I wouldn't want someone sneaking in in the middle of the night either!

 

[Mamiamjo]

We were at BCV this past week also (returned yesterday). While we didn't have any kind of security issues, I'm very sorry to hear about the situation the OP mentioned. It definitely makes you stop and wonder while staying in a hotel (or DVC) room.

 

[StreamMaster]

Disney does not equal no crime. That said, the safe would have been a good idea. I never understand how people think that luggage in the room is secure.
I know first hand that MOST of the balcony doors can be forced open very easily.

 

[Melani]

We were at BCV june 11th thru 19th. One after noon while setting on our balcony we witnessed at couple with a baby carrage steal a large pile of towels at the quit pool. They just stacked them on top of the baby carrage and headed for the parking lot. People that don't belong are getting in.

What!
That's crazy. I can't imagine risking jail for a couple of dinky pool towels.

Slightly OT,
What do you do with your room key & cell phone while at the pool?
I hide them under my towels, but after reading tis I think that may not be too bright.

 

[TisBit]

Unfortunately I can see where the frustration lies on both parts. Obvious you and your sister are insistent that a staff member stole her stuff, but DVC can prove no one went in the room.

The Hotel key systems do record all entrances to the room, period. Regardless of what master, etc it is that accessed the door. The Hotel management never seemed to dispute that the items were missing, just that the door was never unlocked with a key. So that only leaves two options, the items were misplaced or the door was left open at some point (intentionally or unintentionally).

I feel for your loss and I know it can be difficult, but there really isn't much Disney can do to help you out.

 

[edk35]

We were staying at CSR a few years back in Nov. My daughter discovered her NICE dance jacket from her Dance School was missing in action. It was personalized with her name and the school name. We called lost and found at the resort. We had pretty much figured out that she lost it at the resort. However after a couple of days we were headed home and without the jacket. I gave lost and found our address before we left just in case. After a couple of weeks.....we never heard anything so I figured it was gone forever. Well about a week or so after that.....we got her jacket in the mail. I called to thank them and appaerntly it had been accidently sent to another guest's address ....someone else that had also lost a jacket that was simililar to her's Those nice peole sent it back to Disney. Then Disney sent it to us. Isn't that great???? I was floored. So there are people that do the right thing.

However.....on our first DVC stay at SSR......I had accidently left one of my swimsuits in the drawer under the bench seat in the master bedroom and my younger son had left a stuffed animal on the bed when we switched rooms at SSR just across the hall (problem with first room). Then we moved to BWV a few days later. I immiediately remembered the swim suit once we got over to the other room a few hours later. I called Housekeeping and they checked the room and I expected that maybe the swimsuit would still be in the drawer but nope. I kept calling every day while on our trip. Nothing ever turned up. Of course it was my brand new suit. grrrrrrr

 

[HGLightlyj]

Sorry this happened to your family. But I can tell you from experience that it's easy for the doors not to latch. My husband laughs at me, but I always double check that the door has latched properly when we come and go. And anybody can come and go on Disney property.

Theft seems to be happening more frequently than ever with the bad economy, too. My little quiet neighborhood has been hit about 8 times in the last four months. And our local Chase bank in a little small town called Wanamaker got held up yesterday and the mailman was shot during the hold-up. Thankfully nobody died.

I was reading your reply without noticing where you are from until you mentioned Wanamaker and then I noted you are from Indiana. I live on the west side of Indianapolis and had read about the unfortunate incident with the mailman. Good to read posts from fellow "Hoosiers."

 

[5forDiz]

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.

 

[quirty30]

I have positive story too. I was so exhausted when we arrived at BC two weeks ago that I left my trip planning portfolio on the DME BUS. We had 4 inches of rain at home the day before & I was up until 2AM trying to fight the seepage in my basement. Got up at 5AM to get ready for our 8AM flight. We arrived at BC a little after 1PM, and were taken up to club level for check-in, but both desks were busy, so they told us to have drinks & snacks in the lounge while waited. About 20 minutes later, when they told us they were ready to check us in, I realized my planner was missing, and I went into panic mode. Susy, the CM checking us in, immediately called Mears and they were able to advise in minutes that they found the planner. Said it would be dropped at bell services within a few hours. Now it wasn't quite that quick, in fact, I didn't get it back until after midnight, and it was delivered inside our room, even though we had a "do not disturb" sign on the door (this, in and of itself kind of bothered me.) But when I opened up the portfolio and found everything inside was in tact, I got over it. I was rather stupid and had some rather valuable items in there (things I will probably keep in my purse next time around.)

I have nothing but great things to say about Disney and Mears staff. I am very sorry to hear about the OP's sisters' experience but wanted others to know that good things happen too.

 

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

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.

 

[5forDiz]

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

type of repair was taking place.

Room can also be accessed through balcony door (in some cases - depending upon partition to neighboring balcony, etc. ) too if left unlocked.