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Original poster

Money stolen from hotel room

56 replies

opalescent · 31/08/2023 08:28

Currently in a lovely tui hotel in the Mediterranean. I've had some notes (sterling) stolen from my belongings in the room over the course of two days.
I am kicking myself for not using the safe, but it's a bloody faff to figure out (still haven't!) and I hadn't got round to sorting it. The money was in a wallet, which I was keeping amongst a pile of clothes in the wardrobe.

Should I do anything about this? Or is it entirely my own stupid fault for not securing valuables properly? I realise how naive this probably sounds, but I don't holiday, ever, and certainly not to such a nice hotel, and I just assumed that my property would be safe really...

The cleaners are my first thought in terms of possible culprits, purely as they have definitely been in the room alone on both days.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 31/08/2023 08:29

That’s what the safe is for! So yes, it is entirely your own stupid fault I’m afraid.

ShanghaiDiva · 31/08/2023 08:30

As a safe was provided there is nothing you can do imo.

WandaWonder · 31/08/2023 08:31

Well anyone can say 'you stole 200 from me' or whatever and they are not going to say 'sure here is 200 back'

You would need to prove it I guess

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Holidays
WGACA · 31/08/2023 08:32

Always use the safe.

JuneBeWonderful · 31/08/2023 08:32

You know the reception desk people would help you figure out the safe. Just ask them.

DurhamDurham · 31/08/2023 08:33

I'd be figuring that safe out quickly. There's usually instructions somewhere on how to use them.
You could mention it but either nothing will be done or someone will get into a lot of trouble and you'd have to hope it was the right person.

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 31/08/2023 08:38

This is what the safe is for - you could have asked at reception if you couldn't figure it out yourself.

I don't really think there's much you can do. You have absolutely no proof that anyone stole anything.

VWT5 · 31/08/2023 08:39

You can’t falsely accuse anyone without evidence in this case.
You could monitor for the next days if it is the same cleaner servicing the same rooms every day though.
You can stop having the room serviced.
If this was me (frequent traveller) I would be doing a Trip Advisor review including the specifics of where it was in the hotel (which floor or block)
This alerts both the hotel staff - they can monitor if a pattern is emerging among the staff, also it alerts other guests to the issue.

PlayDohDots · 31/08/2023 08:42

Yes unfortunately it happens. Even at fancy luxury hotels. A friend works in HR and they have many cases of staff stealing from guests. This of course results in instant dismissal but only with concrete proof like CCTV. They also have a way of telling which keycard was used in which room so anomalies can be detected. Sadly, if it really were the cleaners and it's only a small sum of money, the hotel is unlikely to be able to help. There is no way of obtaining proof and interrogating the staff will only create an unpleasant work atmosphere without any results.

AuntieMarys · 31/08/2023 08:43

Not much you can do.

VWT5 · 31/08/2023 08:43

I wouldn’t write specifics about not using the safe though….just that “items have gone missing from my room over 2 days” or similar…

LollipopChaos · 31/08/2023 08:44

That's awful! I hide money in all random places in the room, in secret apartments in suitcases etc. In socks as well! Hope the stealing stops.

LollipopChaos · 31/08/2023 08:45

Was the money easy to get to or did they have to go rooting?

FunkyMonks · 31/08/2023 08:45

You need to inform management or the tui rep but unfortunately they won't be able to do anything it's your word against the culprit who ever they are it might not be the cleaners could have been someone doing a sweep through the hotel chancers.

I've had clothes stolen twice of all things when on holiday once was in Croatia it was a music T-shirt of all things and another was a pair of surf brand shorts in Dom Rep.

But I always use the safe for things like money and passports.

I also remember being in Disney Florida our Disney hotel on our last night I wanted to go for one last swim my husband wasn't fussed so we ended up chilling in the room packing next thing hotel security are about few rooms had been done over so in a way I'm glad we never went swimming our room could have been done over and at that time we had bought plenty of new clothes etc.

Skinnermarink · 31/08/2023 08:49

While you obviously failed to take steps to prevent this in using the safe, at the end of the day someone still stole from you, a private room where you’d expect your belongings to be safe. So saying ‘no point in saying anything’ is absolutely bonkers. Inform the hotel. Other guests might have had the same issue. They could build up a pattern and see who has access to the rooms at that particular time. Surely that’s better than just leaving a shitty Tripadvisor review?! (As a previous poster suggested) It’s their business, they obviously will not be fine with their staff pickpocketing their way around the guests. You will not in all likelihood see a penny of that money back but that’s not the bloody point.

pilates · 31/08/2023 08:49

I would mention to reception/management but not sure there is much they can do as there is a safe you should have used.

Original poster
opalescent · 31/08/2023 08:49

LollipopChaos · 31/08/2023 08:45

Was the money easy to get to or did they have to go rooting?

Well, it could have been better hidden, but it did require the culprit to go into the wardrobe, which I would consider rooting in this situation, since no one else has any reason to do so.

OP posts:
Testingprof · 31/08/2023 08:52

Everyone saying use the safe is aware the safes can be accessed by the hotel staff, aren’t they? What do you think happens when someone leaves a safe locked?

Warmsandbetweenmytoes · 31/08/2023 08:59

We stayed in a hotel years ago that had reviews on trip advisor of items going missing from the room safes - any staff member can access them. In fact - it actually happened to someone whilst we were there!!

We hid our money/valuables in one of the ceiling tiles in the hotel room - there was an entrance bit in our room with a tiled ceiling. We didn’t have anything stolen. Since then I’ve only ever used a hotel safe once - also found out the same maid would service our room daily so tipped the maid on the first day on this trip! Had no issues. Otherwise it’s suitcase linings and locking the suitcase too when there’s no ceiling tiles. Also used the empty shampoo bottle trick!

Peridot1 · 31/08/2023 09:00

Hotel safes are not that complicated usually. So figure it out.

I would mention it to the hotel but really you only have yourself to blame. Especially as you say it wasn’t even that well hidden.

@Testingprof - I once left some things in a hotel safe as we were moving rooms and they had to get security to come and access it with a master code. The cleaners can’t do it. Which makes sense.

Luckydog7 · 31/08/2023 09:00

If it were me I would inform the reception that you have items missing but make it clear that you know there isn't much they can do and that yes you should have used the safe etc etc but you just wanted to let them know. Dont accuse their staff as it might make them defensive or treat you differently. Its annoying but I think might have the best result if any.

materialworldagain · 31/08/2023 09:01

Put everything in the safe and then just in case someone is rifling through your things, leave a note in the wallet to say, 'I know you've stolen my money. You have until the end of the week to return it or I will be reporting you'. (Translate it into the local language too).

Of course you're unlikely to get it back but it might just frighten the thief a bit!

Other than that, I don't think there's anything else you can do. You'd never be able to prove it and we'll, as PPs have said, that's why they provide a safe.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday!

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 31/08/2023 09:12

Testingprof · 31/08/2023 08:52

Everyone saying use the safe is aware the safes can be accessed by the hotel staff, aren’t they? What do you think happens when someone leaves a safe locked?

I guess the point is that the safe is advertised as a secure place to leave money, documents and valuables.

If you use the hotels' own equipment to keep your belongings safe and it still goes missing, the hotel are culpable and can possibly claim on insurance etc.

Nolongera · 31/08/2023 09:13

Testingprof · 31/08/2023 08:52

Everyone saying use the safe is aware the safes can be accessed by the hotel staff, aren’t they? What do you think happens when someone leaves a safe locked?

Yes, but not usually by house keepers, by managers.

helpfulperson · 31/08/2023 09:21

Are you 100% sure thats where you left it? Have you spoken to other members of your party?

I've thought things have gone missing that then turned up more than once.