Sister just had some guy walk into her hotel room.

[SphincterSaysWhat]

DS is staying in London for work (a Hilton in Croydon I think) and she just rang me, a little shooketh.

She came in after being on site (work) and locked the door behind her and she is sure she put on the bolt thing (will try to add a picture).

Some random guy (a hotel employee) just walked in unaccounted - she was a little way around the corner so poked her head around and said hello. He just left (saying nowt) so she followed him outside to the hallway and he said he was just conducting a "spot check".

I do not like this. She's a single young woman on her own. It makes me think of Lucy Spraggan's awful experience.

I have told her to go down, report it and asked to be put in another room. That way he's on notice and he also hopefully shouldn't know where she's gone.

Any reason a hotel employee would do this?

Years ago, I would lock up the pharmacy and walk down to the unlit car park. Had the crime prevention officer in for general advice about shoplifting and one of the staff mentioned it. He told me to have a heavy torch (& to follow through) but also that mace spray was illegal but a perfume aerosol was something a woman could have in her pocket without comment. So I got a cheap and cheerful one.

It comes with a cup for carpets and it has a rubber foot for hard floors.

I’ve been using mine for about 4 years now and it’s brilliant. (Even during a 3:30am fire alarm.)

Anything aerosol works really well. The advice I have always been given by authorities was Hairspray but having sprayed my own face with it it didn't do much but make me cough and I imagine with adrenaline running it wouldn't do much at all expect piss someone off. However I had DH spray my lower back with Deep Heat and nearly suffocated so I imagine in the face and eyes it does mimic pepper spray and would literally stop someone in their tracks.

I'd keep a heavy torch in the car too as I imagine carrying one about on public transport might be a bit awkward.

Happened to me last month - posted on this Mumsnet thread! It was a mistake on the part of reception who'd given the next people booking in the room I was in - literally minutes through the door and I was sitting having a wee when they walked in ... Mine was the Wembley International Hotel where I'd stayed before, decided I wouldn't go back there after getting a crummy room, then thought I'd give it another chance as it was so much cheaper than others for the same night.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/uk/5051479-man-let-into-my-premier-inn-hotel-room-late-at-night?page=11&reply=134709816

read him out some examples of what has happened to others from this thread & let us know his reaction. I have daughters & will be talking to my husband later & I guarantee he will be telling me to get whatever the girls need & to make sure they place the items in their suitcases ready. That’s what a good man is!!! Honestly I would like to take a baseball bat to these ‘other’ men!!!!!

@DutifulDaughterWifeMother I think it's a case of it really wouldn't cross his mind to have to take precautions in a hotel. He's a 6ft 6 big bloke.
He drives her there and drops her off. I managed to persuade him to check she knew how to double lock the door and make sure she was near Reception as she was 16 the first time she went and her first time alone.
She also has numbers for other teens in her group and their rooms are next to each other.
To be honest I was more worried about the other boys in her group. Members of staff hadn't crossed my mind.

Admittedly God help anyone who did walk in on my 6ft1 in gobby, black belt in karate 17 yr old. But I shouldnt have had to have to have the beware men conversation in the first place.

How did she take that whole conversation?

our girls have to grow up so much faster because of the men in this world & things aren’t getting better either!

She's full of teen self righteousness and feels nothing like that would happen to her. However she does double lock the door. And checks in before bed and first thing in the morning.
Teens are invincible.
She's tall, ginger, wears glasses and has braces. She's used to standing up for herself.
She knows I've posted this and her words were- trust me people would hear me shouting at anyone that walked in.
I still worry though.

I worked my way round the world cleaning hotel rooms among other jobs. We always knocked, even when we were 100% sure a room was empty. If nothing else because we did not want to walk in on naked men. So there are a few possibilities. 1. It was a legit reason (hotel rooms get used for all kinds of illegal activities and maybe he was checking for these) and he was lazy or could not be bothered to knock. 2. He was looking to steal something. Although if so, surely he would want to know the room was empty? 3. He was looking for somewhere to take a nap and was sure the room was empty (as much as you should know what is empty, I have never worked anywhere that it was completely accurate). 4 . He was looking to attack her and something about her reactions made him think twice.

I am so sorry this happened - what a horrible and frightening experience. The fact he walked out without talking makes me sure it was not legit. I dont necessarily trust management in those places either.

Do you think you've heard about everything that has happened in your town?