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?

Travelling with my daughter soon. Are the door jams worth it. What about if there is a fire?

The red one people are talking about is easy to remove- I screw mine into place but just remove it as is.

I'd say a child of 7 or so would be able to remove one if you showed them how (just wiggle to the side then pull really).

As someone with anxiety it's worth it to sleep well even though the risk of an attack is low.

@DrStrangesSmarterSister I just use a bog standard one. No way, with lugging my work bag and clothes around on trains, I cd cope with some extra special heavy weighted contraption!

We walked in on people twice in less than a year. Both times the hotel (different ones) gave us a room they had already given someone else. So yes it happens a lot and I would always bolt the doors. We didn't claim to be staff though.

She should complain on Twitter too, not just about the incident but the hotel brushing her off with freebies. I've seen other reports of incidents like this on MN and elsewhere.
Complaints on Twitter are usually responded to and can be seen by anyone. If you tipped us off here I'm sure some of us would retweet it to make more people aware.

I'd be wary of blocking the door in case of fire.

One option is to slide a cup/glass over the handle, then if anyone tries the handle/opens the door it falls with a bang. You can put the coffee tray on the floor for extra loud banging.

It looks like it’s just a quick twist to release that red one. And it’s quite small too. Interesting.
Here is the link https://amzn.to/4aUmryh
I have to say, I rely on the deadbolt from inside in a hotel but I suppose staff can unlock that if it’s connected to the main lock!

I’ve stayed at the Hilton in Croydon a lot, it’s not the best hotel as it’s full of big groups of tourists who seem to leave and arrive all through the night and it’s non stop noise in the corridors. Never had this happen, maybe he thought the room was vacant and was doing a check of the housekeeping standards? She’s done the right thing though putting something under the door. I get the fire concern though, would one item be enough?

I assume you welcome uninvited strangers into your hotel room all the time?

Similar thing happened to me (though scarier) and then the behaviour of the hotel staff about it in the moment (this was in the middle of the night) was appalling. I made it clear I was furious and would be wanting to speak to the Hotel Manager first thing in the morning.

Next morning I went down and while I didn't shout etc... they were left under no illusion about how angry I was and how close they came to the police being involved (can't go into specifics on here as outing to anyone who knows me - but it was bad) and it turning into a really really serious situation.

I also got freebies, plus refund of the cost of the stay and an upgrade to a suite with continuous grovelling for the rest of my time there. To be fair the manager was horrified at what had happened and couldn't have been more apologetic.

Even so - if I'm staying alone in a hotel now, there is always a chair or wedge against the door and do not disturb hanging on the door outside - which only ever gets moved when I'm out of the room. Hotel staff failing to announce themselves/knock, or rooms allocated to the wrong guests happens way too often for my liking.

I had this happen at a hotel in Teddington, some chap who worked there walked straight in to the room using a keycard. Weirdest thing was that the reception staff stated that this could not have happened. No apology or agreement to investigate, just flat out called me a liar. Fortunately I was due to check out that morning.

I bought 5 plastic door wedges for. £1 in B&M.

What did they say about him going in was it a housekeeping check

I bought one of those for my daughter before, I jam a chair under the handle, doesn’t always fit, so I put the chair and the bin, in front of the door, with the hope of them making a noise if anyone comes in

And if there is an adjoining door, I always pull something heavy across it.

Also block the spy hole with tissue, every time

That is strange.

This sort of thing hasn't happened to me, but has happened to friends. If I am travelling alone, I take a door wedge with me. Failing that, a chair wedged under the door handle.

my friend has an employee of travel lodge in her room a few years ago, caught him staring at her right in front of her and thankfully she had the lamp on so saw him as she dazily woke up, he ran but they caught him on CCTV. scary to think what he could have done

Someone I know was staying in a top hotel in Manchester for work went for a shower and came out to find all her jewellery gone . I would be worried this was a similar situation . I think it emerged the person who took the jewellery had hung around reception and managed to swipe a room card but as far as I know they weren’t tracked down and charged .

The only problem with all those defences is what happens if there is a fire or fire alarm in the night??

The employee was deeply dodgy and should be investigated. Has the hotel said what is happening with that?

Does this ever happen to single men I wonder??

Are you female?

I’ll bet cash and jewellery disappear from that hotel all the time! I’ve had people checked into my room open the door in the middle of the night. Then couldn’t get back to sleep before work.

I'm going to buy a door jam. I don't stay in hotels often but I’ve had some instances that made me uncomfortable. Drunk men banging on my door on two separate occasions. As I walked towards my room I was offered a nightcap by a creepy man. One morning a staff member let a couple into my room while I was in the shower. The Hilton responded well but there was no apology from the Radisson at all.

I’ve been in a hotel room before and another guest walked in using their key card – they were looking for their own room so nothing sinister, but wtf.

Same happened to me. Premier inn employee let himself in when I was in bed early evening. I shouted and he apologised and left immediately. Mine may have been sneaking off for a nap and thought room vacant? I got a full refund for the night.

Be careful with wedges tho. How would firemen etc get in?