Had to ring guests and ask if they've accidentally taken something home, sometimes it's totally genuine - like the woman who shoved the TV remote into her bag instead of her phone in a rush for a train 😂 obviously we couldn't ring her and she couldn't ring us until she got home.
Some people are very affronted, when we ring and ask if they've packed something pillows , kettle, so many hairdryers and once a shower curtain , by mistake and say that yes they have but it was an accident! They weren't stealing! How dare the hotel accuse them of stealing! 🤔 🙄
And then there's those people who get home and realise they've still got the room keycard and ring full of apologies and post it back that day. We lose so many of those, and they're the most likely to be accidental and we may ask a guest checking out at the desk for the key, but if they've already paid etc and express check out then we don't chase for them.
Then there's those that are the reason the pictures are screwed into the walls all around the hotel and plant pots are glued down - and I'd bet they're the same people who would complain at no pictures on the walls or plants about the place too.
There's some people who like to think they're scoring some sort of win against 'them' when they take stuff, and justify it by saying it's expected or that 'they' make a lot of money, but it affects everyone in the business, if they are losing a lot then prices go up and/or staff or other things (quality) are cut back, and hotels might make a lot of money, but then it costs a lot to run one too, so they have to or it doesn't work.
But some people are just like that, you'll never change that type of attitude or behaviour, they're usually the ones who are complete arses towards the staff and who complain about everything in the hope of something else for free.