We Were Robbed in ATL Hotel (Atlanta, Buckhead: insurance, credit card, how much)

[TakeAhike]

Sounds like an internal investigation of some sort is in order.

[darkone]

Well, I guess nowadays just like you would never leave your car or house unlocked, you should also never leave valuables unsecured in a hotel room. It is unfortunate, but it is just another precaution that needs to be taken.

I hate to say it but to be perfectly honest, (I live intown), I feel lucky to not have anything happen to me during my stay here so far. Atlanta just makes me feel uneasy in a lot of ways - and yes, certain segments of certain demographic groups make me feel that way. Nobody should get offended by that - most likely if you're reading this on a forum such as this, I'm not talking about you.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

I would assume you filed a police report locally when you call the Alpharetta police.

Call the corporate offices of the hotel (national office, not the local) and ask for an upper-manager in customer relations. Explain what happened. Offer to fax/email the police report. Do not demand anything but plead the fact you are new arrivals here and if they're halfway decent they'll offer you something for the trouble. And do make sure you report the conduct of the hotel employees. It could have been an inside job since the person used a key, you know. They have cameras on each floor. I'd be surprised if the person who did it isn't on cam. If you find it was an employee, you can also file a civil suit for anything lost + trouble against that person once they're brought in.

I'd freeze my credit if I were you. With a police report you can get it done for free.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by tonrob

So you leave the TV and the lights on, each and every time, just on the off-chance there may be a burgler around who decides to target your room in particular?

This is one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in a long time! As well as the huge waste of energy resources, if it's loud enough to be heard in the corridor it's disturbing your neighbours too.

The chances of you ever being burgled in you hotel room are negligible (you're much more likely to get run over in the parking lot) - use the in-room safe if there is one or carry your valuables with you if it's that much of a worry.

Actually, your reaction is what's a bit "off".

Hotel/Motel burglaries have been on the rise for a good number of years. You are much more likely to have something stollen from your room than being "run over in the parking lot".

Most hotels/motels now use compact fluorescent light bulbs that use a total of 14 watts. Now in an interior hotel changes are no one will see the light on under the door, but in a motel where your door is outside, and at night, they will see a light on via the window and yes, it will appear that the occupants are inside.

The TV or a radio for that matter does deter criminals. You do not have it on so loud that people in other rooms will hear it - I don't believe that was the suggestion. A criminal will stand outside the door for a few moments in order to listen for noise. A "murmur" of voices coming through the door will be heard by someone on the other side of that door - NOT "other patrons" who would be distrubed by it.

The "Do Not Disturb" sign alerts a potential burglar that you are napping, or that even possibly some hanky-panky is going on. They will most likely pass.

Precautions are not paranoia in today's world. Hotel/Motel theft is very real and growing more common, and simple steps like those earlier and above are far from being "stupid" - NOT taking precautions, is.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Dude, the criminal element is not "unbelievable" in a place because your car window got smashed. Car burglary is probably the most common crime there is nationwide, and there is no human populated area in the US free of such easy, opportunistic crimes.

The lesson here is when you leave your car, take anything of value on the seats and place them in the trunk. If the punk that is casing your car sees nothing inside it, he's not likely to bother breaking a window to get in.

[rettogo]

I use to work at a hotel and when keys are issued, the correct way is to clear the previous guest by swiping it in the key makers machine. I've known instances when the cards were not cleared and therefore, that key was still programmed for that particualr room. However, that would mean that a "guest" would happen to pick your room randomly and happen to pick the right room for that key to work. That doesn't make a bit of sense. The machine that they used to program the keys have a report that can show how many keys were made for that room, how long they are good for and what the last activity was for that key. Unless this person used a master key, then the chances of a guest doing this is slim to none. I say inside job all the way.

[Windu]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

The lesson here is when you leave your car, take anything of value on the seats and place them in the trunk. If the punk that is casing your car sees nothing inside it, he's not likely to bother breaking a window to get in.

Umm, that's actually not the lesson. Punks that steal from cars often hang out in and around the parking lot (maybe even sitting in their own car), waiting for the right time and gauging how long they have to "work." Put valuables in your trunk before you arrive at your destination, not after you've parked. I speak from experience (which cost me one pullout car stereo).

[JPD]

Most cars with trunks have a lever next to the driver's seat that opens the trunk. Thieves know this. Don't leave valuables anywhere in your car.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Windu

Umm, that's actually not the lesson. Punks that steal from cars often hang out in and around the parking lot (maybe even sitting in their own car), waiting for the right time and gauging how long they have to "work." Put valuables in your trunk before you arrive at your destination, not after you've parked. I speak from experience (which cost me one pullout car stereo).

That's is a better point, Windu, thanks

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by tonrob

So you leave the TV and the lights on, each and every time, just on the off-chance there may be a burgler around who decides to target your room in particular?

This is one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in a long time! As well as the huge waste of energy resources, if it's loud enough to be heard in the corridor it's disturbing your neighbours too.

The chances of you ever being burgled in you hotel room are negligible (you're much more likely to get run over in the parking lot) - use the in-room safe if there is one or carry your valuables with you if it's that much of a worry.

Thats your opinion, now let me place this in elementary terms so maybe you can understand.
You do NOT leave the volume so loud it can be heard in the "corridor" but if someone is beside the door. They will also see the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

I have been on the road for over 20 years for the Pacific to the Atlantic and still do so on a daily basis, heck I'm in a hotel room right now.
Times do change, and though down and out hotels are less of the norm they still exist, this is where the lights come in handy and not needed in closed hotels.

I have been lucky that in 20 years my room has encountered theft only twice, once in Richmond VA and once in Long Island, NY. both down and out Holiday Inn's.

The statement I wrote came from a Crime Prevention Class I took, taught by a New Jersey State Police officer, so blame the "dumb" idea on him. Maybe you could enlighten us on your wonderful ideas since your so busy insulting others.... hmmm?