What is the hotel policy on stolen items?


What is the hotel policy on stolen items? While hotels have a responsibility to provide a safe environment, they are not liable for lost or stolen items unless they can be proven negligent. This is why it is important for guests to review their insurance coverage before traveling.


How can hotel guests prevent theft?

Here's a quick reminder to prevent hotel thefts.
  1. Don't travel with your valuable jewelry, aka expensive, sentimental diamond earrings.
  2. Don't leave items just laying around your room – jewelry, technology, computers, notebooks, cameras, even receipts (think identity theft).
  3. When you leave make sure your door is locked.


How do hotels handle theft situations?

As a general rule, sympathizing with a guest that claims something is lost or stolen should always be your first response. Even if things get tense, if a guest claims you stole their priceless item for example, never indicate to the guest that you believe they are lying. Take their claim seriously and follow up.


What is the most common item stolen from hotels?

Towels are the most common item stolen from hotel rooms, and you can understand why. Most hotels provide incredibly soft, luxurious and comforting towels that just feel so good wrapped around your body.


Do hotels check for stolen towels?

THEY KNOW. According to a Miami-based company called Linen Tracking Technology, a lot of hotels stitch tiny microchips into their towels, robes, pillowcases, cloth napkins and other linens. The LinenTracker chips are currently being used in over 2,000 hotels--but don't ask which ones.


What are the five most common crimes committed at hotels?

These are the five most common hotel crimes we've seen committed at hotels, but without a doubt there's more:
  • Burglary and theft.
  • Physical Assault.
  • Car break ins.
  • Prostitution.
  • Murder.


How do hotels handle lost and found items?

Most hotels have a policy where they bag, tag and turn items into the lost and found department. Anything left in a room gets stored, usually in a transparent bag, so that items can be identified at a quick glance. The bag is then labeled with the date, location found and name of the staff member who found the items.


How common is theft in hotels?

One expert estimated that every day in a big-city hotel, there's at least one crime committed—and it's almost always theft.


Do hotels charge for missing items?

Beyond the physical damages, hotels may also charge for any missing items from the room, such as towels, bathrobes, or electronics. It is advisable to take note of any existing damages or missing items upon check-in to avoid being held responsible for them.


Are hotels not responsible for your belongings?

Hotels are not responsible for your belongings if you leave your stuff behind. Some hotels have safes in each room specifically because their policies stipulate that they are not responsible for valuables. As a guest, it's your duty to take responsibility for all of your items.


What can a hotel be liable for?

Hotels can be held legally responsible for injuries that their guests suffer under premises liability laws. A hotel assumes a duty of care to its guests because they have invited you onto their premises. While the hotel cannot prevent each and every single injury, they must act as a reasonable hotel owner would.


Will hotel staff steal my stuff?

Rarely. You might be surprised, if you've never worked in a hotel, just how so. Even the dumbest room attendant knows that whatever the temptation, if it happens, the guest will say something right away as soon as he or she notices the item missing, and there's always a record of who cleaned which room.


Categories