Inside Job Theft Prevention

[Wally3433]

A recent Trip Advisor review of the Aruba Surf Club detailed another "inside job" break in and theft from the room safe. It's common knowledge that most hotel room theft is done by resort employees or access thereto.

I once had security come into my room at the Surf Club when I was in it. I called the head of security on staff and he could not explain to me why one of his employees was standing in my unit. That was about 9 years ago.

I am curious if anyone HAS USED any sort of backup device, anti-theft device or surveillance camera to protect themselves from access to the in room safes at Marriott Vacation Clubs?

Please save the stories about not bringing any valuables with you, don't have anything worth stealing, only use credit cards, etc....I have enough of the soft tactical advice.

I am looking to PURCHASE something. I have searched the internet a couple of times for devices - but nothing I have found looks promising.

If others have actually purchased and USED a product to protect valuables in your Vacation Club room while you are enjoying your vacation, please share.

Thanks.

 

[Ty1on]

A recent Trip Advisor review of the Aruba Surf Club detailed another "inside job" break in and theft from the room safe. It's common knowledge that most hotel room theft is done by resort employees or access thereto.

I once had security come into my room at the Surf Club when I was in it. I called the head of security on staff and he could not explain to me why one of his employees was standing in my unit. That was about 9 years ago.

I am curious if anyone HAS USED any sort of backup device, anti-theft device or surveillance camera to protect themselves from access to the in room safes at Marriott Vacation Clubs?

Please save the stories about not bringing any valuables with you, don't have anything worth stealing, only use credit cards, etc....I have enough of the soft tactical advice.

I am looking to PURCHASE something. I have searched the internet a couple of times for devices - but nothing I have found looks promising.

If others have actually purchased and USED a product to protect valuables in your Vacation Club room while you are enjoying your vacation, please share.

Thanks.

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/milockie-hotel-safe-lock.html

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9659009&CatId=5203

Both are inexpensive and could be used together.

A friend has used the milockie and swears by it.

I have not used the cam, but it is wifi, has a motion detector, and can send an alert email on motion detection o that you can monitor on your smartphone.

And btw I agree with you on stuff like "don't bring valuables with you" being unhelpful to the conversation.

 

[jehb2]

This is not what what you're looking for but on our recent trip to Europe my sister used a Pacsafe suitcase and chained it to the furniture. She doesn't trust hotel safes (and some places didn't have a safe) and she was concerned about her medications.

I never take jewely but our family always has a several iPads and not taking them is NOT an option. That's true for a lot of people.

 

[jehb2]

http://www.pacsafe.com/travelsafe-12l-portable-safe.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-c25l-camera-bag-protector.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-85l-backpack-bag-protector.html

 

[davidvel]

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/milockie-hotel-safe-lock.html

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9659009&CatId=5203

Both are inexpensive and could be used together.

A friend has used the milockie and swears by it.

I have not used the cam, but it is wifi, has a motion detector, and can send an alert email on motion detection o that you can monitor on your smartphone.

And btw I agree with you on stuff like "don't bring valuables with you" being unhelpful to the conversation.

I don't have any experience with these products but the milockie description says "use any lock of your choice" and shows one of those suitcase locks that I have broken off using only a regular screwdriver.

 

[rpk113]

Part of the issue in Aruba is they still have the old key-locked safes.. Wish they would upgrade to keypad safes.. Not that it would prevent stuff like this, but there is an auditible log on those safes that can tell you if a guest code or "admin" code was used to open the safe.

 

[GreenTea]

Pacsafe bags that lock to furniture are great

 

[Wally3433]

Is there anything illegal about using a recording device in your room while you are away?

In the US?

I guess this may be different by country.

 

[brigechols]

http://www.pacsafe.com/travelsafe-12l-portable-safe.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-c25l-camera-bag-protector.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-85l-backpack-bag-protector.html

Thanks for the links. I'll purchase one for my mom who insists on packing expensive jewelry for every trip.

 

[Passepartout]

http://www.pacsafe.com/travelsafe-12l-portable-safe.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-c25l-camera-bag-protector.html

http://www.pacsafe.com/pacsafe-85l-backpack-bag-protector.html

At least a determined thief wouldn't have to look too hard to find all your valuables. I'd suggest using something more substantial than the little TSA numeric padlock. Those are a joke.

Hard to come up with something secure, and lightweight enough to carry on vacay, and at least tamper-evident. Dye packs anyone?

Jim

 

[GreenTea]

At least a determined thief wouldn't have to look too hard to find all your valuables. I'd suggest using something more substantial than the little TSA numeric padlock. Those are a joke.

Hard to come up with something secure, and lightweight enough to carry on vacay, and at least tamper-evident. Dye packs anyone?

Jim

The first Pacsafe on the list you quoted is not unsubstantial. It would take a little time and effort to get into it. I use them on the beach as well. Nothing is completely safe but it will definitely keep someone from quickly taking your items and walking out the hotel room.

 

[ilene13]

The Aruba Ocean Club has always had the digital safes.

 

[PamMo]

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/milockie-hotel-safe-lock.html

...A friend has used the milockie and swears by it...

Thanks for posting this. It's simple to get into an electronic room safe using the backup passcode/key. Some of the hotel staff has that information and it's up to them to keep it secure - which doesn't always work out so well. It's also unfortunate that many hotels/resorts never bother to change manufacturers' universal preset passcodes, giving thieves open access to the valuables in your safe just by looking up the codes on the internet.

 

[Sandy]

best furniture to use to lock safe

These are great ideas. Just wondering, where to you tether the safe to? which piece of furniture? Under the bed, out of sight, chained to the bed footing? Under something else?

It seems that one could just lift the furniture up and remove the device, open it later away from the hotel/resort.

I looked into the aqua vault that I saw on Shark Tank, but did not get it. There was another product I bought, but haven't used yet. Master Lock Safe Space lock. Not sure if I will keep it.

 

[GreenTea]

You clip it through a part of the furniture where it is solidly enclosed...not just around the leg.

 

[Wally3433]

I have a pacsafe bag now and will implement that in the room for the laptop, etc.

Might get a Masterlock Safespace as well and tether that in a hidden location.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-5...8108364&sr=8-1&keywords=masterlock+safe+space

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

This seems like it would make sense to be in a closet with the safe. Some thieves may look for a camera and take it, whether its cloud based or not.

http://www.amazon.com/Onepalace-Definition-Motion-activated-Clothes-High-defition/dp/B00WNW1RM8/

 

[Ty1on]

This seems like it would make sense to be in a closet with the safe. Some thieves may look for a camera and take it, whether its cloud based or not.

http://www.amazon.com/Onepalace-Definition-Motion-activated-Clothes-High-defition/dp/B00WNW1RM8/

At least if it is cloud-based, you can show the manager evidence of the person stealing your stuff.

 

[Sandy]

Sorry for my ignorance but...

You clip it through a part of the furniture where it is solidly enclosed...not just around the leg.

I guess I need some examples. Maybe two ideas - refrigerator? bed? It seems to me that most furniture can be lifted or moved to free and steal the safe itself.

 

[Wally3433]

I guess I need some examples. Maybe two ideas - refrigerator? bed? It seems to me that most furniture can be lifted or moved to free and steal the safe itself.

I use the kitchen counter chairs to tie my laptop off with a lock.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

At least if it is cloud-based, you can show the manager evidence of the person stealing your stuff.

Yeah, I agree. But now you are replacing the camera along with whatever else was taken. If it is an inconspicuous camera, less to deal with after the fact. Too bad we have to deal with any of this anyway.

There are several cameras on Amazon that are about the size of the tip of your finger. They are basically cell phone cameras (extremely tiny, but pretty decent) thrown into a casing. Those are pretty slick, and mostly cheap too. Some use wifi for cloud offload, some use a microSD.

 

[GreenTea]

I guess I need some examples. Maybe two ideas - refrigerator? bed? It seems to me that most furniture can be lifted or moved to free and steal the safe itself.

The chair back might have an open space between the back and the seat....clip through that hole. The table might have a detail or a support bar between legs.....go through there with the cable. Think of it like locking a bike. You don't put the loop over a corner of a post, you put the cable through something enclosed on all sides. A bed frame would work. Yes, someone could take off the mattress, use tools to unbolt the metal, and slide your loop off.... But the pacsafe just slows them down. Thieves usually avoid the things that slow them down or are not easy to take. Sure, one could carry off your desk chair with the attached bag but it isn't as likely.

 

[Sandy]

I use the kitchen counter chairs to tie my laptop off with a lock.

Thanks for the suggestion. I would think that a thief could just take the chair!!! But I realize that thieves look for the easiest options. Carrying a chair down the hall would draw attention.

 

[Sandy]

The chair back might have an open space between the back and the seat....clip through that hole. The table might have a detail or a support bar between legs.....go through there with the cable. Think of it like locking a bike. You don't put the loop over a corner of a post, you put the cable through something enclosed on all sides. A bed frame would work. Yes, someone could take off the mattress, use tools to unbolt the metal, and slide your loop off.... But the pacsafe just slows them down. Thieves usually avoid the things that slow them down or are not easy to take. Sure, one could carry off your desk chair with the attached bag but it isn't as likely.

Bed frame seems more secure that the counter chair. Breaking down a bed frame is tedious, but carrying a counter chair out would only draw attention if one assumed that they were not replacing the furniture. Imagine seeing a worker carrying a counter chair down the hall with a towel over it (covering the safe). Would you stop to ask them any questions? I wouldn't. I would assume all was within a day's work on maintaining the units/hotel room.