Greetings fellow eBayers! I would like to share some tips for anyone who travels frequently, and often says in hotels. When you are in your hotel room be smart, be safe! I'm not sure how common these thefts are in other places, but they happen here where I live once in a while.  

Do you know what the uniforms of the hotel staff look like? Can you tell by looking who is in what department? Probably not, and one of the last things you would do while staying in a luxurious hotel on vacation/your honeymoon, is inspect the uniforms of the hotel staff. There is a crime trend that involves getting into your hotel room while you're there!

You'll receive a knock/ring at the door. When you answer the door, a person who appears to be one of the staff tells you that he needs to check the water pressure, wiring, or something in the room, and needs you to let him in. He's wearing a uniform that looks enough like that of a maintenance worker, or plumber. He's carrying a clip board and a small duffle bag. While walking in, he tell's you he'll be quick, and to continue what you were doing, and not to let him bother you.

While you return to the lanai, or go back to watching TV, he's in the bathroom checking the counters, shelves, and drawers for wedding rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches. A wallet or loose cash would be nice too. Did your room come with a safe? Many nice hotels do, and some are even free to use. How often do you keep it locked while your in the room? In some hotel rooms, the safe is located in a closet in or near the bathroom. But he's not in your own home right? Remember that all the valuables you have to your name are in there. Sure it's not all the valuables you own, but it's everything that you felt was important enough to bring, and you're stranded without it. What would you put in there? Airline tickets, passports, wallet, credit cards, ID's, checkbook, travelers checks, your cell phone, all the cash you have left to your name. Someone stealing your boat from you when you're in the middle of the ocean is not cool! 

Chances are, some of the staff may not even know or bother to question who this person is. Most likely, only hotel security would. Call security or the front desk first, then open the door. Question the person, and buy some time for security to get there. Did you call someone to come to your room, such as room service, bellmen? Better yet, don't even answer the door. You don't have to let anyone in, and if the person is in fact a hotel employee, and it really is an emergency, what should they have? A master key or keycard! 

There have only been a few in my area that have been caught. One crook that was caught walking the floors by hotel security. What he was dressed in, and was carrying was everything I listed above. Also, in his "maintenance duffle bag" a small can of pepper spray, and a pocket knife. It's infuriating that this guy could have used it on the guest or security trying to respond to the room, just to give him enough time to get out of the hotel.  

Most upscale hotels, or any that are half decent and organized, have specific times when housekeeping comes to service the room. Any unexpected work that needs to be done in the room during your stay will probably be brought to your attention by way of a courtesy call to the room from the manager on duty. In an upscale hotel where the comfort of the guests are of the utmost importance, you can decline letting anyone into the room that shows up unexpectedly. Furthermore, if possible, the hotel management will most likely wait until you check-out to address the problem, rather than inconvience you while you're in the room.  

Thank you again!

Bidrisen