Theft From Hotel Safe

[sign216]

I'm out in Montana for work (real cow country), and a co-worker reports a theft from his room safe while exercising at the hotel gym. His wallet was in the safe, and thief removed $150 cash, left everything else. Unlike most hotels, rooms have a keyed safe instead of an electronic lock.

I'm thinking a hotel worker had a smith make some key copies, and he keeps them on hand, for when he sees an opportunity. Any other ideas?

Joe

[image] Hotel safe by sign216, on Flickr [/image]

[image] Medeco key by sign216, on Flickr [/image]

[image] Medeco lock by sign216, on Flickr [/image]

[Safecrackin Sammy]

That looks like a Medeco 60 series lock so less secure than the full blown cylinder and easier to pick.

Just watched a you tube on that exact safe... Guy opened it in 29 seconds with a Northern Tool pick set.

I doubt somebody had a bunch of extra keys made but its possible.

My guess is there is a master key or spare key for each safe in the office. Management would have to have some way to open the safe if a guest lost their key.

I would talk to the head manager not the desk clerk... If they cant resolve it, contact local PD and file a report... Then the home office if its a hotel chain...

[stratmando]

Hidden camera could help, With New face, new check in, flash some money, then maybe say you're going on a Cattle Drive for a couple days. See what happens? Likely a Dude or some Jasper. Good Luck

[Jacob Morgan]

Suggest asking the hotel management to replay any CCTV footage they have around the time the guy went to the gym. Even if it is not on that room door, if some one entered and then exited the hotel itself in that time frame, that could be a suspect. Or, if no one came and went, it is staff or fellow guests.

If someone opened the safe, they also opened the hotel room door. So if it was a break in, they had to get past two locks. What is the room lock? Electronic? Mechanical? If a burglar is sophisticated enough to know when the sole occupant of a room leaves, quickly get past the room lock and then quickly pick a Medeco (of any type), then what are they doing in Montana? A burglar of that skill would be silly to risk felony charges for $150 out of a wallet. It would be more logical for them to be in Beverly Hills or some similar place where the takings might be X10+ per room.

Sounds like an inside job. The guy at the front desk knows who is single in a room, texts the room number to a buddy when he sees someone on CCTV going to the gym or pool, and that buddy was provided with pass keys to everything. An average meth head duo could pull that off.

[sign216]

No CCTV, nothing like that. Remember, I'm in rural Montana. The manager was sympathetic, but just shrugged his shoulders. My coworkers and I all checked out in protest (4 of us) and moved to a different hotel.

My coworkers and I thought the thief should have taken only half the money. My coworker might not have noticed, and the thief could have kept this up for years.

Jacob, The room lock is an electronic lock that uses a plastic card. I think every maid has a master "key" for that.

Strat, that ploy of a "dangle bait" would catch the thief for sure, but it'll be hard to get the rural PD on board, just for some out of town nonresidents. Maybe I'm jaded.

Sammy, so the lock is easy to pick? Interesting. I should have brought some tools.

Joe

[stratmando]

From what I see of Hotel Safes, even Electronic, I would not place anything of Value in one. A good hiding spot may better. In your Dash may be better, unless they steal your car. They do make small cameras, self contained, SD card for storage, motion activated, less than $50. Maybe good for future? You could trade SD card for your money back, if Police are not an option? or available.

[sign216]

From what I see of Hotel Safes, even Electronic, I would not place anything of Value in one. A good hiding spot may better. In your Dash may be better, unless they steal your car. They do make small cameras, self contained, SD card for storage, motion activated, less than $50. Maybe good for future? You could trade SD card for your money back, if Police are not an option? or available.

Strat,
Some months ago I did buy a tiny motion activated camera online. But when I got it, it was impossible to use. The controls were so tiny and non-user friendly. Buying a larger one of a more realistic size, is on my list of things to do.

Joe

[Lelandwelds]

I use to travel a lot to small towns. I can't imagine any motel anywhere without cameras in lobby, elevator, and hallways. Even Montana has drunken idiots who pissed in hallways and try to steal mattresses.

Digital keys have times logged when used. Most can tell which level of key was used and creation date.

There is a company that makes a cellular based gps with a light detector. Open luggage; get texthttps://store.trackimo.com/products ... ker-device