My Aunt's bag and money was stolen in a 5-star hotel in London

hi, so sorry to hear it, but no matter where we are, we should take good care of our personal stuff, it is a common sense, isn't it?

Wow sorry to hear about your aunt but it just goes to show that there are thieves even in seemingly pristine environments .I guess though that we shouldnt be surprised because those hotels could host a number of international criminals as well as distinguished diplomats,its just a case of who can play .The five star status really describes the service at the hotel and not the guest I am afraid,its good though that she was able to get money to come home.

That's still common wherever you may be. I think it's even more rampant in those places because people won't expect such things like that from happening knowing that they're in a place where people have money. That actually happened to a co-professor of my professor when they were are a tour in Europe, the woman was just choosing delicacies at a counter and when she looked at her bag, her wallet was gone. It's a good thing that she never put her passport and important documents in that wallet, she had something separate which was close to her body (a belt purse) where she put her important documents. I think it's a warning for all of us to take precaution when traveling. This is exactly what I don't like about traveling. You can't help but be worried if someone would mug you or someone would steal. I hope we'd have a way to travel without these things in our minds for once. This is only added stress to the supposedly pleasing vacation.

Sorry to hear that about your Aunt and it was lucky she had someone with her that she could borrow money from to get home. But that kind of thing is not surprising at all, it could happen anywhere. There is more of a chance of something being stolen in a more upmarket hotel as the con men and pick pockets would frequent these places more. They would see these kind of places as rich pickings. It goes on everywhere and is unfortunate that it is a fact of the times we live in. I personally would not even leave a pack of smokes on a table unattended.

It should not be surprising. The thief might be dressed decently and escaped the guards, but the electric cameras might tell something, if she is lucky. I heard about a gang, who replaced an original painting with a fake one. At self service restaurant, I never leave my bag on the seat. Who knows whose target your bag will be? When travel, I learned a saying, "Bag in the front is yours, that behind might be others'" And at a crowded elevator, you had better have a close hug of your bag, too. Take care.

i am sorry to hear that.my bag was stolen in restaurant last year.i called police,but they couldn't help me take back my bag.i think there are monitor in 5-star hotel,but it is hard to say hotel 's wrong.just take care of your bag anywhere!

People who decide to steal, will do it anywhere. And moreso in a five star hotel, where they attract lesser suspicion if they dress well and move around freely. Hotel security is slack inside hotels.While some of them have cameras installed , a lot of them concentrate on the outside. Sorry to hear that your Aunt had to go through this. I wonder though if the hotel is taking up some responsibility or just giving a general statement saying that they are not responsible and stuff like that.

So what actions did the hotel take? Did they help your aunt out or something?

Oh, It's a big news. It's not amazing, all the world is the same, they also have bad guys live there. But for a 5-star hotel, It's a little unacceptable.

:( that is soo sad but i dont thnk the 5star hotel has anything to do with it there r bad ppl everyewher happy lotting and have a nice day! :D

sorry to hear about what happened to your aunt. i work in a 4 star hotel in the usa, we do not have a restaurant there. first of all, she shouldn't have left her purse at the table regardless of where she was goin... if there was someone else with her, and goin to be sitting at the table, than that would have been ok. esp in a strange place, heck, even in a place that you know and visit regularly you should ALWAYS take your belongings with you. even if there were people watching, and saw the thief take her purse, most people wouldn't even say or do anything. have you ever watched that show "what would you do?" yeah, alot of people will just watch, and not react in means of doing anything helpful. but, i can tell you that most hotels are not responsible for lost or stolen items, although, the staff/frontdesk/manager should have atleast called the police. it's a crime whether the hotel was responsible or not, the police should have been involved. hopefully that experience doesn't stop her from traveling, but puts her more aware of her surroundings, and to ALWAYS keep all her personal stuff with her where ever she goes. (even if you are a stayover in a hotel, don't leave anything valuable in there, ask the front desk to put it in their safe until you return).