It’s not often that you see video footage of a hotel room break-in attempt from inside the room, so this is quite interesting…
In this post:
Thieves try to open Holiday Inn room door
As flagged by View from the Wing, NBC Bay Area has the story of a recent room break-in attempt at a Holiday Inn in San Jose, California. A woman who was traveling on business was inside her hotel room, when she suddenly noticed that someone was trying to break into her room.
Specifically, someone was using a device that can be slid under the door and then moved around, in an attempt to grab the door handle and open it from outside. It almost looks like an extended coat hanger with pieces attached to it. I’m not sure if this is ever used in an official capacity by hotels (maybe if key cards stop working and/or there are electrical issues), or if this is purely designed for attempted break-ins.
Presumably the robbers were trying to access an empty room, though in this case the guest was occupying the room. I’m impressed by how quickly she acted, since understandably many people might be confused in situations like this. She moved the device around so that it couldn’t get onto the door handle, and at the same time called the front desk.
Hotel workers ended up confronting a man and woman. These are the same two people that the guest had seen earlier through the peephole, when they attempted to knock on her door (which she ignored). The two people told the hotel employee that they were looking for a friend and had knocked on the wrong door. Unfortunately the duo managed to escape before police arrived, and weren’t identified.
The guest thinks her room was targeted because it was at the end of the hall, so that’s probably where the robbers started. And when they didn’t hear any noise there, they probably thought that was a good room to target.
You can see a news story about the incident below, including an interview with the victim.
My take on this attempted break-in
A couple of thoughts on this…
First of all, this guest did a great job handling this situation. She had her door locked, and she acted quickly when the break-in attempt happened. I think most people would probably be caught off guard in such a situation. So it’s good that she protected herself as well as she did. Then again, I imagine the robbers would have run anyway when they discovered that the room was occupied.
My other biggest takeaway is that I’m a bit confused by the motive of such a robbery, at least in terms of risk vs. reward:
- Trying to rob a hotel room is extremely risky; you have limited entry and exit points, and typically have cameras throughout the hotel, so it can be hard to get away
- Trying to rob a hotel room also seems pretty low reward; at most you might get a small amount of cash and credit cards, and some clothes, so is that really worth the risk?
Bottom line
A guest staying at a Holiday Inn in San Jose caught someone trying to break into her room on tape. Specifically, someone tried to use a device to open the door handle from inside. She physically prevented that from happening, while also calling the front desk. The robbers claimed they were “knocking” on the wrong door, and managed to escape.
What do you make of this attempted room break-in?
Yep. In California they wouldn’t even get a slap on the hand. Thanks Gavin
Hotel industry guy here. Some background on hotel door locks and the devices described:
Those devices are specific break-in tools. The hotels themselves typically have two ways of opening doors in case of lock failure (electronic locks are battery operated usually). Apart from master keycards, most lock systems have some sort of a portable programming and emergency opening tool which can be connected via cable to a hidden socket on the outside of the lock....
Hotel industry guy here. Some background on hotel door locks and the devices described:
Those devices are specific break-in tools. The hotels themselves typically have two ways of opening doors in case of lock failure (electronic locks are battery operated usually). Apart from master keycards, most lock systems have some sort of a portable programming and emergency opening tool which can be connected via cable to a hidden socket on the outside of the lock. In case of electronic failure (or on locks which have no cable but only wireless access, failed due to empty batteries and don't have batteries which can be replaced from the outside), there is always a hidden keyhole which can be opened by a special master key. These keys and would usually be kept in a highly secure place (such as a safe).
Physical master key, programming device and certain master keycards will always override the deadlock.
Due to security concerns, most if not all door locks will always open from the inside if the handle is operated. This is by design, so occupants can flee the room i.e. in case of a fire.
In most modern hotels, the doors will have some form of a lip that drops down to the floor when the door is fully closed. This mainly is for smoke protection in case of a fire outside the room, with the added benefit of also blocking hallway light from shining under the door. In my personal experience, that mechanism often fails over time with either the lip not raising properly when door is opened (resulting in a door that "scrapes" on the floor) or the lip not dropping fully due to either failure of the mechanism or the door, door sill or floor sagging or lifting over time.
Those vulnerabilities prompt some hotel chains to always include a secondary inside lock (such as a doorchain) in order to prevent break-ins while a guest is in the room in their building standards.
On CCTV making it less easy for a burglar to escape: CCTV systems are indeed present in most hotels, but are typically not monitored live. So the CCTV as such will not necessarily help hotel staff to notice someone appears to be tampering with a door, and also, even on modern systems, most of the time you would get a somewhat blurry image of "generic person burgling a room" after the break-in has been discovered and reported by either staff or the guest. So while CCTV does help with the "what happened" part of the incident, it usually doesn't do too much for the "who did it" part.
re ease of getting away: Don't ignore the possibility of the burglar(s) being hotel staff, contractors, disguised as contractors, or guests (booking made purely to do burglaries).
I'm not suggesting that long-term hotel staff are not trustworthy, but that it is comparatively easy to infiltrate (and leave after a week)
Disguised as contractors is probably the easiest - especially if cleaning or similar is contracted out because then other staff expect no continuity of...
re ease of getting away: Don't ignore the possibility of the burglar(s) being hotel staff, contractors, disguised as contractors, or guests (booking made purely to do burglaries).
I'm not suggesting that long-term hotel staff are not trustworthy, but that it is comparatively easy to infiltrate (and leave after a week)
Disguised as contractors is probably the easiest - especially if cleaning or similar is contracted out because then other staff expect no continuity of personnel.
I remember a Penetration Test firm dressing up as telephone engineers and being waved into the server room ...
Why are there always these openings under the doors in the US? It's annoying because of light coming in under the door, and this video shows another reason not to have these openings. How about installing a threshold?
Wait until you see the restrooms in the US, even you can fit under the door.
Presumably so that the tolerance is high, which means requires less clear which means cheaper?
"Tape" ? You must be close to 40. I suppose "footage" is still part of your vocabulary too.
Always put the Don Not Disturb sign out. At least they think someone is inside and will look elsewhere
If the the booty was <$950, and IF they were caught AND prosecuted (big IF as the defunded San Jose PD would likely lack the resources to investigate and the DA would not press charges, especially if the perpetrators were minorities), there would be minimal consequences, at most a fine, as property crimes of less than $950 have been decriminalised in CA in the name of social justice. If they stole more than $950, the...
If the the booty was <$950, and IF they were caught AND prosecuted (big IF as the defunded San Jose PD would likely lack the resources to investigate and the DA would not press charges, especially if the perpetrators were minorities), there would be minimal consequences, at most a fine, as property crimes of less than $950 have been decriminalised in CA in the name of social justice. If they stole more than $950, the odds of getting away were overwhelmingly in their favor for the same reasons above.
Burglary is a felony in California regardless of the amount or whether it was a forced entry. If the woman was in the room when they entered, it would have been robbery. There is no free pass on burglary. Shoplifting of less than $900 is a misdemeanor. This is NOT a shoplifting situation.
No surprise this was in San Fran. What a cesspool.
It was San Jose.
Im thinking that if the deadbolt/doorlatch on the inside of the door were engaged then someone cant break in from the hall, as just turning the door knob wouldn't work. The old advice of leaving the hall light and tv on when you're out is still good advice. Id rather be guilty of wasting a little energy than risking my safety and/or having to deal with lost credit cards, license, maybe passport.
I don't think that hanger looking device is used by staff because they have a master keycard they can use. Locking your door is not always a safe method. I think using the extra bolt is safer. Often times if you push down on the handle the door will unlock, however it will make more noise and create more of a hassle and time for the robber if you use the extra bolt. There are...
I don't think that hanger looking device is used by staff because they have a master keycard they can use. Locking your door is not always a safe method. I think using the extra bolt is safer. Often times if you push down on the handle the door will unlock, however it will make more noise and create more of a hassle and time for the robber if you use the extra bolt. There are simple devices that you can use to further bolt the door. I agree it is high risk and low reward and even lower reward than years ago because people travel with less jewelry and cash.
If you’ve got hard floors always hang a cup or mug on the door handle, anyone movement of the handles and cup falls on the floor and smashes, makes one hell of a lot of noise and scares them off - also wakes you up in shock too!!
Deborah seems very amused with the whole thing
How encouraging to see someone not immediately claiming to suffer PTSD from being the (in this case accidental) target of a failed attack.
I get the impression she didn't sue the hotel for distress either, although I hope they gave her a free meal or drink.
@Mantis, so sad but true. Its California, you can do whatever you want.
you are right on.. catch and release or not even CATCH!!!
No, California isn't Florida
Tell me you are stupid without telling me you are stupid.
Why do people always emphasize "when traveling alone". Be vigilant whether you're traveling with a significant other, friend, family member, whoever or alone. Keep your head on a swivel.
This same thing happens a couple of months ago in DC. , sadly the woman died of brutal attack suffering several stabs wounds . She just check in a couple of hours earlier and also a single traveler. Please lock your door behind right away before unpacking or doing other stuff.
I was wondering why in Singapore 15 years ago suddenly the door handles looked up upright.
Staff told me to avoid such break ins. And those were 5 star ones. So easy to prevent.
One of my friends were in such a way car keys stolen for a robbery. Of course hotel told him no break in… but police showed him a very tiny hole in the door, nicely covered after the stunt
The tool that slides under the door to open it is absolutely a real device used by hotel staff. Once at the Aloft in Austin, the electronic key reader to my door ran out of batteries or otherwise malfunctioned while I was out and this is how the maintenance and security team got me back into my room. I couldn't believe it and thought at the time that these electronic doors are actually relatively unsafe...
The tool that slides under the door to open it is absolutely a real device used by hotel staff. Once at the Aloft in Austin, the electronic key reader to my door ran out of batteries or otherwise malfunctioned while I was out and this is how the maintenance and security team got me back into my room. I couldn't believe it and thought at the time that these electronic doors are actually relatively unsafe and unprotected since this very low tech tool can be used to get into the room without leaving a digital trace.
What we don’t know from this report is if there have been other incidents of room theft at this place. I’m sure the hotel wouldn’t fess up if there were.
When traveling, especially when traveling alone, try to remember to place a towel under the door to block off the "easy access" and put a bar glass or two on the towel. Hopefully, the glass falls over and scares the potential intruder - and whether it breaks or not, housekeeping will clean the glass, which is better than being robbed, assaulted, or worse.
Another one recently here at this youtuber I follow: https://youtu.be/tXbmR-6TTCo?t=1019
It's California, even if caught there would be no consequences.
Riiiiight, because accountability is totally the mantra and m.o. of the Right in the USA...
Ralphi...it is the LEFTO'S that let this nonsense happen with criminals doing whatever they want in major BLUE LIB CITIES!!~! get your facts correct....
You seem like you’re severely brain damaged, Dee.
right on!!!!
No, actually, there would be significant, felony consequences.
Maybe the guest had been observed wearing a luxury watch or other blingy jewelry? Or out & about using expensive camera / video equipment? And then followed to her hotel?
Lol. AirBNB is way more secure.
Crime in progress, call the police. Hotel staff are trained to not intervene or report crimes.
The tool that slides under the door to open it is absolutely a real device used by hotel staff. Once at the Aloft in Austin, the electronic key reader to my door ran out of batteries or otherwise malfunctioned while I was out and this is how the maintenance and security team got me back into my room. I couldn't believe it and thought at the time that these electronic doors are actually relatively unsafe...
The tool that slides under the door to open it is absolutely a real device used by hotel staff. Once at the Aloft in Austin, the electronic key reader to my door ran out of batteries or otherwise malfunctioned while I was out and this is how the maintenance and security team got me back into my room. I couldn't believe it and thought at the time that these electronic doors are actually relatively unsafe and unprotected since this very low tech tool can be used to get into the room without leaving a digital trace.
Sorry - don't know why this ended up as a reply!
I had the same experience as RealTaylor at a Hilton Property in California when the key card reader battery died. Maintenance was called and they brought their specially bent coat hanger to open the door. Then they replaced the battery.
I have to think that there are better card readers and more secure door handles available.
esp in liberal calif,,you can get fired for interfering in theft or shoplifting
That's false and you're a troll
Illustrates why those deadbolts or chain arrangements are so much better than the "extra push" design they have there.
To open from the inside those require nothing more than if they are not locked.
I expect a rash of copycat robberies at hotels across the world.
Hopefully:
a) this type of lock will stop selling, and not be fitted going forwards
b) a lot of hotels will swap out bad...
Illustrates why those deadbolts or chain arrangements are so much better than the "extra push" design they have there.
To open from the inside those require nothing more than if they are not locked.
I expect a rash of copycat robberies at hotels across the world.
Hopefully:
a) this type of lock will stop selling, and not be fitted going forwards
b) a lot of hotels will swap out bad designs for good ones.
Do they ever think of red-teaming their security practices?
I guess it's worth buying a portable lock for when one is in the room.
For when one is not, hotel staff have access anyway, so just recognise that it's not a secure place.
This would NEVER happen at a Hilton property.
C'mon get your own name to troll. You've failed so many times now.
We all know when the real @DCS shows up.
Don't be a communal username like John who's sharing it with idiots.
Eskimo = DCS
"so it can be hard to get away"
Get away in the moment or get away with the crime?
The bay pretty much openly doesn't care about property crime, so the latter isn't really a factor. In the moment... well I guess if there is security/police on site, that's true. Doesn't seem like that was the case, here.
They should not even have been able to get to the guest rooms in the first place.
Read the novel Hotel by Arthur Haley!
It's an Oldie, but the principles are still the same.
That’s right. We were recently in a hotel in Guernsey that had great security. A card key was needed to exit the lobby into the hallway with the elevators, the key was also needed for the elevator, and again for the room. One of those gadgets wouldn’t work on the elevator. The hotel in Guernsey wasn’t a high crime area, just SOP for the hotel.