I think most people would like to believe that their hotel room won’t be entered without permission, especially when the “do not disturb” sign is on. However, here’s a good reminder of what can go wrong…
In this post:
La Quinta Resort & Club guests report in-room theft
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is going on right now, and for those who are into music festivals, it’s one of the most popular ones in the world. Unfortunately for some guests who chose to stay at the La Quinta Resort & Club, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, the experience hasn’t been so dreamy.
Over the weekend (specifically, on Friday night and into Saturday morning), several sets of guests at the property reported having belongings stolen from their rooms, despite having the “do not disturb” sign on. It wasn’t electronics (which are easily traceable) that were stolen, but instead, things like vintage bags, jewelry, sunglasses, and family heirlooms.
Apparently it was obvious that there had been someone in the rooms, beyond just items going missing. It was clear items had been moved and dumped out of bags, and drawers had been pulled out. So far, at least 15 people who stayed at the hotel have reported items being stolen from their rooms, and it’s believed that the value of the items stolen totals over $100,000.
All the people who had items stolen reportedly had someone knock on their doors earlier in the day to offer a “housewarming gift” (I assume they mean a welcome amenity), despite having their “do not disturb” sign on. Obviously that’s really suspicious, since no one should knock when the “do not disturb” sign is on.
Guests also claim that the night of the burglary, a security person informed them that a master housekeeping key had been lost or misplaced, though the next morning, the head of security claimed he hadn’t heard that.
Guests report that while the hotel staff responded to reports of theft, they didn’t so with the urgency that they hoped. Some guests also claim that the hotel wasn’t too happy when guests reached out to police:
“He didn’t appear to enjoy that I had called a police officer. Moreover, when the police officer asked if they would be willing to give him any information, he wasn’t cooperative with the police officer.”
“We’re so concerned that as soon as we leave the property, especially with the lack of urgency and lack of communication. They’re going to just hope that it goes away and that we stop bothering them.”
In response to this incident, the hotel has released the following statement:
“The safety and security of our hotel guests and team members is our top priority. As soon as we were made aware of claims of theft at the resort, we immediately engaged local law enforcement. At this time, we are unable to provide further information on the ongoing investigation, but are actively working on a swift resolution for all that may be impacted.”
What an unpleasant experience for hotel guests
It goes without saying that having items stolen from your hotel room can feel really violating, beyond just the material loss. Most people would like to think that if their “do not disturb” sign is on, that their room (and belongings) will be safe, but obviously that’s not always the case.
I can see how this was an attractive target for a thief — you have people spending a lot of money for rooms at a luxury hotel during a music festival, and you know they’re going to have some valuables, and are almost certainly going to be out of their room at a certain time (especially on a Friday night during the first weekend of Coachella).
It’s anyone’s guess whether someone managed to actually steal a master key from housekeeping, or if this was an inside job, where someone with access to the master key was behind the theft.
Unfortunately all too often, many hotels just don’t want to be useful in these situations, and do just want the problem to go away. After all, they don’t want an investigation to reveal that it was an inside job, because the optics of that are terrible.
But that’s also so disappointing, and shows such negligence. One would certainly hope that a hotel would be able to determine who committed theft in multiple rooms, based on cameras stationed around the hotel. That really shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. I’m curious what comes of this investigation, and if the details are made public…
Bottom line
Several guests staying at La Quinta Resort & Club during Coachella report having their rooms burglarized, despite having the “do not disturb” sign on. In total, it’s believed that over $100K in luxury goods were stolen from rooms. Guests report someone knocking on their door earlier in the day to offer a welcome amenity, despite the privacy signs being on.
Obviously someone had access to a master key, or else this wouldn’t have been possible. Here’s to hoping that an investigation determines who the culprit is.
What do you make of this Coachella hotel burglary?
Yes, this is a terrible lapse, but c'mon... Why would anyone with two functioning synapses take family heirloom jewelry with them when they stay at a hotel, let alone leave it in their room while they're out? It's crazy. We need to take reasonable precautions to protect our stuff, particularly if it's of high monetary or sentimental value.
Yes I always assume that criminals who display no respect for private property (except their own) will at least have the decency to respect a good “Do Not Disturb” sign.
Once during a dark period of my life I was at an afternoon show at Lollapalooza and as Vampire Weekend played, I decided to do some burgling at the Four Seasons Chicago - but at each room I attempted to enter, I was confronted with...
Yes I always assume that criminals who display no respect for private property (except their own) will at least have the decency to respect a good “Do Not Disturb” sign.
Once during a dark period of my life I was at an afternoon show at Lollapalooza and as Vampire Weekend played, I decided to do some burgling at the Four Seasons Chicago - but at each room I attempted to enter, I was confronted with a “Do Not Disturb” sign and thought to myself, “Oh dear, I shouldn’t bother them then” as I quietly scurried away. As you can imagine my brief foray into a life of crime was thoroughly unsuccessful.
Why people go to Coachella when they just had the largest Fyre festival in the area ever.
LOL
MAGA! God bless Americastan! Long live the King!
Burgled.
Exactly - it's burgled, not burglarized. I find it really annoyancing when people make up verbs from nouns when the root verb already existences. It's just bad quality writerizing.
Lucky has never been a good writer.
@Toni B Then, why do you read his blog if you think he has never been a good writer? Also, stogieguy7 is correct about the difference between burgled or burglarized which is just which side of the pond you are from or which side of the pond’s English you like or prefer to use.
@Toni B: He's an absolutely fine and engaging writer. What an unnecessarily snarky thing to say.
Americans use the word "burglarized" while British English uses "burgled". Frankly, I prefer the latter - but Ben wasn't wrong in his wording.
@password It is not true. Lucky is just using American English. He is correct. Also, what is ‘writerizing’? Is that something that you made up but yet you are incorrectly criticizing the writer of this article?
Ah, but did they have a Hobbit?
"Is the verb form of burglary, burgle or burglarize?
The verb form of burglary can be either burglarize or burgle. "Burglarize," like many verb forms, is made by adding the suffix -ize, and this form is more common in American English. Burgle is a back-formation (a word formed by subtraction of a real or supposed affix from an already existing longer word), and is more common in British English. Both are widely accepted as correct."
The hotel likely has video surveillance that would show the robber. Moreover, their computer system should have a record of each room entry so if a master key was used, it might be tied to a particular person.
Pretty sure that no one likes being victimized regardless of socioeconomic status! On a different note, Lucky, when’s the last time you actually saw a “do not disturb” sign? We only see “currently occupied” these days. Pretty sure this change began after that horrific Las Vegas mass shooting at a concert occurred several years ago!
Last time I saw the Do not disturb sign was yesterday .
Which hotel? Obviously, they still exist. It’s not like it was a mandatory change. I make a point to look at them and just cannot recall the last time I saw one!
I saw a do not disturb sign just about 10 seconds ago, in my room, the Hilton I am in now. PCT are you sure you were not high when you wrote your comments?
I see ''do not disturb” signs all the time and almost everywhere and in every country. It is pretty standard universally, and I have never seen 'currently occupied” anywhere.
I also only see do not disturb signs at hotels whether it is the electronic sign or the paper sign (sometimes in other words but never currently occupied) and yes PCT even in the local language it translates to do not disturb in English. Not sure about your currently occupied for guest rooms but the closest thing I can think of that has the word occupied is for the lavatories.
Just stayed at a Hyatt property this weekend and the sign definitely said “Currently Occupied”, not “do not disturb”. Pretty sure that’s the standard phrasing these days. Not sure where these other people are staying.
Ah ha Robert D! You may have solved the mystery as we almost exclusively stay at Hyatt properties and perhaps they made the decision to change the signs?? Whether it be PH, Thompson, Grand, Centric or others, I’ve not seen “do not disturb” for awhile!
Looks to me like somewhat an inside job
Must be sad for "rich" people like Lucky to read about this. Not that he and Ford would ever stay at a La Quinta!
@ Toni B -- If you're going to be shady, at least try a little harder. ;-) This property isn't associated with the La Quinta hotel group, it's just named after its location, in La Quinta, California.
"it's just named after its location, in La Quinta, California."
And for those who don't know, the wealth surrounding La Quinta is ASTONISHING. It's right next to the Coachella polo grounds, as well as the Thermal Desert International Horse park (hosts the 2nd largest horse show in the country, where million-dollar jumping horses are sold/traded/shown).
And its airport (Cochran) extended their runway, because so many people bring in private jets larger than Gulfstreams and Globals....
"it's just named after its location, in La Quinta, California."
And for those who don't know, the wealth surrounding La Quinta is ASTONISHING. It's right next to the Coachella polo grounds, as well as the Thermal Desert International Horse park (hosts the 2nd largest horse show in the country, where million-dollar jumping horses are sold/traded/shown).
And its airport (Cochran) extended their runway, because so many people bring in private jets larger than Gulfstreams and Globals. Not uncommon to see 737BBJs and even 757s there, during the horse shows, Coachella, and major polo competitions.
Anyone IGNORANT enough (this means you, Toni B) to think this area is about discount motels, is in for a shock, lol.
I live in Indian Wells, next to La Quinta. The Empire Polo Grounds are actually in Indio, it’s where Coachella and Stagecoach festivals set up annually. Yes, it’s a beautiful part of the California desert, especially when snow capped mountains surround the entire Coachella Valley (Greater Palm Springs) in the winter/spring.
I know, that's why I said the wealth "surrounding La Quinta," not in. ;)
Actually, it’s the other way around. La Quinta, California is named after the historic La Quinta Resort, which opened in 1926.
@ Toni B - are you for real?? Have you ever travelled outside of Hooterville, Kentucky??
I am not poor, but also not rich. I follow Ben because one I love his writing, but two he makes luxury travel possible with his free advice. I only fly business and stay at luxury hotels almost entirely by leveraging credit cards.
What a rude comment to make.
This is hilarious!
@stogieguy7 - Yeah, you can't fix stupid, can you?? :)
@Toni B Did you even carefully read what Ben wrote before you made such a dumb comment? He specifically even wrote that this hotel is a part of the Curio Collection which is a part of Hilton.