This is a very strange story on several levels…
In this post:
Rolex stolen off sleeping man’s wrist in hotel lobby
A man named Armin Zeyafatzadeh claims to have been robbed of a $24,000 Rolex while sleeping in the lobby of the Residence Inn & Courtyard by Marriott in Washington DC (this is one of those properties that has two hotel brands in one).
The man arrived at the hotel at 1AM, but only had a booking for later that day. The hotel didn’t let him check-in, so he settled down in the lobby to wait until his room was ready. Zeyafatzadeh claims that he hadn’t slept in 48 hours, so he decided to sleep in the lobby. The lobby was quiet, so he felt like that was safe. By 3AM he was sound asleep, with his head tilted back and mouth wide open.
As it turns out, there had been someone else in the lobby not far away, who was keeping an eye on him. Noticing that Zeyafatzadeh was sound asleep, the guy inched closer to him, and eventually noticed the fancy watch. He then used both hands to lift Zeyafatzadeh’s wrist and unbuckle the watch. With the watch eventually in the robber’s possession, he made an exit.
When Zeyafatzadeh woke up, he noticed that the watch, which he allegedly wore every day for the past two years, was missing. He alerted the hotel staff, and they agreed to look through security camera footage with him. They saw the point where the watch was stolen, so he went and filed a police report.
The man who stole the watch was allegedly staying at the hotel, but was long gone by the time everyone figured out what was going on. Zeyafatzadeh has filed a report with the hotel, but claims that no one got in touch with him yet.
Below is the video footage of the watch being stolen… wow.
What a story…
Where do we even begin with this story? First and foremost, I hope they find the jerk who stole the watch. What a terrible thing to do. You’d think they’d be able to figure out who did this pretty easily, given that it was all captured on video, and the man was allegedly a guest at the hotel.
Beyond that, though, there’s a lot else interesting about the story. Showing up at 1AM for a reservation later that day isn’t requesting early check-in, it’s asking for a free night. That request is completely unreasonable, and virtually no hotel would accommodate that, regardless of whether or not rooms were open.
It seems like a very bad life decision to show up at a hotel without a reservation when you haven’t slept for 48 hours. Especially if you have the means to, which you’d think someone who drops $24K on a watch would have (“you’d think” being the operative term here).
As far as the watch robbery goes, I’m amazed by how easily this was done. I can’t believe the guy didn’t wake up when his arm was moved so much, but I guess some people are deep sleepers.
Lastly, I’m no lawyer or liability expert, but I’m almost kind of surprised that the hotel would have any liability here, even if it’s just on a technicality. When this watch was stolen, the guy was not a hotel guest, plain and simple. He was a non-guest choosing to sleep in the lobby.
Does the hotel have liability for anything that’s stolen on property, even if it’s a non-customer? Or does the fact that he had a reservation for later that day make the hotel liable?
Bottom line
A Rolex was stolen off the wrist of a man sleeping in the lobby of a Marriott property in Washington DC. The guest showed up at 1AM but didn’t have a reservation until later that day, so he decided to sleep in the lobby. Someone was obviously closely watching him, and managed to slip the watch off his wrist. Security footage later revealed what happened, though at that point the robber was long gone.
What do you make of this all-around very strange story?
(Tip of the hat to View from the Wing, featured image courtesy of the hotel)
The name is Persian, so he could be a Persian-american, coming in after a long flight ? If you are more curious, you can google his name and have some fun. enjoy..
This happens to me all the time...usually I just buy another one from the guy on the street outside this hotel.
I'm going to play devil's advocate and say the two of them were in on it. He knew he was in view of the camera and the other person knew what to look for. With convincing video and police report, seems fairly simple to get insurance money. Now if this really was theft, the hotel is only liable for not locking down their lobby to only registered guest, which ironically enough, would not include him...
I'm going to play devil's advocate and say the two of them were in on it. He knew he was in view of the camera and the other person knew what to look for. With convincing video and police report, seems fairly simple to get insurance money. Now if this really was theft, the hotel is only liable for not locking down their lobby to only registered guest, which ironically enough, would not include him as he had not checked in yet. And I agree, if you can afford a $20k+ Rolex, you can afford a room at the Courtyard. Was he expecting to sleep all day and check in at 3p or hope for an earlier check in? Hate to say it, he was lucky they allowed him to stay rather than come back later. But then again, I have napped in the lobby before due to jet lag on long trips simply because I had a reservation, but my room was still not ready. But I certainly did not do this early morning while it was still dark outside!
That is a set up 4 sure. He wasn't a guest at the time of the surpose incident. Hotel not liable 4 NOTHING!
With the amount of Fake Rolex being worn these days, how did the thief know that this man was wearing a real rolex enough to risk jail time??? In a hotel lobby no less and as a guest.
If the man was sleeping in the Lobby of Chevel Blanc with LV luggage, then yeah chances are the wwatch is real, but in a Marriot Inn in DC......please.
Doesnt add up.
He's obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed!
And if you own something of such value, make sure it's insured before you take a nap in a public place with it on for all to see.
You’d think the guy could afford to spend more than one night at that hotel or another one, if that particular property was sold out, unless that watch had been a gift from someone, which is possible.
As someone said,you’d think the guy could afford to spend more than one night at that hotel or another one, if that particular property was sold out, unless that watch had been a gift from someone, which is possible.
As someone said, you’d think the guy could afford to spend more than one night at that hotel or another one, if that particular property was sold out, unless that watch had been a gift from someone, which is possible.
Sounds like a new easy rip-off plan. Book a room for your accomplice, phone him when you're established in the lobby, have him some down, lift the watch, do a contactless check out, leave separately. Sure, they're out the cost of the room, but they can split the net gain for very little effort.
My sentiment exactly
"Rolex watches, and colorful Swatches, I'm digging in pockets, mfs can't stop it!" - "Gimme da Loot", the Notorious B.I.G.
Thinking out of the box, perhaps it was a scam: he and the robber schemed to get a settlement from the hotel?
Looks like both the guest and the thief were in cahoots.
Are sure this is not an insurance scam?
If I own a $24k rolex, why didn't I have my reservation for 2 nights so when I arrived at 1am, I'd have a room ready.
If I have the means to own a "real" $24k rolex, I don't sleep in hotel lobbies.
Multiple absurd takes on here.
Perhaps the watch was a gift? Or a family heirloom passed from parent to son? Maybe the reason he can afford a $24,000 watch is because he is frugal and selectively spends on things are important to him?
Why is it that video footage from Mars is in 4K full HD but footage from any security camera makes it look like a foggy morning
Possible that this hotel didn't have the same budget as NASA?!?
People forget that the Rolex might have been a gift, a pass me down from a relative, or something of that nature. and even if he did pay for it, there is nothing wrong with being wealthy and still choosing to stay at a hotel like a Residence Inn.
He wasn’t staying at the hotel. He was sleeping in the lobby. I think the idea is that maybe he should have gotten a room with a door and a lock.
I guess he had to say Bonvoy to his rolled Rolex.
Sounds fishy to me. Maybe to the cops also.
24 k for a rolex , ok but why not buy a room rather than sleep in the lobby.
Just wondering ???
It would not surprise me one bit if the two were in it together. Split the insurance money.
Interesting how he can afford to wear a $24K Rolex watch but did not want to pay for an additional one night hotel stay.
Come for the the travel and stay for the "I'm not a lawyer but" speculation.
The hotel is a business and owes a duty of reasonable care to all invitees (whether he was staying at the hotel or transacting any business there is irrelevant).
Not a Lawyer speaking. I doubt reasonable care includes being responsible for a non guest being unaware of his surroundings because he was sleeping deeply.
You'd be surprised. I can't speak to DC, but in most States there are innkeeper liability laws that skew heavily in favor of hotels. More or less, unless he left the watch in a safe deposit box at the front desk, the hotel wouldn't be liable.
Unrelated, but you'd be surprised at how common people showing up just after midnight and expecting to check in 15 hours early for free is. Weird that the overnight...
You'd be surprised. I can't speak to DC, but in most States there are innkeeper liability laws that skew heavily in favor of hotels. More or less, unless he left the watch in a safe deposit box at the front desk, the hotel wouldn't be liable.
Unrelated, but you'd be surprised at how common people showing up just after midnight and expecting to check in 15 hours early for free is. Weird that the overnight staff didn't send him on his way, but perhaps they were sold out and the front desk agent was being rather sympathetic.
Actually the watch was unbuckled, THEN his wrist was lifted.
Also, I didn’t see any masks on. How inconsiderate.
You wear a $24k watch and stay at a Residence Inn? Really? This scream scam all over the place. Probably a fake watch and both working together.
I don't get it why do people here think that someone with $24k watch doesn't stay in a Residence Inn?
Frugal doesn't equal cheap or poor.
But I'm not going to say this isn't a scam. If Bernie Madoff can scam people, anyone can scam people.
If Biden can sell a trillion dollar coin to pay off debt, US can keep printing free stimulus money.
If you sold 2 pizzas for bitcoins 11 years ago. You can get yourself more than 24,000 of this $24k watch.
There are many types of people and many choices of lodging in this world. I have substantial watch holdings and often stay at Residence Inns, but in a paid room, not as a lobby sleeper. Having a separate sleeping area makes the room feel larger. Having a kitchen serves those with healthy eating concerns as well as those with religious diets.
In fact, my first choice in lodging is Homewood Suites followed by Residence Inns and followed by Element.
Knockoff watch. Nobody who wears a Rolex would sleep in the lobby. I would have just gone to the nearest transit hotel. If I was flying and was the type who felt the need to wear a genuine rolex, my luggage probably has a lot of valuables in them. No way I would sleep in the lobby with all that on my possession. Even if I didn't I wouldn't sleep in any lobby period.
Former hotel liability lawyer here. Whether the victim was a registered guest at the time of the robbery isn't really relevant. He was still a a business invitee, someone the hotel was allowing to be on the premises, to wait for a room, wait for a friend, attend a meeting, or for any other lawful reason other than trespassing. So they had a duty of care to him.
If for example, he was a woman,...
Former hotel liability lawyer here. Whether the victim was a registered guest at the time of the robbery isn't really relevant. He was still a a business invitee, someone the hotel was allowing to be on the premises, to wait for a room, wait for a friend, attend a meeting, or for any other lawful reason other than trespassing. So they had a duty of care to him.
If for example, he was a woman, and was sexually assaulted while sleeping there, then yes, the hotel could be liable, it comes down to whether the hotel took reasonable care to protect its guests or was there "negligent security." Key issues in the case would be did they have enough staff on duty, did they have security officers, should they have had security officers, how long was the perp lurking there, was he really staying there, was there adequate lighting, was it a high crime area, have there been incidents in the lobby before, etc.
The hotel would argue "We did what a reasonable hotel would do" and the plaintiff would point out all the deficiencies in what the hotel did.
Ben, I love you but please. The guy who stole the watch is not a jerk; he is a thug, criminal, or low-life at a bare minimum. Jerk is reserved for someone who pees and some ends up on the plane bathroom seat and expects the flight attendant to clean it up.
Absolutely this sounds like a complete scam by both people.
Smells like this might have been staged.
Exactly
That's my read. How perfect is it that he's catatonic-asleep the whole time and then mysteriously seems to stir to life right at the end.
It was an inside job they were in on it together. The Rolex was a fugazi. It humors me at the airport seeing 99.99% of fake Louis Vuitton duffel bags being dragged through a conveyor belt. No one with a 14 thousand dollar bag would risk damaging their bag at an airport.
The victim should file a report with PD and hotel security should share the surveillance.
LV duffle bags start at a little over $1k lol idk where u got the 14 thousand number from but that aint a LV Keepall haha
Your 24 would have let him check in if he was an Ambassador.
It's a bit unfair to blame the guy for showing up at the hotel at 1am looking for somewhere to sleep. Not all travel plans can accommodate a neat 3pm-9pm arrival window. If the hotel had availability the previous night, they should have offered him an early check-in, even for a fee. Of course the story didn't mention if this was offered and he declined, or if the property was fully booked.
Two years ago...
It's a bit unfair to blame the guy for showing up at the hotel at 1am looking for somewhere to sleep. Not all travel plans can accommodate a neat 3pm-9pm arrival window. If the hotel had availability the previous night, they should have offered him an early check-in, even for a fee. Of course the story didn't mention if this was offered and he declined, or if the property was fully booked.
Two years ago I arrived at the Sheraton Grand Salzburg at 7:30am for a reservation later that day after not having slept for 24 hours, they charged me €25 to get in a room immediately, and I happily paid it and was sound asleep by 8am. They even upgraded my room to a suite. Otherwise I would have been sleeping in the lobby for a few hours.
7am and 1am are quite different...It does sound like he made a poor life choice and could have attempted to check into another hotel...If he wears a $24K watch, it's very possible he has other valuables on him...
If he was scheduled to arrive at 1am, he should have had a room reserved for that night (not the following night), and let the hotel know he would be checking in late.
Regardless, it still smells like a scam to me - if I were wearing a $24k watch, I wouldn't be going to sleep in public.
Insurance fraud? Seems to me that the sleeping victim and perp could have been in cahoots to stage the theft where they knew there’d be video capturing it. Perp never looks at the camera in way good enough to identify him, and the sleeping victim sleeps so soundly as to be suspicious. Not saying that’s definitely what’s going on, but seems like a possibility to me.
Like a diamond ring, most who wear $5K+ of jewelry/luxury goods get insurance to protect against theft or unintended damage...If one doesn't have that, that's a poor life choice...Rolex's aren't incredibly hard to resell either and to receive any sort of payout you need to file a police report, provide serial numbers and now that rolex is hot and only worth a fraction of its value...
Claimed he had a Rolex. Not a Rolex.
Yes there is, it’s called a volume button.
I think it's fake. Notice how the video closes in on the perp, then follows him as he leaves the area. That can't be a security camera.
Taking Bonvoy'd to another level, props to this hotel!
The sleeping man did have a watch stolen while sleeping in the lobby of a hotel; but the hotel chain isn't relevant. If housekeeping steals the luggage the hotel chain is relevant. I cannot say I haven't fallen asleep in odd places before but don't create opportunities for theft with items of value.
If a hotel guest that stole it, probably shouldn't take too long to track down.
"Does the hotel have liability for anything that’s stolen on property, even if it’s a non-customer?"
At 1AM and the hotel doesn't kick him out, he is recognized and definitely not trespassing, thus it can be argued that he is a customer. Your customer status doesn't begin at check in and expire at check out. (Maybe for Bonvoy??, LOL)
"Tell me you are a dumb person without telling me you are a dumb person."
Who drops by at 01:00am in a hotel hoping for a more than "earlier" check-in with a 24k watch and decides to sleep in the lobby of a not so expensive hotel?
I would go for the presidential suite if they even had it, tbh
Is there a version of the video that doesn't have that ridiculously stupid sound playing?
Yes, it's on the side of your phone. It's called a volume button.
Reading this, somehow I saw quotes around the word "stolen", even though Ben didn't publish it that way.
If he has elite status, what is the compensation when your watch gets walked?
A free hot breakfast sandwich!
So we're victim blaming now?
Oh come on, you can question the actions of someone without blaming them.
If someone drinks and drives and gets himself killed in an accident, are we also victim blaming by questioning his actions?
Seriously Ben? You're better than this
You must be new here. Welcome!
come for the travel advice, stay for the salacious gossip. ;)