Security while staying in hotel

[Farhan Ansari]

Security while staying in hotel

THERE has always been an implied understanding that the traveller stops at the ‘inn’ not only for the comfort of a bed, a roof overhead, and a meal on the table but also for the safe haven provided by the lodging. Guests automatically assume that security is high on a hotel’s list of priorities, but unfortunately the opposite is often true.

There are many examples where people while staying in a hotel or motel became victim to criminals. Women when staying in a hotel alone also some time fall prey to rapists. Back in 1974, in America the famous singer, Connie Francis, sued the motel chain that she was sexually assaulted in her motel room by an intruder, alleging that the assault upon her was the result of inadequate security at the motel.

In March 2007 laptops of the top management of PIA were stolen from the hotel in Brussels when they had gone there for a meeting with the European Union. The laptop of the PIA chairman was stolen from his hotel room, while his colleagues’ laptops were stolen at the time of check-in in the hotel. The thieves also stole one of the files that the PIA chief had taken with him to Brussels and even tore up his briefcase in search of certain documents (March 9, 2007).

Similarly, in March 2007, the mysterious death of Pakistan’s cricket team coach, Bob Woolmer, took place in a hotel room during his stay with the Pakistani cricket team in Jamaica.

When travelling on business or pleasure trips, it may become necessary to stay overnight in a hotel. It is important to consider security aspect while staying in a hotel. There are two types of threats to guests in a hotel, that is a hotel room burglary and a hotel room invasion robbery. Hotel burglars work mostly during the day and when a room is more likely to be unoccupied.

Most burglars work alone and tend to probe a hotel looking for the right room and the right opportunity. Good access control systems and alert hotel staff can often deter burglars. Burglars don’t want to be confronted and will usually flee when noticed, but if cornered they can use force to escape.

Hotel room invasion robbers, in contrast, work more often at night when rooms are more likely to be occupied and fewer members of staff are on duty. Hotel room invaders enter the room with an overwhelming physical force to take control and instil fear in the occupants of the room.

Guest room robbers sometimes use a ruse or impersonation to pretend to be a room service, housekeeping or security staff. They also some time select a victim in the hotel lobby and ride up in the elevator with him or her and get off on the same floor and pretend walking behind as if going to their room. But when their victim opens the door, the robber then forces his way in behind him/her and takes control of his victim. Here are a few security tips:

— Always ask the hotel reception to give you the room possibly on second through seventh floor because the first floor is too easily accessible by potential intruders and the higher floors cannot be reached by fire ladders.

— Do not accept a room with a door connected to another room.

— After check - in, ask the reception to provide an employee to escort you to your room.

— Upon entering the room with your escort, check possible hiding places, including door and window locks. Keep the door locked when you are in the room.

— Deposit your cash and valuables in the hotel safe.

— Encrypt all confidential information on your laptop and lock it in your room’s safe.

— Never allow hotel employees in your room without first checking their identity from the front desk

— Alert front desk staff if you sense some danger.

Once you know how hotel robbers work, you can effectively prevent most occurrences.