Security is the protection of a person, organization or property from attack. The kind of protection, the entities involved and the types of attacks are infinitely ranging but share one commonality: preservation. [Excerpt]
Hotel room theft is committed by opportunists, other guests and even the staff. Incident statistics are underestimated because they are rarely reported to the police and hotels prefer to keep such info discreet, meaning it happens more than most people think.
The following are improvised security measures you can implement in your own hotel room using materials and devices you’ll most likely already have on your person as well present in the room itself:
+ Before leaving your room, turn on the shower to warm and spread a good amount of shampoo on the shower floor. Leave the bathroom door half open to let the steam flow. The distinct sound and aroma makes it seem like someone is taking a shower.
+ Keep the TV or music playing loud enough to be heard through your door and to the hallway.
+ If you’re leaving your room but will still be in the hotel, call your room phone and leave the line open. Listening on your mobile phone for an intruder. Bluetooth earbuds perhaps.
+ Using pillows and other available objects, make the bed seem like someone is sleeping in it.
+ Using your phone or other device, make a 30 second recording of yourself having a fake phone conversation. Then have it play on repeat in the bathroom with the door slightly open.
+ Put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob.
+ Stick a fake note on the door that says something like “Hey baby, I have the key but I’ll be back in 2 minutes, wait for me, just went downstairs”.
+ Prop your phone, tablet or laptop with the screen angled at eye level in a central or unmissable area of your room. Have the camera on, Skype / Facechat active or an auto recording app in a way that the subject sees themselves “on camera” on a monitor.
+ If your room has guest slippers / flip flops, place a pair outside with the toes pointing at the door – positioned as if you entered the room like that.
Using a combo of these 9 preventative measures may prove effective but no security is fail-proof.
These methods are intended to deter subjects from their intent when they’re at your door or after they’ve accessed your room when you’re not present.
Never leave the “Please Make Up Room” sign on the doorknob as this broadcasts an unoccupied room.
For a more prepared security measure, carry a cheap and small motion sensor alarm that sets up easily.
[The photo was taken at an insecure container hotel room at the Cambodia / Thailand border.]
