Category Archives: Crime

May 16, 2013 · 5:50 am

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Thirty Arizona Hotels Burglarized By “Electronic Door Hackers” Using Portable Programming Devices; TV’s, Laptops And Credit Cards Stolen

“…Surveillance video showed the suspects, both white males in their 20s, entering the hotel and then leaving with the victim’s suitcases… some Onity Electronic Lock30 local hotels — probably more — have been targeted by hotel hackers. Investigators believe there are more suspects than those caught on surveillance video…hotel hacking is not just a local problem. Because the technology used to open the electronic locks is so easy to obtain and use, hotel hacking is growing issue nationwide…”

A man and a woman have been burglarizing hotel and motel rooms in the Easy Valley and now Silent Witness is offering a reward for information about them. According to Silent Witness, the pair, dubbed “Hotel Hackers,” used portable programming devices to get into the rooms at various locations in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and possibly Avondale. It’s not clear how many locations the pair has hit, but Silent Witness said the crime spree started on Feb. 25.

The suspects have stolen TVs, bedding, laptop computers and guests’ personal belongings, including credit cards.

Silent Witness released surveillance video (above) and photos of the pair, both of which were taken at a Walmart store where the suspects used a stolen credit card.

For more: http://www.azfamily.com/news/Hotel-Hackers-behind-burglaries-at-hotels-motels-in-East-Valley-207552391.html

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May 13, 2013 · 6:31 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant Settles “Excessive Alcohol Lawsuit” For $8.9 Million; Staff To Complete “Responsible Alcohol Management Training” And Establish “Designated Driver Program”

“…(the drunk driver) consumed at least six liters of beer and several  shots of liquor over a period of about 41/2 hours…(he) vomited on a table and was  escorted out of the bar by security. He was allowed to leave, walked to his car  and crashed a short time later…his Hospitality Industry Excessive Alcohol Lawsuitsblood-alcohol level an hour after the crash was 0.219, more than twice  the legal limit…”

  • The restaurant’s staff, including managers, servers, bartenders and security, to be certified  in Responsible Alcohol Management training through an approved Pennsylvania  Liquor Control Board trainer.
  • Responsibility for identifying intoxicated guests will be included in job  descriptions for security personnel. In addition, the restaurant will establish  guidelines for responsible alcohol service and disseminate those to  employees.
  • It will use a new point-of-sales system to provide individual checks so they  know how much alcohol each customer is getting.
  • It also will provide water to  guests to slow alcohol consumption; will establish a designated driver program  providing complimentary non-alcohol beverages and will provide free light food  for guests who appear to be intoxicated.

The family of a 7-year-old girl who was killed by a drunken driver in 2010  after he left the Hofbrauhaus restaurant on the South Side on Tuesday reached a  $15.6 million settlement with the company. In addition to the financial payout, the German-style facility has agreed to  a number of changes in its protocol to try to reduce customer intoxication and  drunken driving.

Lexa Cleland, who was asleep in the back seat as her mother drove to pick up  her husband, Mark, from work the night of Dec. 4, 2010, was killed instantly  when her mother’s Toyota Camry was struck by a Ford Mustang driven by Travis  Isiminger on East Carson Street on the South Side.

The settlement breakdown pays $8.9 million to Nicole Cleland; $500,000 to  Mark Cleland; $2.1 million to the estate of Lexa Cleland; and just over $4  million to their attorneys, Goodrich & Associates, for costs and fees.

The lawsuit was filed against Hofbrauhaus and Isiminger, whose insurance will  be responsible for paying $100,000 of the settlement.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/owners-of-south-sides-hofbrauhaus-settle-in-girls-death-for-156-million-686644/#ixzz2TBFxrkyx

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May 1, 2013 · 6:33 am

Hospitality Industry Privacy Risks: Texas Hotel Employee Arrested For “Attempted Improper Photography And Visual Recording”; Cell Phone Placed In Ceiling Above Guest Room Shower

“…Police say a guest reported hearing an alarm-type sound coming from the bathroom area of her hotel room while she was in the shower…she hotel room privacyfound a small pinhole with a camera lens behind it in the ceiling. After moving the tiles, she discovered the cell phone…Hotel security removed the camera from the ceiling and noted that it was powered on…The room’s electric lock showed that (the defendant) had entered the room the day prior with the key assigned to him….”

A housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency hotel located at 208 Barton Springs is charged with misdemeanor attempted improper photography and visual recording. Blue Moo Too, 30, is charged after his cell phone was found hidden in a ceiling tile above the shower of one of the hotel rooms.

Video on the phone showed a man placing it in the bathroom ceiling and wiping away his footprints from the bathtub. The hotel’s executive housekeeper identified the man as her employee, Too, a housekeeper at the hotel.

Too was booked into Travis County Jail on April 12 with a $25,000 bail. He has since bonded out. Police say they didn’t find evidence of any other victims on his cell phone. His computer is still being looked at. At this time, the former housekeeper is facing up to one year in jail and a fine of no more than $4,000.

For more: http://www.kvue.com/news/Hyatt-hotel-worker-charged-with-improper-photography-203045331.html

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April 26, 2013 · 6:13 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Las Vegas Hotel Guest Rooms Burglarized By Thieves “Walking Down Hallways And Door Pushing”; Victims Held In Bathroom While Personal Items Stolen

“…Thieves can walk down a hallway and just by slightly pushing on a door can determine those rooms that are left unsecured… But Hotel Burglariesjust days after the couple’s stuff was stolen from the Luxor, police arrested two men for a similar crime at Excalibur…This time police paperwork indicated the thieves held the victims in the bathroom and stole their stuff. Hueslkamp think it’s tied to his case and said the hotel should be responsible for what’s stolen…”

Some Las Vegas tourists expect to lose thousands gambling inside the casino, but if they’re not careful they could also get ripped off inside their hotel room. Huelskamp, an Ohio tourist, told Action News his story via Skype. He said that he and his fiance were staying at the Luxor and while they were sleeping a thief walked right into their room. It’s crime police call “door pushing” and it can happen at any hotel.

The couple took a photo of the door they thought closed behind them. There is no dead bolt and after a long road-trip to Las Vegas they went to bed thinking they were safe. “We went to bed, we know at 1:26 a.m. because we watched a movie on the iPad that was later stolen,” Huelskamp said. “It was no further than six inches away from my beautiful wife’s head.”
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Police don’t know how often door pushing happens because they get hundreds of reports of burglaries every day. After this happened and even in travels today I am still a little weary about staying in a hotel no matter where we are,” he said.
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The Luxor sent Action News a statement that reads “We are sorry for the Hueslkamp’s unfortunate experience. Our resorts have extensive security and surveillance systems in place but there is no substitute for being alert. Even on vacation, guests should always remain aware of their surroundings and ensure their hotel room doors are securely closed and locked at all times.”
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April 22, 2013 · 6:04 am

Hospitality Industry Security Solutions: Hotels In Metropolitan Areas Should “Create Actual Security” With “Layers Of Properly Trained Personnel”; A Need For Sophisticated Security Cameras For Thermal And Infrared Viewing

“…what (hoteliers) want to create is actual security and depth—layers of properly trained personnel to meet the risks that are known for the venue you’re in…if you’re in Times Square, covert effort is more appropriate…vulnerability audits help find ‘weakness in the system that can be hotel securityexploited or lapse during a crisis’…the audit shows some oft-forgotten measures, such as making sure the hotel’s website can handle a thousand times the traffic without crashing or that associates know appropriate protocols….every employee is a crisis manager and a (public relations representative) for the organization…’if you don’t teach them what they should and shouldn’t do, they’ll wing it’, and that can be dangerous to a hotel’s reputation…”

“…(sophisticated security equipment such as) thermal and infrared viewing for nighttime and low-visibility conditions, license plate readers, car counters, people counters, cameras with analytics that follow subjects automatically and alert critical areas of operation…”

While hotels can be safe havens for guests, they can be the target of attacks as well. Anthony C. Roman, president of risk-management firm Roman & Associates, said the hotel industry has suffered in the last decade. Hard economic times globally have caused hotels to cut back on security budgets. As more hotels are taking the appropriate preventive security measures, other hotel brands have not addressed the issue at all. “And yet other brands are subcontracting their security requirements to private security companies,” he said.

The constant flow of large numbers of people in and out of hotels during daily business hours makes them vulnerable for attacks, according to global intelligence agency Stratfor. “There’s certainly fear,” Haley explained. “There are few targets that offer the potential awards for motivated terrorists that hotels do.” Those rewards are a large target with potentially massive body counts and global exposure. The problem with hotels, he added, is “they’re open and inviting places.”

For more:  http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles.aspx/10326/Terrorism-risks-heighten-hotelier-awareness

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April 20, 2013 · 5:50 am

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Hotels And Resorts Are “Vulnerable To Security Threats” And Crime As Staff Is Trained To Maximize Guest Experience

“…Because of the nature of their business, implementing TSA-style security measures at hotels would not be a good idea, Todd Seiders says. “They would have to limit the entry into their buildings, search bags, confirm you have business there and inconvenience everyone. The general department of homeland_securitypublic will not stand for that (look at the continuing uproar about the TSA at airports).”…Complicating the issue is the fact that hotel staff members are, by and large, trained to please potential guests, which can render them vulnerable to security threats…”

Todd Seiders, director of risk management at Petra Risk Solutions and former director of loss prevention at Marriott, discussed how hotels and public events can work to increase traveler safety in the future.

“The Boston Marathon bombing is just another example of how hard it is to secure public places and events,” Seiders says. “According to the news, bomb dogs had swept the finish line area 1 hour prior to the start of the marathon. So obviously police did everything they could to secure the area, and the bombs were brought in during the event.”

“There is a constant clash between hotel security experts and seasoned hotel management people, whose pay and bonuses depend on guest satisfaction surveys and comments,” Seiders continues. “Hotel security experts need to find more guest friendly ways to provide security, and hotel managers need to take security more seriously. A large number of hotels do not have a dedicated security staff, so security falls on the guest service staff, and guest service staff is trained never to say no or to offend or interfere with the guest experience.”

Seiders recommends hotels install HD cameras to monitor open public spaces, exits and entrances, both to deter crime and to aid investigation should one occur. Staff should be trained to pick up and investigate unattended bags or luggage, and hotels should work closely with their local police of sheriff department, along with Homeland Security, to discuss security and terrorism.

For more:  http://www.travelagentcentral.com/trends-research/trend-watch-suspects-boston-bombings-surface-whats-next-travel-security-40155

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April 18, 2013 · 7:11 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: Illinois Restaurant Employees Plead Guilty To “Skimming Credit Card Information Of Paying Customers”; Over $200,000 In Fraudulent Purchases Made By Ring Leaders

“…(the ring leader) organized the scheme by paying the defendants, who were employees at the various establishments, to skim credit card information of paying customers using a small credit card reader provided to them by Woods and Washington. The employees swiped identity theftapproximately 175 cards through the readers, enabling Woods to reproduce counterfeit credit cards and allowing Woods, Washington and Alex Houston to rack up thousands of dollars in charges…”

Sentences were handed down against seven defendants who illegally obtained personal banking information from patrons visiting Chicago area restaurants and attractions, including Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile’s RL Restaurant, according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Defendants Joseph Woods, Britain E. Woods, Alex Houston, Jenette Farrar, Essence S. Houston, Kenyetta Davis and William Washington pled guilty and were sentenced for “skimming” personal banking information, which was used to make purchases of more than $200,000. The banking and credit card account information was stolen from customers who patronized Chicago area establishments, including Wrigley Field, RL Restaurant, a Chicago Taco Bell location and a McDonald’s restaurant in Berwyn.

Madigan said financial institutions with accounts that were compromised in the scheme include Chase, U.S. Bank, Citibank, Harris Bank, American Express, Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank. The banks assisted in the investigation and notified victims to secure their personal information.

Madigan said identity theft is a significant threat to Illinois consumers. Last year, more than 2,500 identity theft complaints were filed with her office’s Consumer Fraud Bureau. Consumers reported incidents of fraudulent charges on their existing accounts, thieves opening new accounts in their names (including credit card, utility and cell phone accounts) and instances of bank fraud, such as stolen checks or fraudulent withdrawals made to a victim’s bank account.

For more:  http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/2013/04/18/227236.htm

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April 12, 2013 · 6:38 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: East Coast Hotels Victimized By Man Who “Skipped Out On Hotel Bills” While Posing As Corporate Employee; $60,000 For A Presidential Suite

“…housekeepers found paperwork in the room belonging to (defendant)…a Residence Inn employee told police she received a call from Hotel Theft By DeceptionSerra in which he stated he would pay the bill if the Residence Inn would sign a waiver promising not to charge him with any crime. No agreement was made…Police then were notified the Residence Inn received an email from someone claiming to be a Raytheon employee, stating Serra would be staying there for 15 nights. The email address was identical to the one used in Serra’s February stay, police said…”

A Lowell man is accused of skipping out on bills in upscale hotels in seven states, running up charges while posing as an employee of major corporations.

In one case, prosecutors allege that in March, Michael Serra ran up a $60,000 bill for a stay in the presidential suite at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston under the name Dennis Colling. Serra allegedly said he worked for Citigroup, but does not.

When confronted by Tewksbury police and a U.S. Secret Service agent, Serra allegedly confessed to committing crimes up and down the East Coast for two to three years. The Residence Inn at 1775 Andover St., Tewksbury, reported that a person named Carter Whitmore, who represented himself as a Raytheon employee, skipped out on a $6,349 bill in February. Court documents state that Raytheon refused to pay for the room because it had no employee by that name.

For more:  http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_23010643/city-man-held-hotel-fraud

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April 7, 2013 · 6:51 am

Hospitality Industry Payment Security: More Restaurants And Hotels Are Using “Mobile Credit Card Readers” To Increase Efficiency; FTC Report Cites Financial Information Security Issues

Mobile Payment Report FTC-page-001

The report encourages industry-wide adoption of strong measures to ensure security throughout the mobile payment process. The report addresses ways sensitive financial information can be kept secure during the mobile payment process, such as through end-to-end encryption. The possibilities for encryption listed in the report cover everything from the authentication of data during the transaction to the secure storage of information on a mobile device. Click on “Mobile” to read report.

“The Smelly Cat Coffee Shop in Charlotte is one of the nation’s top users of the Square card reader. The business uses the device for all of its credit card transactions…(the restaurant) says customers’ card info is safe because the program doesn’t allow cashiers to see customers’ information when they swipe…”

Mobile credit card readers like the Square and Intuit devices are growing in popularity around the country. The devices offer merchants the ability to accept credit card payments anywhere and are often less expensive than traditional card swiping technology.

But the Federal Trade Commission and consumer watchdog groups are urging consumers to be vigilant about protecting their financial information when using the devices. The FTC recently released a report on the growing popularity of mobile payment devices. The report did not name any specific threats that come from using mobile card devices.  The agency is urging consumers, as well as merchants, to make sure that financial data is protected in each transaction.

The Better Business Bureau said consumers should make sure they trust the merchants they allow to swipe their debit and credit cards using the devices. It is buyer beware. According to Janet Hart of the BBB, people should be careful how, when, and where they use their credit card; because, there is the chance data could be misused.

Staff at the shop said they have not had any negative reactions from customers using the device at the store.

“It’s a similar security that you would find on a receipt, on a printed receipt, that a waiter or waitress would be exposed to in a restaurant,” said Burleson. However, advocates said consumers should use the same caution when using the mobile readers that they would use when ordinarily swiping their credit cards.

For more:  http://centralny.ynn.com/content/top_stories/654110/mobile-card-readers-spike-in-popularity–groups-urge-concern-over-possible-id-theft/

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April 4, 2013 · 5:49 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Washington Hotel Manager And Staff Assist In Arrest Of “Identity Theft Ring”; Forged ID Cards, Computers And Printers Discovered In Room

“…the hotel manager called the police to report suspicious men who had booked a room. As he was talking to officers, the identity theftsuspects ran out a back door of the hotel and left in a vehicle…the manager called back to report that his staff found “suspicious computer equipment” and documents strewn about a room they had been scheduled to clean. Detectives served a search warrant on the room…three suspects returned to the hotel that night to get the items they left in the room and were arrested…”

Mukilteo police arrested three men on Thursday in connection with an identity-theft ring after hotel cleaning staff found a room full of forged IDs and the equipment to manufacture them. The room at the hotel in the 8500 block of the Mukilteo Speedway was filled with computers, printers, mail and paperwork that didn’t belong to anyone registered for the room, said Cheol Kang, spokesperson for the Mukilteo Police Department.

A search warrant also recovered numerous ID cards with different names but the same photo of one of the men, as well as a printer with pages of blank check paper.

A 32-year-old from Lake Stevens, a 31-year-old from Renton and a 28-year-old from Everett were booked into Snohomish County Jail for investigation of financial fraud and forgery. Kang said the three men were already under investigation by other law-enforcement agencies for identity theft, fraud and other financial crimes.

For more:  http://mukilteobeacon.villagesoup.com/p/identity-theft-ring-busted/983738

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