Category Archives: Crime

by | April 2, 2012 · 7:48 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: "End Child Prostitution And Trafficking (ECPAT)" Seeks Hotels' Assistance In Fighting Internet Prostitution

End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) has been trying to enlist the help of hotels in fighting prostitution by agreeing to:

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM

THE SIX CRITERIA

Suppliers of tourism services adopting the code commit themselves to implement the following six criteria:
1. To establish an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children.
2. To train the personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations.
3. To introduce a clause in contracts with suppliers, stating a common repudiation of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
4. To provide information to travellers by means of catalogues, brochures, in-flight films, ticket-slips, home pages, etc.
5. To provide information to local “key persons” at the destinations.
6. To report annually.

http://www.ecpat.net/ei/Programmes_CST.asp

Human trafficking is the second-largest organized crime in the world. The U.N. estimates more than one million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited each year in the multibillion dollar sex industry.

The ease with which traffickers can use the Internet to sell sex has changed the way the sex trade operates. Instead of working the streets, women and girls are increasingly being sold in hotels.

But ECPAT executive director Carol Smolinsky says many hotels have balked at some of the policies the organization asks them to follow.  “When a company signs the code of conduct it has to have a policy against sexual exploitation of children,” Smolinsky says. “Over these years it’s been frankly shocking to me that even the step of having a policy against sexual exploitation has been troubling shall we say for them.”
One of the requirements of the code is that hotels inform their customers of that policy.  “One problem we’re having in our industry is some of the things they’re asking the hotels to do,” says Joe Mcinerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. “Putting notices in the rooms… they feel that might be an intrusion into customers thinking that maybe there is a problem at that hotel.”

For more:  http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Nun-Helps-Lead-Fight-Against-Hotel-Prostitution-145761575.html

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by | · 7:48 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: "End Child Prostitution And Trafficking (ECPAT)" Seeks Hotels' Assistance In Fighting Internet Prostitution

End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) has been trying to enlist the help of hotels in fighting prostitution by agreeing to:

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM

THE SIX CRITERIA

Suppliers of tourism services adopting the code commit themselves to implement the following six criteria:
1. To establish an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children.
2. To train the personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations.
3. To introduce a clause in contracts with suppliers, stating a common repudiation of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
4. To provide information to travellers by means of catalogues, brochures, in-flight films, ticket-slips, home pages, etc.
5. To provide information to local “key persons” at the destinations.
6. To report annually.

http://www.ecpat.net/ei/Programmes_CST.asp

Human trafficking is the second-largest organized crime in the world. The U.N. estimates more than one million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited each year in the multibillion dollar sex industry.

The ease with which traffickers can use the Internet to sell sex has changed the way the sex trade operates. Instead of working the streets, women and girls are increasingly being sold in hotels.

But ECPAT executive director Carol Smolinsky says many hotels have balked at some of the policies the organization asks them to follow.  “When a company signs the code of conduct it has to have a policy against sexual exploitation of children,” Smolinsky says. “Over these years it’s been frankly shocking to me that even the step of having a policy against sexual exploitation has been troubling shall we say for them.”
One of the requirements of the code is that hotels inform their customers of that policy.  “One problem we’re having in our industry is some of the things they’re asking the hotels to do,” says Joe Mcinerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. “Putting notices in the rooms… they feel that might be an intrusion into customers thinking that maybe there is a problem at that hotel.”

For more:  http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Nun-Helps-Lead-Fight-Against-Hotel-Prostitution-145761575.html

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by | March 28, 2012 · 1:11 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: Alabama Hotel Clerk, With Prior Arrest Record, Arrested For Stealing Guest Credit Card Informatiom

Rains says Niles got the guests information from the hotels computer database and used it for more than just their rooms.

A Mobile hotel clerk is behind bars. The Mobile Police Department says he was doing more than checking guests in, he was using their credit card information.

“While working as a front desk clerk at a local hotel he actually stole credit card information from one victim who had previously stayed at the hotel,” said Rains.

“He used this information to book hotels for him and his friends and we were actually able to catch him,” said Rains.

This wasn’t Niles first time. He has been arrested several times for charges like identity theft and possession of a forged instrument.

“He was on probation for the same crimes when he committed these,” said Rains.

Police say Niles charged a significant amount of money. Thankfully the victim was monitoring the transactions.

“As a safeguard just to make sure that your credit cards aren’t being used fraudulently the best thing you can do is check your accounts and alert your credit card provider if you’d see anything fraudulent,” said Rains.

For more:  http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/mpd-hotel-clerk-using-guest-credit-card

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by | March 22, 2012 · 11:57 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: International Jewelry Theft Ring Targeted "Jewelry Sales Representatives And Couriers" After Returning To Their Hotel Rooms

“…an international criminal organization that committed 17 robberies, primarily by attacking sales representatives and couriers after they had returned to their homes or hotel rooms. He said the group used prolonged, sophisticated surveillance methods to identify vulnerable salesmen, who were targeted throughout Virginia as well as in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, California and Tennessee over the past two years. Sometimes the robbed salesmen would be followed for hundreds of miles and across state lines.  

Seven people have been charged with operating a jewelry-theft ring based in Richmond, Va. that authorities say stole more than $4.6 million in merchandise from traveling salesmen in Virginia and several other states.

“This is a group that allegedly did their homework,” MacBride said in a conference call with reporters.

Court documents say the group of Colombians has ties to South American theft groups, which federal authorities say are transnational criminal groups that work in teams to steal jewelry, gems and precious metals from those who carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise at one time.

Prosecutors say that after a successful robbery, members of the ring would travel to New York to sell the merchandise to “fences” who would either resell it or melt it down for later use. MacBride said the group didn’t target any one particular type of jewelry, saying it included gold and gems, among other things.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/21/4356163/7-arrested-in-multi-state-jewelry.html#storylink=cpy

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by | March 21, 2012 · 11:52 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: Hotel Liability For Theft Of Guest's Property Is Limited By Statute In All States; Providing Digital Room Safes Can Limit Total Losses

Under common law, an innkeeper or hotelier was liable for loss or damage to guest’s property for the full value, unless the loss was caused by an act of nature (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), civil unrest, or the fault of the guest…each state has modified the common law by enacting statutes that limit the hotel’s liability… ordinarily limited to a specific figure, anywhere from $250 to $5,000.

Hotels typically post conspicuous notices indicating that valuables worth more than a certain amount (e.g., $250 or $500) must be deposited in the hotel safe in order to be covered for any loss. (Room safes are generally recommended only if they contain digital keypads, and the guest assumes all responsibility for getting into the safe and keeping the combination confidential.)

Two states have been randomly selected to provide examples of these statutes:

  • The Rhode Island statute states that if the hotel provides a safe for depositing money, jewelry, watches, and the like, and notifies guests by posting a conspicuous notice to that effect, and guests fail to deposit their valuables in the safe, the hotel is not liable for any loss to the valuables. It goes on to add that the hotel is not obligated to accept property for safekeeping that exceeds $500 in value. If a guest deposits property with a value exceeding $500 in the safe, the hotel is not responsible for loss to this property for more than $500, unless there is a special written agreement with the hotel for a greater amount.
  • The New Mexico statute states that the hotel is liable to its guests for loss of their property that is caused by the theft or negligence of the hotel or its staff, up to a limit of $1,000. However, if the hotel provides a suitable safe for safekeeping of money, jewelry, or other valuables, and notifies guests by posting a printed notice in hotel rooms, and guests fail to deposit their valuables in the safe, the hotel will not be liable.

For more:  http://www.adjustersinternational.com/insights_1002EA.cfm

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by | March 20, 2012 · 11:47 am

Hospitality Industry Information Risks: "Specialized Cyber-Risk Insurance" Is Important In Providing "Security Liability" And "Privacy Liability" Coverage

A specialized cyber-risk insurance policy is necessary. Coverage would not usually be triggered under a commercial general liability policy–many of which also have exclusions. Importantly, property-damage policies typically do not acknowledge “data” as property.

“Cyber liability” is essentially comprised of two defined risks:

  • Security Liability: the unauthorized access and/or use of a network. Employees or others with access to the network can misappropriate identity information, business secrets, transmit malicious codes, and undertake a denial of service attack against your network or other networks.
  • Privacy Liability: the breach of personal data protection laws that allow individuals to control the collection, access, transmission, use, and accuracy of their personal information.

The available policy coverage options start with General Internet Crime Liability. This addresses the first and third party risks associated with e-business, the Internet, networks and informational assets.

However, it is critical to review your business activities to ensure appropriate coverage. To this needs to be added appropriate Property, Directors and Officers, Business Interruption and Fidelity wordings. For those businesses offering software and services susceptible to outage or malfunction associated with a cyber-attack, Electronic Errors and Omissions coverage should also be obtained.

For more:  http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252126/can_insurance_cover_cybercrime_damages_at_your_business.html

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by | March 14, 2012 · 2:41 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: California Hotel Security Guard Charged With "Grand Theft And Burglary"; Accessed Online System To Steal Guest's Valuables

“…In his part-time security job for the hotel, Quinton was entrusted with access to an online lost and found system, which he is suspected of looting…”

“…In addition….(he) covered surveillance cameras in the hotel security office and stole $680 in cash from an office safe…”

A Los Angeles Police Department officer moonlighting as a security guard at Laguna Beach’s Surf & Sand Resort is to be charged with grand theft and burglary, the district attorney’s office said on Tuesday. Laguna Beach police, who had set up surveillance cameras within the hotel after its staff reported irregularities that began in October, arrested Quinton on Jan. 24, Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

When police arrested Quinton on Jan. 24, he had disappeared for over an hour during his shift, including from surveillance cameras police were monitoring in a spare hotel room, stealing $290 in bedding from a locked hotel storage room, and storing the items in his car. Detectives who went to Quinton’s home after the arrest seized more property, Kravetz said.

Hotel staff aided the investigation with monitoring cameras while detectives observed the employee from a hotel room. “We wanted to make sure we had a really solid case,” said Kravetz, who pointed out that most Orange County law enforcement agencies prohibit sworn officers from moonlighting in security posts or jobs involving alcohol. In Los Angeles County, officers have a long history of moonlighting as security for celebrities, he pointed out.

In October, Quinton allegedly stole cash that had been recovered from a room and secured in the hotel’s lost and found by accessing the online system and changing the cash entry into a “gold watch.” He is suspected of changing the room number where the $2,000 in cash had been found and falsely logging that the watch was returned to its owner, stealing $960 from the safe, Kim’s statement said.

For more:  http://www.lagunabeachindependent.com/2012/03/13/moonlighting-cop-charged-hotel/

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by | March 9, 2012 · 7:15 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: California Hotel Owner Charged With "Insurance Fraud" Over False Workers' Compensation Records

“…accusations that he dissuaded an employee from seeking workers’ compensation after a work injury and making false claims. The charges against him include two counts of insurance fraud, failure to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and passing bad checks…”

“…accused of paying approximately $890,000 less than he should have over a four-year period,,,”

The trial date for the owner of the troubled Brookdale Inn & Spa has been postponed because the District Attorney’s Office has filed more charges. Sanjiv Kakkar originally was scheduled to begin trial March 12 on accusations that he dissuaded an employee from seeking workers’ compensation after a work injury and making false claims. The charges against him include two counts of insurance fraud, failure to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and passing bad checks, according to Kelly Walker, a prosecutor with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

Walker has just filed new insurance fraud charges against Kakkar and his wife, Neelam Kakkar, pertaining to insurance premiums. Kakkar is accused of providing false wage information to insurance companies to obtain lower premiums. In other words, he “grossly understated” the amount of payroll he was paying to his employees. He stands accused of paying approximately $890,000 less than he should have over a four-year period, according to Walker.

For more:  http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20133381/das-office-files-more-insurance-fraud-charges-against

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by | March 6, 2012 · 1:22 am

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: New York Hotel Suffers Thousands Of Dollars In Damage From Group At Guest Room Party; Surveillance Video Critical To Finding Vandals

 “…a group at a party in a room at the Towne Plaza Suites on Holland Avenue is suspected of ripping off wall lights, breaking ceiling tiles and ceiling lights, discharging fire extinguishers and spraying a can of Mace in the third floor hallway…”

Vandals caused several thousand dollars worth of damage to an Albany hotel early Sunday morning. Mace got into the hotel’s ventilation system so the second and third floors had to be evacuated and ventilated, police said in a news release.

Hotel staff members believe the vandals are associated with an Albany man who rented a third fl oor room at the hotel. Police received a call from hotel staff about the incident at 1:15 a.m. Sunday, but when they arrived at the hotel all of the partygoers had already left through the back door.

Surveillance video will be examined to see if any of the vandals can be identified.

For more:  http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2012/mar/05/0305_vanals/

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by | March 5, 2012 · 8:43 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Hotel Sued For $75,000 By Woman Claiming Bartender Drugged And Sexually Assaulted Her

“…The bartender got a key to the woman’s room from the front desk staff and sexually assaulted her as she was passed out in the room, according to the lawsuit…”

“…The suit names the hotel as the defendant, claiming the staff was negligent in allowing the bartender access to the woman’s room. The suit seeks payment in excess of $75,000 plus the cost of court fees…”

A Virginia woman filed a lawsuit against a Lisle hotel claiming a bartender drugged her drink and later sneaked into her room with the help of a front desk clerk and sexually assaulted her.

The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court Wednesday, claims a 31-year-old bartender slipped a date-rape drug into the woman’s drink while she was at the Lisle-Naperville Hilton on Oct. 27. The woman began to feel ill at around 1:30 or 2 p.m. and went up to her room before her food had arrived at the hotel bar, said her attorney Jeffrey Deutschman.

For more:  http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120229/news/702299617/

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