Tag Archives: Theft

by | February 7, 2011 · 7:29 pm

Hotel Industry Security Risks: Importance Of Security Cameras And Securely-Locked Doors Seen In Robbery And Assault Of Louisiana Hotel Guests

It’s believed the two men by-passed the front desk and slipped into the hotel through the back door as someone else was leaving. Security cameras show they went directly to the elevator and proceeded to the 6th floor.

The Sleep Inn Hotel in Kenner is where police say three guests were terrorized inside their 6th floor hotel room. Security cameras are posted in all public areas of the hotel.

That’s how detectives obtained pictures of the men they say robbed the victims at gunpoint and took off. “We know there was some property taken but we don’t have a whole lot of information about that right now,” says McInnis.

WGNO Reporter, Darian Trotter says, “The fact that there were other guests on the 6th floor, but no other robberies reported, leads investigators to believe the victims may have been targeted.”

Lt. McInnis says he showed the victims pictures from security cameras. “They said these are the two individuals who burst into the room carrying firearms and robbed us,” McInnis says. He says the victims had never seen the gunmen before, and therefore did not know their names or any information that might help police identify them.

For more:  http://www.neworleans.com/news/local-news/559140.html

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by | January 10, 2011 · 10:17 am

Hotel Industry Theft Risks: Hotel Management Must Make Valet Parking Areas Secure From Thieves Who Hide In Vehicles

Police said a casino surveillance video shows a man handing his Hummer over to the valet. The valet parked the Hummer in the casino’s secured lot without knowing there were three men hiding inside the vehicle. The men had access to all the cars parked in the lot, police said.

 Three Cadillac Escalades were stolen from a secured valet parking lot Saturday at Detroit’s MGM Casino Hotel, police said. The video shows the men stealing the Escalades.

When hotel customers asked the valet employees to retrieve their vehicles, the drivers were puzzled to find that the Escalades had disappeared from the parking lot. It may sound like a clever crime, but this same type of theft was acted out in an episode of the TV show “Las Vegas.” The episode was re-run last week. The men could have been copying the fictional thieves.

For more:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/26439694/detail.html#

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by | December 6, 2010 · 7:15 am

Hospitality Industry Credit Card Risks: Hotel Owners And Management Must Store “Credit Card And Guest Receipts” In Secure Locations To Prevent Identity Theft

“… (the defendents) found boxes of monthly credit card receipts from previous hotel guests. Box by box, they and others lifted them from the hotel, officials allege…”

The receipts, officials say, helped the men manufacture counterfeit credit cards in document “boiler rooms” and card “chop shops,” which they then used to buy $300,000 worth of merchandise in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

The merchandise, which included tow trailers, televisions, all-terrain vehicles and tires, then was resold or pawned.

The hotel didn’t learn of the thefts until August 2008, and since then, federal investigators have learned at least 17,000 receipts were stolen in what they say is San Antonio’s largest identity theft case.

Details had remained sketchy until the ringleader, Ruben “Hollywood” Costello, 36, recently pleaded guilty to ID theft fraud conspiracy, access device fraud, and conspiracy to launder money, and documents in the case were unsealed.

They identify Jones, 34, as his partner in the crimes and name him and Flaharty, 31, as two people who helped take the records from the Emily Morgan.

They also reveal Costello used a network of associates, methamphetamine addicts and others to maintain the scheme, and used an Elmendorf trucking company he ran, RD&N Hauling, to launder the money.

The cardholders never realized their credit card accounts had been compromised until months, even years, after they stayed at the hotel. But the damage made it hard for some of them to get loans and left lingering headaches in trying to straight things out, officials said.“When you look at these types of crimes, you may think the victim is the vendor or the credit card companies,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom McHugh said. “What we see is that the person whose identity is stolen, his problems may go on for years.”

For more:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Ringleader-pleads-in-S-A-s-largest-ID-theft-case-859510.php

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by | November 6, 2010 · 8:46 am

Hospitality Industry Crime: Hotel Lobby ATM Machines Can Be “Retrofitted” By Criminals With Card Readers And Cameras To Steal Guest ATM Card Information

“…criminals retrofit ATMs with a card reader that stores the magnetic information of customer cards. They then put that data onto a blank card to make transactions — or cash withdrawals. For withdrawals, they also install a small camera to capture the customer typing in the PIN. Thus, with a small investment of time and equipment, they have everything they need to grab cash from the bank accounts of unsuspecting ATM users…”

According to the BBB alert, “ATM skimmers are close to reaping $1 billion annually from unsuspecting consumers. Javelin Strategy & Research estimates that one in five people have become victims.”

It’s hardly an urban myth. In fact, I think I am revisiting my previous paranoia and considering becoming yet more cautious. Installing a skimming device and a camera is a quick operation, so even the ATM I prefer in the well-lit parking lot of my own bank could fall prey. According to the BBB, in addition to using ATMs that are clean, well lit, and in good repair, I should give it a good visual examination each time I use it. If part of the reader apparatus seems loose, move on — or pull on it and see what happens.

In May, a Florida man did just that. His bank’s ATM looked wrong. He tugged on a part that looked loose — and it came off in his hand. It was a skimming device. His “paranoia” allowed police to shut down that particular operation a mere 10 minutes after it had been set up, thus saving any number of people from being scammed.

For more:  http://www.pcworld.com/article/209959/atm_skimming_cash_machine_paranoia_justified.html

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by | October 4, 2010 · 6:24 am

Hotel Theft Risks: Florida Law Protects Hotel Ownership From “Most Liability” But Continued Guest Loyalty Demands A Secure Premises

“…A… Naples, FL couple’s plans were shattered…when their motel room was burglarized shortly after they checked in and went to dinner. Everything of value — including electronics, cash, a designer purse and sunglasses, theme-park tickets, a passport, checks and Social Security cards — was gone when they returned…”

They… filed a police report and demanded reimbursement from the motel for the $5,200 loss, but it was denied. A Florida law protects operators of public lodgings from most liability. Even when a hotel is negligent, a guest cannot recover more than $500 in most cases and $1,000 for jewelry or cash left with the hotel for safekeeping.

In Orlando, where tourism is the engine that drives the economy, hoteliers are well aware of the need to protect their guests as much as possible, said Rich Maladecki, president of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association.

Most hotels have full-time security staff and work with law enforcement to root out problems, he said. Look for hotels with good lighting in hallways, at entrances and in parking lots, experts caution.

For more:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-law-and-you-hotels-tourist-rights-20100923,0,6507664.story

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by | September 23, 2010 · 1:56 pm

Hospitality Industry Security Management: Hotel Surveillance Cameras In Garage And Parking Areas Can Assist Police And Deter Crime At Properties

Surveillance cameras in the hotel captured the suspect’s image walking through the hotel’s garage and up a stairway in the hotel. He is described as a black male, about 5-foot-10, weighing about 200

Surveillance cameras in the hotel captured the suspect’s image walking through the hotel’s garage and up a stairway in the hotel. He is described as a black male, about 5-foot-10, weighing about 200 pounds and estimated at 25-35 years old.

pounds and estimated at 25-35 years old.

Police are searching for a man who entered an apartment at the Alexandria Hotel in the early morning of Sept. 21 and stole cash, credit cards and laptops from the couple who live in the unit.

The married couple was awoken when the apartment’s main room lights were turned on at about 4 a.m., apparently by the suspect who entered the unlocked unit. The suspect then entered the bedroom wielding a knife, Lt. Paul Vernon said. The victims agreed to cooperate with the suspect, and gave him their ATM access codes.

“Most burglars go out of their way to avoid confrontation,” Vernon said. “This suspect was not afraid of running into his victims, and perhaps, intended to all along. That makes him more dangerous.”

Police use the phrase “hot prowl” to refer to robberies or burglaries that take place while victims are present.

Based on the captured surveillance image, police are hoping someone will recognize the suspect and contact detectives. Vernon said that investigators are currently working with staff at the hotel, at 501 S. Spring St., to determine whether the suspect was possibly a resident.

“We hope someone will recognize him so we can arrest him before he hurts someone,” Vernon said.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Det. Alfredo Rasch at (213) 972-1245. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”

For more:  http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2010/09/23/news/doc4c9b8e5aeb21d597761290.txt

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by | September 17, 2010 · 9:26 am

Hotel Industry Security Risk Management: Hotel Management Can Limit Guest Theft Liability By Maintaining Room Locks, Posting Legal Notices, And Keeping Back And Side Entrances Closed And Locked

Security expert Chris McGoey of  CrimeDoctor.com defended the hotel’s security practices with one exception, the back door not requiring a key card to open. He says that if the victims’ story is true, it’s quite possible the theft was committed by another hotel guest.

Gallagher says he’s considered suing the hotel, but under state law, the hotel would most likely not be liable for the lost belongings because it provided locks for the suite and likely posted the various required legal notices inside of it.

As was later reported in the Chicago Tribune, the Gallaghers claim that when they went out for coffee on the second morning of their stay (as the Bruners slept soundly in another of the suite’s rooms), the suite was burglarized, resulting in the loss of $2,000 in valuables, including purses, wallets, cameras, cell phones and luggage.

Both couples blame the hotel’s lax security for allowing the theft to happen. But Lawrence Duffy, the hotel’s general manager, says the victims told him the break-in happened after they left their door propped open, an allegation the victims deny. He says the hotel rarely has problems with crime.

For more:   http://www.milwaukeenewsbuzz.com/?p=254429

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by | August 30, 2010 · 7:59 am

Hotel Industry “Art Insurance” Issues: Hotels Are Increasingly Hanging “Real Artwork” In Lobbies And Hallways To Please More Discriminating Clientele

“Hoteliers are not only trying to come up with a theme or a style that attracts customers, but they are approaching it in a much more professional and involved way,” said Sean Hennessey, chief executive of Lodging Investment Advisors, a consulting firm in Valhalla, N.Y.

“It used to be that you could get away with just slapping something up in the lobby,” he added, “but more and more customers are looking and evaluating it much more closely.”

For the James, meeting that demand has meant trying to reflect the artistic microclimate of SoHo. Though many of the artists who once made the area a creative mecca have fled, an emerging art scene is still represented through nonprofit institutions there that support artists and show their work.

Denihan Hospitality Group, which is developing the hotel, operates another James Hotel in Chicago that is also dedicated to emerging art. At the Surrey, one of its New York hotels, work by established names like Jenny Holzer, Claes Oldenburg and William Kentridge nods to its location on East 76th Street, near major art showcases like the Whitney Museum of American Art.

For more:   http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/nyregion/30hotelart.html?src=me

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by | August 7, 2010 · 6:55 am

Hospitality Industry Data Theft: Hotel Owners Must Prevent Breaches Of Credit Card Processing Systems By “Cyber-Criminals” Who Install “Malicious Programs” To Steal Data

“… remote attackers installed a malicious program into the card processing system of Englewood, Colo.-based hotel chain Destination Hotels & Resorts. Guests at 21 Destination properties may have been subjected to credit card theft…”

“..the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles disclosed a possible data breach of its POS systems dating back to 2009. Also, between November 2008 and May 2009, the computer systems of some Radisson hotels in the United States and Canada were illegally accessed. And the computer systems of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts were accessed on two separate occasions by cybercriminals who stole customers’ card numbers, expiration dates and other data…”

Cybercriminals last year targeted hotels more than any other industry for credit card theft, according to a recent report by data security company Trustwave. Hotels are being targeted because they have large amounts of credit card data and frequently neglect to implement the most basic security precautions, such as changing default passwords or ensuring programs are up to date, said Nicholas Percoco, senior vice president of Trustwave’s SpiderLabs.

As a result, attackers commonly gain entry into a hotel’s network by exploiting default passwords on point-of-sale (POS) applications, added Dave Ostertag, manager of investigative response at Verizon Business. From there, customized malware is loaded onto the hotel’s transaction server that steals credit card information as a transaction occurs.

In March, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles disclosed a possible data breach of its POS systems dating back to 2009. Also, between November 2008 and May 2009, the computer systems of some Radisson hotels in the United States and Canada were illegally accessed. And the computer systems of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts were accessed on two separate occasions by cybercriminals who stole customers’ card numbers, expiration dates and other data.

For more:  http://www.scmagazineus.com/rampant-hotel-data-theft/article/174579/

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by | July 18, 2010 · 12:13 pm

Hospitality Industry Cybercrime: Hotels And Restaurants Combine For Over 50% Of All Credit Card Data Theft Because Of Their Dependence On Credit Cards And Focus On Servicing Guests

“…According to a recent study, 38% of all credit card breaches occur in hotels…financial services industry accounts for 19% of breaches… Retailers 14%, and restaurants at 13%…”

Hotels are easy targets because they are all credit card-based. It is possible to reserve a room without providing a credit card number, but they don’t make it easy. And hotels themselves certainly aren’t fortresses designed to keep bad guys out. They’re designed to be open and inviting, with, at best, a bellman whose focus is assisting guests rather than guarding the front door. Maybe that mentality exists in hotels’ IT security departments, too.

The root of the issue is the hotel industry’s insufficient security measures to prevent data breaches. Many rely on older point of sale terminals and outdated operating systems, which are more vulnerable to hackers. When the recession hit, many hotels cut back and decided to hold off on upgrades.

While their defenses were down, hackers slithered into their networks to steal guests’ personal financial data. Once thieves have accessed this data, they can clone cards with the stolen numbers and use them to make unauthorized charges.

For more:   http://www.finextra.com/community/fullblog.aspx?id=4286

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