Summary:

• Wellness Heaven’s study on hotel theft reveals that globally, towels and bathrobes top the list of stolen items, but some daring guests have been known to pilfer grand pianos and even bathroom fittings. The study also notes national and class-based variations in stolen items, with 5-star hotel guests favoring expensive items, while those in 4-star hotels opt for more mundane choices.

Wellness Heaven, a German hotel guide, recently conducted a fascinating study on the most commonly stolen items from hotels by guests. Surveying 1,376 hotel managers, the research revealed that in addition to the usual pilfered toiletries, some audacious guests engage in grand theft by targeting items such as televisions, pianos, and even mattresses.

Globally, the study identified towels and bathrobes as the most frequently stolen hotel items, closely followed by hangers, pens, and cosmetics. Beyond these commonplace thefts, the study uncovered some astonishing robberies that boggle the mind. Here are a few noteworthy incidents:

1. Room Number Theft: In England, a guest stole the room number from the door, perhaps considering it their lucky number. The hotel director only discovered the theft when the next guest couldn’t find their room.
2. Bathroom Fittings: Some guests, armed with specialized tools, managed to steal bathroom fixtures such as shower heads, hydromassage showers, and even toilet seats. Entire sinks and drainpipes were not spared.
3. Grand Piano Heist: In Italy, an audacious theft involved the disappearance of a grand piano weighing a substantial 320 kilograms. The hotelier recounted how three unknown individuals in overalls made off with the instrument, and it was never recovered.

In Uganda, the scenario is not much different, according to Mr. Charles Otto, the housekeeping manager at Kampala Serena Hotel. The most commonly stolen items include towels, flat irons, bed sheets, and even TVs in some cases. However, these thefts are challenging to solve, as the missing property is often discovered long after the guest has checked out.

Interestingly, the study also revealed differences in kleptomaniacal behavior based on hotel class and nationality. Guests at 5-star hotels showed a preference for stealing expensive items like TVs, mattresses, tablet computers, and artwork. In contrast, those staying at 4-star hotels tended to opt for less spectacular items such as toilet paper, towels, hangers, batteries, and remote controls. The study noted national variations, with German and British thieves favoring bathrobes, cosmetics, and toiletries, while Austrians leaned towards dishes and coffee machines. Americans were inclined to take pillows and batteries, and French thieves had a penchant for pilfering TV sets and remote controls.