Comments on: Stolen!!!

By: Katherine L.

Katherine L. — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:45:47 +0000

I am so sad to hear this and didn’t know how it would feel until it happened to us. We have a beach house down by the Gulf in Alabama. We have rented out our house during the summer months for the past four years and use the house during the winter. The items that have previously turned up missing, i.e. teaspoons, pizza cutter, pillow shams, etc. were probably accidentally thrown away or damaged and are a cost of doing business. This year we returned to our house to find that one of the renters here broke into our owners’ closet and stole our digital weather station and our Blu Ray player. We put a locking doorknob on the pantry in the kitchen and use this closet for our personal use during the winter but it also includes batteries, light bulbs, paper products, etc. I am livid that someone who was staying in our home thought it was okay to break into this closet and help themselves. We have now installed a double key dead bolt and it is sad that this was even necessary. We know the time frame the items were stolen, but had too many renters to try to narrow it down. Since our rental company doesn’t do an inventory before and after a renter’s stay, I don’t know what more we can do. I like the suggestion another owner had of posting a sign on the outside of the door saying ‘Nothing in here is as valuable as your damage deposit’. The thing that really surprises me is that it hasn’t happened before. There are dishonest people in the world and eventually you will have one of them as your renter.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:52:41 +0000

In reply to Jenn. Thanks for the comment. As an owner it's a tough act to balance. We know that things can be taken, but we also want to provide a nice experience for our guests. Hotels and other places expect a few things might be taken here and there, but you hope that the majority of people are good and know not to steal. It comes down to morals. Most people have them a few unfortunately don't.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:50:07 +0000

In reply to Lauren. Thanks for the comment. Most owners store towels, sheets, toothbrushes and other items of that nature. Over the years we've added more and more personal touches that we keep up for ourselves in the off season but take down in the summer. That's why we had family mementos. I've actually had quite a few renters replace items for us that broke during their stay. They send me a letter or let the realty company know. One woman broke a measuring cup, (I have no idea how), and replaced it with a note saying she was sorry. I'm happy to say that most renters and guests are like you. They treat houses with care. It's sad that a few bad seeds wreck it for everyone else.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:28:42 +0000

That’s awful! We’ve rented houses in OBX for many years, and I can’t imaging stealing kitchen items or breaking into the owners closets (although I do always wonder what is stored in them)! i accidentally took a plastic Tupperware container home from one house, and I felt so bad about it. It was just a small snack holder container but I still felt awful when I discovered it in my diaper bag on the drive home.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 02:34:27 +0000

I hate that this happened to you! I’ve wondered if this is ever a problem for private rentals or even hotels. We were in a Westin last year that had very pretty vases on a shelf in the room and I couldn’t help but wonder why they included that in the decor, knowing people are already stealing towels, robes, etc.