Hotel guests are now nicking MATTRESSES – and 5* places don’t even report thefts to police
HOTEL guests are now stealing mattresses from their rooms, with some of them costing thousands of pounds each.
Even more surprising is that hotels, in particular five-star chains, are unlikely to report the theft to the police.
While many visitors admit to stealing smaller items such as toiletries and towels, others are now going even further.
The study, conducted by , found light-fingered thieves are going for the expensive heist at four and five-star hotels.
According to , some hotel mattresses can cost thousands of pounds at high-class establishments, making it an obvious choice for criminals.
While it can seem hard to believe, what with the size of the stolen goods, they are often nicked in the middle of the night when the reception desk isn't open.
It is most likely to happen at hotels which have direct elevators to the car parks, making a quick getaway.
However, five-star hotels are also less likely to report the crime or even stop the criminals during the theft.
Wellness Heaven CEO Tassilo Keilmann, who spoke to hotel owners, they "don't want to be connected to crime".
The study questioned 634 four-star hotels and 523 five-star hotels located primarily in Europe.
Other items often taken from five-star hotels include televisions and coffee machines, while four-star hotels see remotes and batteries taken the most.
Some of the strangest things to be stolen have been the bathroom fittings, including the toilet seat and shower head, and the room numbers from the door.
Overall, towels and bathrobes remained the most common items stolen - although you could find a charge on your bill if the hotel notice.
Experts have revealed that it is okay to take toiletries and slippers from the hotel room, as they cannot be reused, but anything else is a no-no.
Stationery is also okay to take, while other hotels allow you to keep their umbrellas.
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Some hotel staff claim that hotel guests are not punished for stealing items, as the theft is "factored into the annual budget" of a hotel.
However, some chain hotels have "no-stay" lists for guests who have been caught nicking something from their room.
There are some hotel freebies which you can get just by asking - which include cookies, guitars and perfume.