Hi,

Here's one of the latest TripAdvisor Surf Club post.
No need to panick but keep your eyes open.
Remember that this could happen at any resorts.

“Precautions are necessary”
September 2008

"Our family reunion gathered for a week of r&r with three villas. The weather as usual was hot and windy.
The covered pool chair problem continues for those who arrive later than 8:00 am.
Red Sail Divers provided great service for our group. The south coast dives were great.
Unfortunately, when leaving our villa door ajar for three minutes when going to an adjacient villa down the hallway,
some locals ( probably working in concert with Marriott employees doing maintanance work in a neighboring villa)
entered the villa and left with only a digital camera when my wife confronted them rifling through drawyers.

Security investigated the situation and gave up information that there had been an in-house security problem.
Front desk employees have made duplicate keys when making card keys upon check in.
Watch with care when you check-in when keys are made.
The villas are imaculate kept. Having visited the Surf Club many times with tthe help of winning bids for 2-bedroom
villas won ebay insures that we will return again.
Check-in delays are always anoying but over all the trip was great."

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Liz
Mick's Photo's
www.tlfphotographic.com

My Pets and Rescues
http://community.webshots.com/user/msgrumble

Thanks for the warning. I would NEVER EVER leave my door open, even to go down the hall to get ice or toss the trash. I'm always amazed at people who use the hinged security latch to prop the doors open--in many places where I've stayed--sometimes while they're in the room. Aside from the security issue, the noise spills out into the hallway and annoys nearby guests. Sorry about the incident. While I've been there, security was very tight. When I locked myself out, I had to go to the desk, provide info to assure them who I was, and was escorted back to the room by a security person with a new key. The maids are not permitted to let anyone in the room (I asked).

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Lynda (aka Weed)

I only leave my door open if someone is in the unit. I would imagine my kids would be surprised by an un-invited guest.

Thanks for the warning.

It seems the important aspect of this...it really doesn't matter if the door had been left open or not......the problem lies with the duplicate keys that are getting made from the front desk personnel.....seems even if the door had been closed, it they wanted, to they could have waited for everyone to leave to go to the beach or out to dinner THEN enter with the duplicate key swipe card......WATCH CAREFULLY HOW MANY TIMES A KEY FOR YOUR ROOM IS CREATED.....IF YOU ASK FOR 2 KEYS, BE SURE THEY ONLY SWIPE TWICE AND NOT 3 TIMES !!!!

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

If you request 2 keys, I can understand watching to make sure that 3 keys were NOT made at that time.

I don't understand the process, but what would stop a dishonest employee from making a key card at a later time (or any time). Does this happen in the US or other destinations?

In Aruba, we have had to return to the desk for a non-functioning key card, but we've had no theft problems.

While we were there at our resort (not Marriott) earlier this month, maintenance men came and put a standard "chain and slide" lock on the inside of our ground floor patio door. There was already a "dead bolt" lock on the inside and key card lock on the outside.

actually, most hotels that use key cards can make a specific key only at the time of check in. that's why, if you lose your key or it doesn't work properly, they have to replace all keys to the room. that is a standard protection system.

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vote now!!!!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/N...uba/index.html

You are correct about the key card machine. They can make keys for the rooms at any time, but whenever they make a new key or keys, it changes the code in the lock and the old key wont work anymore. I believe they can also set a date and time for the code to expire so that after a certain date it wont work anymore. Maintenance and staff have master keys that work in any room.

When they make key cards it leave a time stamp in the system that will show card imprint activity.
Scrupulous activities can be related to a fraudulent employee with the use of the video cam at reception desk...

Front desk employees who are into clowning key card will not do it after your arrival. As it will look too suspicious.
They will do it while you're doing your regular check-in... as it is normal to have such activity in the system...
Like it was suggested make sure that they don't make more keys then requested or given....

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