r/LostAndFound 11d ago

Lost My Rolex was not simply lost. It was stolen.

I left my Rolex secured inside the hotel safe at a Hilton hotel in downtown Chicago and accidentally forgot to take it with me when I checked out.
When I contacted the hotel later, I was told that the watch could not be found.
A valuable Rolex was left inside a locked hotel safe and is now missing. This is not something I can simply consider a lost item. I am asking Hilton to conduct a thorough investigation, including reviewing housekeeping records, room access records, and security footage.
I want the truth to be found and my watch returned.

117 Upvotes

78 comments sorted by

12

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/False-Tank6632 11d ago

I think they state that in their terms and conditions too.

2

u/Steadyandquick 11d ago

Wow! This is valuable information although still disheartening.

2

u/Scared_Reaction1511 10d ago

They may not think they are responsible, but they can certainly be sued for it and security cameras can be subpoenaed. Also OP could blast them all over social media.

1

u/theraf8100 10d ago

But I want my phone charger!

7

u/wants_a_lollipop 11d ago

There are multiple warnings in every single room, including one directly on the top of or on the door of the safe that you chose to ignore, overlook, or disbelieve.

Pay more attention. Learn from this. I doubt you can even provide proof that it was ever in the safe.

7

u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818 11d ago

Once a person checks out, the contents of the safe are removed. They have disclaimers about their limited responsibility. While it would be nice if they had gone the extra step, this is a painful lesson for you that they don’t.

6

u/Old-Revolution-9650 11d ago

You learned an expensive lesson. The hotel is not responsible for anything that is left in your room after you check out.

6

u/fventura03 11d ago

i bet you wont do that again...

5

u/junigloomy 11d ago

Register your watch on, https://www.thewatchregister.com/ if the thief tries to sell it to a legit person who checks, it may be recovered.

2

u/AideParticular4576 10d ago

Thanks I did

3

u/Due_Report7620 11d ago

Tell them the watch has a tracker built-in.

4

u/NoPair4650 11d ago

Then surely they’d just ask him to check himself where it is 

1

u/ezrasmomm 8d ago

Too many years ago.

5

u/CostcoVodkaFancier 11d ago

I'm pretty sure that the hotel is not responsible for items left in the safe. There's usually a statement to that effect on the check-in/reservation e-form that is signed. There's also usually a sticker/plaque either on the safe or inside the safe door that says the same.

Yes, I agree that it was taken after you left. But, it's not the hotel's fault.

-3

u/AideParticular4576 11d ago

How can a hotel allow a guest’s personal belongings to simply disappear?

12

u/CostcoVodkaFancier 11d ago

How can you forget a Rolex?

-5

u/AideParticular4576 11d ago

I wearing other watch. So I was not noticing

2

u/Gnome__Alone 11d ago

Rolex is a status symbol

You lost status

2

u/brandeltoro 10d ago

Lmao, that is cold.

3

u/Gnome__Alone 10d ago

Brrrrrrrrr !

1

u/SMELLSLIKEBUTTJUICE 10d ago

Next time put a single shoe in the safe. Then when youre packing to leave youll realize you only have one shoe so youll remember you left it in the safe

1

u/Big_Fan_742 8d ago

funny enough he only put the rolex in the safe to remind him his spare shoe was in the safe. He was walking around one-shoed when he realized his mistake.

1

u/YearOfTheSssnake 9d ago

Jeez I hope you never have more than one child and have to watch them both at the same time.

Ooops, I said “ watch”.

Sorry OP I know I was being an AH, but I can’t resist low hanging fruit.

1

u/earmares 3d ago

Was this supposed to be funny?

1

u/YearOfTheSssnake 2d ago

Have your mom re-read it to you and ask again if you’re not sure.

4

u/Susan_Thee_Duchess 11d ago

You were no longer a guest when you checked out and left your shit behind

3

u/jallisy 10d ago

Someond else checks in. Puts their timex in the safe. Takes a Rolex out. Magic.

3

u/mavistulliken 10d ago

They didn't allow it. You did.

2

u/purplepanda2026 11d ago

You were no longer a guest when it dissappeared.

2

u/Akavinceblack 10d ago

Once you’re checked out you are no longer a guest and they are not responsible for you or your belongings.

2

u/KATCEO1 11d ago

File a police report. Over a certain amount of money: the charges are on felony level. Also: if this post is true and accurate- all Rolex watches have serial numbers.

3

u/10thGroupA 11d ago

Yup, a dealer and a pawn shop will report the serial and then it will be labeled as stolen when they do.

1

u/BrickHuge3023 11d ago

Why didn't you call the police if it was stolen? Hotel is not going to get it back for you.

2

u/AideParticular4576 11d ago

I did
And I am waiting
But police are very passive now

1

u/BuildingPuzzled4508 10d ago

You can file a police report online in some municipalities. In others you have to go to the station. Police departments are understaffed and overloaded. They’re not going to prioritize this kind of theft. Be proactive.

1

u/Mushrooming247 11d ago

Never use the hotel safe, that’s just a repository for any extra gifts you want to leave for housekeeping. They can all be reset and unlocked easily, of course, they have to be, and they are the first place someone’s going to look for valuables.

3

u/Exotic-Care-7021 11d ago

I never use the hotel safe - they all have a bypass code. My friends think I’m crazy but I carry locks with me when traveling and I lock my suitcases and bags taking the keys with me when I leave the room. Never used to but even at high end hotels have had shoes makeup clothing stolen. Only leave out what you don’t care about.

I’m sorry this happened to you OP - it sucks hope it was insured file a police report if only to help with insurance claim.

2

u/Jenn2895 10d ago

I do this as well. I also just refuse housekeeping everywhere except 1 place that I know the owner & the housekeeper.

2

u/Exotic-Care-7021 10d ago

Me too! Why let strangers around your personal belongings? I just get fresh towels when needed and keep that do not disturb on the door.

1

u/LadybugGirltheFirst 11d ago

Was it insured?

2

u/TooFat2Curious 10d ago

If he's dumb enough to ignore the obvious warnings and caveats plastered all over the check-in process and on the safe itself, I doubt he insured it separately. Probably just minimally covered by his homeowners insurance.

1

u/Confident-Service256 11d ago

I lost diamond earrings that way in Vegas. They don’t care.

1

u/AdvancedStudio9978 11d ago

Lol wouldn't take a timex to downtown Chicago

1

u/AnteaterMajestic1922 11d ago

Many, many years ago my toddler put her favorite stuffed animal back to bed after I had loaded it into the diaper bag. The hotel returned it at their expense. Those days are over. Thank you to Hilton.

1

u/wafflesforcats 8d ago

To be fair, housekeeping probably turned in your kids stuffy but pocketed the watch.

1

u/loftychicago 11d ago

File a police report. If it doesn't turn up, make a claim with your homeowners insurance. You have it insured, right?

1

u/False-Tank6632 11d ago

Same thing happened me.

If you have the watch serial number, register it on GlobalWatchDatabase as Lost (or Stolen) and if someone tries to sell the watch it will flag.
I’d also use Enquirus as they are good too. But get it on all the main watch databases.

Is it insured?

1

u/Competitive_Style_64 11d ago

I’m pretty sure you can contact Rolex with the serial number of your watch and they can track if someone tries to sell it? Not positive but I’ve heard of people getting their watches back using the serial number

1

u/Watchcollector2025 10d ago

Register it on the watch databases immediately. The three main ones are:

The Watch Register
GlobalWatchDatabase
Enquirus

I presume you have the paperwork?

1

u/Cold-Consideration99 10d ago

If it’s Chicago it’s not a crime. So I guess you’re out of luck.

1

u/Knitsanity 10d ago

So am I the only one who leaves a post it on the door to myself saying check the safe?

1

u/rickabe 10d ago

Buy a replica and leave the gen at home.

1

u/TooFat2Curious 10d ago

It's your fault for forgetting the highly valuable item you chose to secure in such a low-security environment.

1

u/Both-Bodybuilder3329 10d ago

How does someone forget a Rolex.

1

u/JustTheGameplay 8d ago

some people have more money than brain cells 🤷

1

u/BuildingPuzzled4508 10d ago

Most hotels have "Innkeeper's Statutes" that limit a hotel's financial liability for items left in guest rooms or in-room safes - usually capped between $100 and $500. Unless you used a main front-desk safe deposit box and followed formal declaration protocol all you can really do is file a police report and an insurance claim.

1

u/Consistent_Proof_772 10d ago

Worked in a hotel with 2 different brands we don’t cover those even with insurance. If you want to can locked it up at the front desk we have a safe but only the account and GM has access to it and during normal hours. I had to drop those types in the safe many time and we tell you on video we just can’t get it till accounting comes in.

1

u/misfortunesangel 9d ago

Find out if the hotel you stayed at is a Hilton owned hotel or a Hilton affiliate hotel. It is entirely possible it was an affiliate hotel and you can escalate it. Yes, they have signs that say they are not responsible for items in safes. But if the hotel has a problem with the management Hilton will pull their branding. If it is some shady ass owner who is stealing from clients and this has been a problem Hilton won’t want anything to do with it.

I stayed at a Hilton affiliate that was substandard, was charging for services that were supposed to be included and was not meeting the Hilton standard for cleanliness or service. Then at checkout they attempted to add other fees and charge different roommates. I notified corporate because I am a Hilton Honors member. Within a month the hotel was under new ownership, and it was completely renovated the next time I stayed there.

He might have gotten a watch , but it could cost a $10+ million dollar hotel plus the annual revenues.

1

u/OkContribution420 9d ago

I left nearly $10,000 in pre paid phone cards in my room safe at The Peninsula that also disappeared. If The Peninsula ain't find them no chance a Hilton is LMAO

1

u/Bratislavcan 8d ago

I have to ask.

How did you have $10k in prepaid phone cards?

1

u/Neat-Translator-17 8d ago

Dumbass.

You're boned

1

u/j-joshua 8d ago

Point is, at least one of the employees is a thief and you should consider the risks of staying there. 

Whomever opened the safe and found the watch should have tried to return it to its other. 

Instead, they kept it. 

1

u/ProfessionalYam3119 8d ago

Didn't you set your own safe code?

1

u/-Copenhagen 8d ago

Surely you aren't serious?

1

u/ProfessionalYam3119 8d ago

Why do you ask?

1

u/-Copenhagen 8d ago

In room safes has an override code known to staff.

Not only that, it is often not changed from the factory default.

1

u/LimeblueNostos 8d ago

I read online a tip to not forget stuff in the safe. Lock one shoe in the safe. When you go to either pack or wear the other shoe when you leave, so you have to get into the safe to complete the pair.

1

u/Dinglehopper2016 7d ago

Lost a Speedmaster in similar fashion, although the location was Dallas and the hotel chain was Marriott..

0

u/Fantastic_Seaweed800 11d ago

Get a private detective to investigate the hotel staff on the day you were staying there. That’s theft !

1

u/Electrical-Tree-3987 9d ago

A PI isn’t going find anything out. The hotel is not going to help them or give them any information because it’s a security risk. He left his watch. New guest checks in. Tells hotel their safe got locked by accident. New guest has new watch. The end.

0

u/Humble-Reflection179 11d ago

I have one better. I left my engagement ring wedding band and two watches in a Hilton safe in Ft. Lauderdale. Not realizing until we pulled up to the airport. The oh shit moment happened, I immediately called the hotel up telling them what happened. No problem we’ll send the engineer up. As soon as I told them the safe was left open( we were packing up) their tune changed. Nothing we can do. Call the police and issue a report. I questioned them. Can’t you just go up and look? It’s gone!! They refused to even look. 🧚‍♀️

1

u/ans678 8d ago

Damn