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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Helen Coffey

Hotel guests caught stealing hairdryers, coat hangers and ornaments from room

Most of us are partial to taking the odd complimentary item from a hotel room – a mini shower gel here, a monogrammed pen there – but one family pushed the concept to the limit while staying in Indonesia. 

They were caught making off with a Bali holiday villa’s hairdryers, coat hangers, towels and an assortment of wicker ornaments.

A video of the family shared on social media has since gone viral.

It shows security searching the bags and finding a soap dispenser wrapped in towels.

“You explain now,” says a hotel member of staff.

“I will pay, I’m sorry,” a male guest can be heard responding repeatedly. But the staff member says the issue is not about money. 

“I know you have a lot of money, but this [shows] no respect,” he says.

Posted by Twitter user Hemanth on 27 July, the footage has since garnered more than 365,000 views.

Indonesian National Police officer Polsek Sukawati posted about the incident on Facebook, confirming that it took place at the Villa Royal Purnama in south-east Bali.

The family of nine from India stayed at the villa from 23 July to 26 July, and were about to check out when housekeeping staff discovered that items were missing from their rooms.

Security were called to carry out a search of the guests’ bags, in which a whole host of objects belonging to the hotel were found.

Sukawati also shared photos of the haul of stolen items, which included two separate hairdryers and a woven basket.

“After finding the items in their bags, the guests acknowledged their mistake and apologised and returned the items taken and compensated for items that have not been found,” said Sukawati.

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