Is it OK to steal hotel amenities?

cnn ^ | June 5, 2009 | Lynn Yaeger

[JoeProBono]

I stole a laundry bag from the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires. It was made of thick ivory linen, embroidered with the words "dry cleaning" in cerulean blue, and looked like something that I could have found at an antique textiles show. But that wasn't the case. I'm usually pretty scrupulous about purloined souvenirs. Of course, I help myself to soap and shampoo, sewing kits, even those black sponges meant to spruce up your shoes -- oh, and ballpoint pens and darling little notepads. But the laundry bag was my first sojourn into the land of, what shall we call it ... outright theft?

[Ramius]

Good heavens. What in the world is that?

[edcoil]

Dear God, what is it?

[Barnacle]

Shorten the title.. “Is it OK to steal?”

[dfwgator]

Dear God, what is it?

It is the Supreme Being, but that's not important right now.

[Billthedrill]

I wuz gonna bring the TV back, honest. Your Honor.

[smokingfrog]

If it's not bolted down, they expect you to steal it.
Trust me on this one.

/sarc

[9YearLurker]

Who is this brazen criminal writing this piece—and why has CNN posted it?

[ViLaLuz]

I would have just asked, or offered to buy it.

[tired1]

That’s why I carry wrenches. I can’t stand AC and the windows are bolted shut in many places.

[Does so]

When checking "replies" I was surprised to see that you had none!

Let me congratulate you on a super post!

[smokingfrog]

LOL!

[pnut22]

As an in-store loss prevention associate, I had to know what is legally “stealing”. From eating a grape to pocketing perfume samplers and the little freebies companies would sometimes offer. You see it all. A memorable incident was an employee who was consistently helping himself to the need one/take one pennies. Had he used them to pay for a purchase, that was fine. As soon as he put them in his pocket it was theft.

[JimSEA]

The moral question is easy, don't steal!! On the practical side, We always stay at The Swiss Lodge in Bangkok (yes, Thailand) and I would be really ashamed to show up having stolen from them. They are very nice people who remember us. As it is, we get really nice reductions on room rates not to mention all the help you can imagine on such things as expedited laundry, flexible check in - out times and other little things.

[OB1kNOb]

[mickey finn]

Guilty, yes. But if she promised to put the laundry bag over her head and wear it like a makeshift burka, I would let her take it.

[Constitution Day]

Dear Lord. Kill it with fire!

[nuconvert]

Is it ok if I steal your purse?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ewwwwwww

[Ronin]

If you have to ask if stealing is wrong, you are definitely on the wrong website.