Community Chat

[151949]

I once had my coat and my snow boots stolen from work in the middle of winter. Where I worked we had to get a shuttle bus from our workplace to the employee parking lot and we had to stand outside to wait for the bus. I had to take a blanket from the unit where I worked to wrap up in to go outside as scrubs alone do not offer any protection from the cold. I never saw any of my stolen items again. We also had our lockers broken into at work once and someone stole about 8 people's purses. The only way out of the locker area is right past the glass walled visitor waiting area, and it is always full of people, but not one person who saw a theif walking out with 8 purses bothered to call security.

[GCR18]

No, I haven't had a similar experience.  I don't use valet often, but I take everything with me.  I keep little in the car and everything fits in my pocketbook.  I do the same when I drop the car off for service.

[handygal2]

My friend had her expensive down coat stolen from a busy doctor's waiting room several years ago. She had hung it on a rack at the entrance, where all the patients hung their coats. When she was ready to leave the office, it was gone. Lesson learned-- l always take my coat or jacket into the examination room with me.

ETA: l suggested to her at the time that she could have the doctor's office file a claim with their insurance company, but she didn't want to make a fuss.

[CatsyCline]

@curlywhitedog Maria, that is so so low!   i had a boyfriend once whose sister and her friend visited and stayed in my room i used as a closet and office room. one of them took several items of my clothes and a cute evening jacket and a purse.   i noticed a week or so later because i had a matching top to one of the missing skirts and the jacket and purse were clothing items i wore for evening and we were going out for New Years. and, they had already gone back to florida

it really made me feel bad but to boot,  my boyfreind defended his sister . saying i must have misplaced the items or donated them!    i hope she wore those things in good health!!   he was history not long after that!

[debic]

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@Abrowneyegirl wrote:

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@pommom wrote:

My DS met some friends for dinner and used valet parking.  Earlier in the day he had placed his London Fog windbreaker on the back seat of his car.

It wasn't until New Year's Day when he went looking for it and remembered he had left it in the car that he discovered it was gone.

He called the establishment he visited the evening before and spoke with the manager who then gave him the valet service owner's name and number.  He talked to the owner and the owner told him that he could not take responsibility for the missing jacket.  Asked DS for the name of the valet parker and, of course, my son didn't know it.  The restaurant is reputable and upscale, family owned.  So, it isn't in a sleazy part of town - quite the contrary.

Bottom line:  it's gone forever.  

Has this ever happened to you?

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I would go online and give an accurate and cautionary report of what happen when I used XYZ valet at ABC restaurant as a way to REMIND others not to leave anything in their cars.

The valet company and rest. may pony up some money just to make the review 'go away'.

NOTE: only state true facts or it could be considered slander. He can not write a scathing angry review, just the facts.

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The true fact is that he didn't notice when it disappeared.  Saying it did during his meal would be a lie.

The valet service just might take them to small claims and sue them.  They'd probably win too.

To OP, sorry for your son losing the jacket, it's a bummer and a hard lesson to learn.   My son had his windshield smashed and everything stolen in his own parking lot.  

[gacat123]

Sorry about the stolen jacket but your son learned a valuable life lesson. Many years ago I had a NICE  wool cream color sweater coat stolen off of a coat rack at a ladies gym. It was freezing cold outside and I had to get home with just a long sleeve wool shirt over my work out clothes. I learned a valuable life lesson too and I was about 20yo at the time. I always keep my coat or jacket with me or leave in the trunk while inside a business. 

[Nataliesgramma]

I had my good Totes umbrella stolen from Church......I checked lost and found and it never showed up.....

[Disneylandfan]

I bet your son was bummed.  I would be if something was taken.

I found this at LegalMatch.  I was looking because most disclaimers scare off people from pursuing but don't actually absolve the establishment from wrongdoing.

.

What about the Contents of My Car?

Bailees, people who the car is bailed to, are responsible for the contents of a vehicle to the extent that it is reasonable that the items inside would be there. Otherwise, lot owners are only responsible for ordinary equipment inside the car and items in plain view.

What about Disclaimers?

Parking lot operators will often attempt to disclaim their liability for loss or damage to your car and its contents. These disclaimers may be printed on your parking ticket or posted on a sign by the entrance. However, some courts say that such disclaimers are not valid if the customer has no actual knowledge of them when he parks. Also, the lot cannot disclaim its own negligence. Additionally, if an employee on duty ends up damaging your car while doing something beyond the scope of his employment, the operator cannot disclaim this and is liable for damages.

[Kalli]

Pommom, I'm sorry this happened to your son.  After reading the other messages here, it sure seems a lot of people have been victims of theft.  Sad we have so many who do this to others. 

We rented our cute country cottage to a family. They started to pay rent later and later each month.  Finally we asked them to leave. They moved and took our old butcher/carpenter table that served as a kitchen counter in the middle of the kitchen, an old wood framed mirror from the bathroom, and the pot rack from the ceiling of the kitchen.  Not to mention left the place a mess.  Police have never followed up on the charges tho it's no secret where they moved.  

[deeva]

I never leave valuables in my car whether I'm using a valet or at the car wash. Theives count on naive people assuming that thefts only occur in so called bad areas.