Guest tries to steal food from the hotel pantry and, when confronted, pretends that he never intended to steal and acts defensively: ‘Oh, of course I was going to pay for it.’

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jul 1, 2026 3:15 PM EDT

What is it with this guest and their lack of accountability? Why do they think they can do anything without facing consequences for their actions?

These stories about employees at the front desk are getting more unhinged by the hour. We went from usual things, such as disrespect and threatening to call the cops for every minor inconvenience, to actively committing a felony and just pretending it didn't happen. These guests think that because they are paying for a hotel room, they have the power to do things they know are normally prohibited. What changes in their brain when they pay for a room that lets them think they can do anything? It is as if normal knowledge of living in society doesn't exist in their brain when they are on vacation. Is that something that always happens, or is it a new generation thing that they believe norms don't apply to them? What changes in their brains to have that incredibly wrong perception of the world?

In this Reddit story, we have a guest who does not have a sense of accountability in their body –something that has become incredibly common in the last few years. He not only tries to steal food from the hotel but also thinks it is a great idea to pretend he was always going to pay when caught. Did he think that because he paid for a room, he had access to other things as well? Did he think it was going to get charged to his room directly? Or maybe, and most probably, he thought there were no repercussions for that kind of behavior because no one was there. He completely forgot that hotels have cameras and that they would have noticed he stole. But that's not the worst thing.

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  • 01
    So, I'm a Night Auditor. Been doing it for, well...too long. Around 5am, I'm in the office reading on my laptop but I'm in front of the cameras so I can see what's going on. I watch a guest walk past the FD into our shop area. He looks like he might be drink. Can't really tell.
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 02
    Breakfast with orange juice, toast, and other pastries.
    via Alev Takil

    Breakfast with orange juice, toast, and other pastries. 

  • ​In this story, the front desk employee just told him he had to pay and let him charge it to his room. No repercussions were faced by the thief guest. He just went back into his room as if he hadn’t done anything wrong. That is some poor action taken against the employee. At least some kind of fine should have been applied to show this person that what he did is wrong and should not be condoned. The fact that he just let the guest go without even a warning is why this kind of thing gets done again. If nothing bad happens to the person who tries something like this, why wouldn’t they do it? In the worst case, they just have to pay the exact value of the product. Most people who notice that are going to try to steal just because they can.

  • 03
    At this point, I get up because if someone's in our shop I want to be there in case they need help with anything. However, the guest doesn't see me. I watch him as he takes a bag of Doritos and then walks into the restaurant, opens the bag, and starts to grab a chip. So I say "Excuse me, sir, but you're going to have to pay for that..."
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 04
    He jumps and acts defensive. "Oh, of course I was going to pay for it....then charges it to his room. I let him know the restaurant was closed currently but will be open in an hour for breakfast but he can make himself comfortable in the lobby. He ends up just walking away with his chips. Friends. This man was 100% going to eat those Doritos without paying for it if I didn't say something. Does he not realize we have cameras? And staff?
    via sacredblasphemies

  • ​A better way to manage the situation from my point of view would be to fine the guest or at least give them a verbal warning that if this happens again, they are going to get kicked out of their room or charged double. At least say something. Not just pretend that everything is fine and as if what happened was just a silly mistake because it wasn’t. 
     

  • 05
    Visual representation of a room at a hotel.
    via Vojtech Bruzek

    Visual representation of a room at a hotel.

  • 06
    Poldaran Does he not realize we have cameras? And staff? Do you not realize that the average guest has no shame? :P
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 07
    MC_Crit As a fellow night auditor, yes, he was 100% going to steal it. People try that all the time, not realizing I can see them. They either think the cameras are for show or that it won't be noticed until it's too late.
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 08
    JimOfSomeTrades If the only consequence to being caught was having to pay, I'd say they were acting rationally. Maybe not ethically, but you can't fault their logic.
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 09
    Xianified It'd be better to let him wander off, then have the video prepped for check out time. It's far more enjoyable to call their lie and watch them fluff about.
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 10
    ceebiee i'll be d ed if i'm sweating over a bag of chips for any company i ever work for, it's just not that serious brother
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 11
    NYC-WhWmn-ov50 You'd be amazed the number of people these days who dont ynderstand they're pretty much under surveillancee the minute they step out of their house, 100%z
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 12
    JucheHospitality If this surprises you, you haven't been night auditor long enough
    via sacredblasphemies
  • 13
    Model image of a corridor at a hotel.
    via runnyrem

    Model image of a corridor at a hotel. 

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