During the chit chat preceding the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday one of the resort owners told the following story.
One of their guests left their room unlocked and a Rolex watch lying out in plain site. When he returned the watch was gone. Some good detective work found the culprit – a minor boy. The mother made the boy buy a plane ticket to Houston and return the watch and apologize – all at his own expense. The fact that the boy did it and came back is testimony to disciplined parenting.

The sad part of this story is that way too many guests leave their valuables unattended. This resort even has individual safes in each room. I’ll make no further editorial comments – even though my tongue is bleeding. LOL

How did the minor boy afford a plane ticket to Houston?
He travelled alone? I'm skeptical.

Thank JZB! I was thinking the same thing. I have a minor granddaughter and she can not travel alone unless I pay the extra money to have her taken care of by the Airlines personel, and it is not cheap.

Maybe it was back in the old days.... pre 9/11 seems like a life time away, but back then air travel was friendly and fun.

I have to say that no matter how rich you are, if you love your rolex you don't leave it laying around in plain sight, in an unlocked hotel room - in any country!

We hear similar stories of expensive watches and jewelry being stolen and police reports made - just to find out it was a way for the tourist to claim on their travel insurance. They walk away with their "stolen" goods AND an insurance claim cheque.

Ya, that's likely...

Not all mothers side with their children before hearing the facts... just more so than they used to.

People are not careful with their belongings even when they are taught a lesson. It's one of my biggest pet peeves! I have friends who often want to leave their purse unattended in my car... ain't gonna happen!!!

TQ, I promise never to leave my purse unattended in your car!!!

KC, honey, I will gladly hold your purse with me... flat green paperlike contents are likely to be missing when you get it back tho.

I used to travel extensively around Europe by myself when I was 12, and I knew others who did. Don't know that 9/11 made that much difference.