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Benidorm has sought to iron out claims of holidaymakers’ money being taken from hotel safety deposit boxes, insisting hotels have strict policies to adhere to
Tourism officials in Benidorm have sternly responded to claims holidaymakers were being subjected to money theft crimes. Videos have circulated online, warning British travellers to be vigilant over the mysterious disappearance of cash from safety deposit boxes found in hotel rooms.
Benidorm, famed for its bustling, party, atmosphere and towering skyscrapers is a seaside resort that sits on the eastern coast of Spain and is part of Valencia region’s Costa Blanca. In 2023, nearly one million British tourists flocked to the area for their dose of sun and sea, and on the whole, Brits are the second largest number of visitors to the resort – just behind domestic Spanish tourists.
But concern had been raised over security of cash in hotels in recent weeks. Frank the Stag Man, a TikTok-famous user, was one person who issued precaution and said in a video: “Even the safes in hotels are not absolutely secure because a lot of people over the years have told me they’ve had money taken out of them. So be careful – what I always recommend people do is count the money you put in the safe, write on a bit of paper how much money you’ve put in there and leave it at the front of the safe inside.
“Be very careful with your safe. Make sure if there’s anything wrong with your safe you go to the reception and make some noise. You want to report it, and if need be, report it to the police.” This sentiment was also echoed by Spanish authorities.
‘Hotels are here to help’
While his safety tip is generic to anywhere in the world, Benidorm’s tourist board has collectively issued a statement denying such crimes have taken place, at least in recent months. Authorities insist the resort is safe for Brits to visit and has issued specific advice.
Among those to respond exclusively to the Mirror was a Visit Benidorm spokesperson who said: “In the event of a theft in a hotel safe, a flat, the first thing that is done is a complaint to the national police by the clients, and the hotels also open an internal investigation process.” It was latterly confirmed by Benidorm City Council’s Macu Esteve that no such issue had been reported to the authorities.
Mayte García Córcoles, Secretary General of Hosbec, the hotel association of the Valencian Community, argued that hotels are the “first ones” interested in having safe spaces for their customers. “When situations arise in which customers show their concern because they lack money, the hotel always tries to help them and of course in the event of any security doubts, the guarantee mechanisms are activated to protect the customer,” she added.
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Obviously, it’s still important that all tourists follow ‘good practices’ when it comes to their documentation and belongings – with the main recommendation to use the safe in your accommodation’s room. “Video surveillance, access control, and secure payment systems have transformed security in hotels, and customers should always choose establishments that are complying with tourism rules and regulations,” Mayte said.
The Foreign Tourist Assistance Services (SATE) is a police department whose role is to ‘offer foreign tourists, visiting the city, personalised assistance after having suffered a criminal offence or any other similar incident’. If you need help cancelling official documents or reporting a crime, Benidorm tourists should call 965 56 36 75. You can learn more about SATE here.
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