Travel Expert's Chilling Warning After Holiday Burglary
A seasoned travel professional has issued an urgent safety plea to all holidaymakers following what she describes as a "sickening" experience during a recent trip. Sue Ross, founder of the travel consultancy Sue Where Why What, was robbed while sleeping alone in an apartment during a visit to St Lucia, an incident that has profoundly changed her approach to accommodation security.
The Night That Changed Everything
"On my recent trip to St Lucia, I was robbed," Ross revealed. "An intruder broke in while I was sleeping and stole from me. It was a sickening experience, but I was also very lucky." The traumatic event has transformed Ross into a passionate advocate for tourist safety, with a particular focus on one critical oversight she believes many travellers make.
The One Safety Measure She Now Swears By
Ross identifies a single, simple action as the most crucial safety check: ensuring all windows are securely closed before sleeping. "If there is one big thing I have changed," she explained, "it's appreciating air conditioning, or using fans to get the air circulating. I will never open the windows at night again."
She acknowledges that many holidaymakers, particularly in warm climates, make the understandable mistake of leaving windows ajar for ventilation. However, this creates an easily exploitable vulnerability for intruders, regardless of whether you're on a ground floor or higher up. Even elevated rooms with balconies or accessible fire escapes present risks.
The Comprehensive 10-Second Safety Routine
Ross advocates for a quick but thorough pre-sleep inspection that takes mere seconds but could prevent devastating consequences:
- Window and Curtain Check: Ensure all windows are fully closed and locked. Draw curtains completely to obscure the room's interior from outside view.
- Door Reinforcement: Beyond using the standard lock, consider additional measures like a rubber doorstop, an alarmed security bar, or even positioning a chair against the door. These physical obstructions signal to potential burglars that the occupant is security-conscious, often deterring them from attempting entry.
- Valuables Protocol: Contrary to common practice, Ross recommends using the hotel safe for important items. To avoid forgetting them, place a personal item like your shoes directly on top of the safe as a visual reminder during checkout.
Why Simple Precautions Matter
"Burglars typically look for easy opportunities," Ross notes. "Any obstruction can make them think the person they are robbing is on high alert so it is not worth the effort." The psychology is straightforward: most criminals seek low-risk targets, and even minimal security enhancements can make your room an unattractive option.
This advice comes at a time when many Britons are planning overseas holidays, often to destinations with different security standards than they're accustomed to at home. The exhaustion that follows an action-packed day of exploration can make safety checks seem like a chore, but Ross's experience underscores their absolute necessity.
Her final recommendation is pragmatic: "If there isn't any air conditioning or a fan, then again, the higher your room, the better for both safety reasons and access to a cooling breeze." However, she stresses that height alone isn't sufficient—the fundamental practice remains securing all potential entry points before surrendering to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings.
