Why you shouldn't steal from your hotel room mini-bar

For as long as there have been mini-bars in hotel rooms, guests have been finding ingenious ways of pilfering from them and then covering their tracks.

But if you’ve ever thought of emptying a bottle of your favourite beverage and refilling it with something less interesting – don’t, because the fridge may be on to you.

Technology is slowly shutting the door on the mini-bar thief.

Mini-bars with anti-theft systems have been around for some time, but today’s fully automated systems are utilising technologies such as movement and infra-red sensors, fibre optics and even Bluetooth technology.

One of the latest systems utilises infra-red sensing to detect when an item is removed and then replaced. If it’s not replaced within 30 to 60 seconds, you are charged for it.

The fridge communicates with a hotel server, sending information about the movement of items.

Bluetooth-enabled handheld devices are also used by hotel staff to monitor and replace stock in all mini-bars.

Another system incorporates software which shows a two-dimensional view inside each room’s mini-bar.

The software separately marks items which are picked up, removed or replaced, which means trying to do the sly changeover inside the actual fridge isn’t an option either.

Systems of this kind, coupled with special seals on products, are making it increasingly difficult to substitute the high-priced mini-bar stock with cheaper identical items.

And the savings make the cost of the technology worthwhile to the hotel.

British Airways Highlife magazine recently reported that around one quarter of hotel guests have admitted to stealing from a mini-bar at some time.

For those who do pay, the most popular items are bottled water, nuts and chocolates