I was on the night shift of a small hotel and a year ago, it happened to me, and I still can’t stop thinking about the event. It was the most horrifying moment of my life. I still don’t know what that man’s intentions were, how he got into the hotel, how long he was inside without anyone realizing, and that alone makes me sick to my stomach.
I worked at a three-story hotel with approximately 40 guest rooms. It was a slow and quiet location during the week. Generally, during the week, we would have only 10-15 guests at any given time. My shift was 10 PM – 6 AM, so I had many quiet, boring nights, which I loved. When I had nothing to occupy my time, I would either perform administrative tasks at the front desk or watch YouTube on my mobile device while checking the video surveillance camera system.
The lobby was relatively small. There was a lobby desk and a small waiting area complete with some couches, a television set, and some vending machines in the corner. Behind the lobby desk was a small office with a computer and chair, separated from the lobby by a sheet of glass, so that I could always see what went on in the lobby. The lobby desk would lock automatically at night, and guests would have to ring the buzzer to enter; then, I would let them in by pressing a button. After midnight, the lobby is usually empty except for the rare occurrence when a guest arrives late.
That night was the same as it had been for all the previous evenings until approximately 11:00 p.m. when a man buzzed in. I inadvertently allowed him in without much thought. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, tall, somewhat lean but not too thin, dressed in blue jeans, wearing a baseball cap and carrying a backpack. The guest approached the lobby desk and asked about room availability. I informed him that we did have a room, quoted him the rate, and after receiving his credit card payment, I issued him a key card to room number 214, located on the second floor.
As he walked away from me, I noticed him looking right at me and it was a second longer than I should have noticed it. His expression wasn’t angry or anything, but it did throw me off because he looked so blank and continued looking at me for three or four seconds while I handed him the key. It may not have been suspicious to me, however, I had noticed him. Then he turned and walked toward the elevator.
Then, once he left, I sat back down and played with my mobile device. Then, at midnight, I looked up and saw that the same person had come back to the lobby. but, rather than come to the desk to speak to me, he walked right past me and sat on one of the couches facing the television, which wasn’t even on. My first thought was that he must not be able to sleep. Some guests do lounge in the lobby so I paid little attention to he who I assumed couldn’t sleep.
My thought process changed about thirty minutes afterward when I began looking around for he who had not moved at all since I last checked him out. He wasn’t using a mobile device, he wasn’t reading or dozing off. He simply sat there and stared into nothingness for an extended period of time. Since he had not moved since I first looked at him, I decided to get a drink из the vending machine.
I was aware that someone kept a close eye on me during an entire shift, even though I did not directly gaze back at him; I sensed those eyes on my back until I was behind the desk.
At approximately 1:00 a.m., as an Idle check of reservations, I stumbled upon an anomaly; room two hundred fourteen was vacant, even though I was convinced of his check-in. I checked the log for confirmation. There was absolutely no trace of him having checked in, that is to say: No name, no billing account number, and no credit card charges nor anything vaguely representing a credit card transaction. I checked my transaction screen, once again proving no credit card activity whatsoever. I distinctly remember using my credit card machine to swipe his card, and having some sort of confirmation that the credit card was approved; however, the system does not confirm anything.
I then attempted to gain the attention of room two hundred fourteen by calling him directly. An operator answer phone confirmed he was not present during that call, therefore, I checked the main entry key card activity log; no activity. At that point, I realized he had never actually even gone to room two hundred fourteen.
I looked over to the lounge area and saw him still sitting there, focused on the TV. I felt a sense of dread starting to set in. I continued to wait in false hope that this boom-boom room two hundred fourteen was merely an error from the hotel reservation system. Finally, I inquired as to whether or not he was alright? He simply replied he was unable to sleep, and returned his gaze to the TV.
I watched him move around and around over the course of the night while checking the hotel security cameras multiple times. At times, he would sit and wait outside each individual guest’s room and wait for some sort of response from me or another employee. By this point in time, it was now 3:30 a.m., and after what felt like an eternity of this odd behaviour, I decided enough was enough! I called the police.
The officers arrived, spoke with him briefly, then escorted him from the property. One of those officers called me later that day and provided me with the truth about this man… he wasn’t a guest at all! He had stolen someone else’s room card and pretended to check in just so that he could enter.
After the officers left the premises, I stayed shaken until my shift ended. The thought that he had spent the last few hours just lurking around the hotel, watching me, and hanging around outside the guest’s room still sends chills down my spine.
This is undoubtedly the scariest night I have ever experienced.