Special warning regarding theft

Which tour; where?

Oh, that’s awful! I hope they didn’t lose all of their precious photos because of the stolen phone! : (

I guess I don’t feel quite so paranoid now. During the RS Adriatic tour, a gentleman kindly took all of our luggage up the steep hill on the Istria peninsula tiny village hotel. I placed my Cotopaxi in the bed of the truck, but I was the sole person who carried up my personal item - a small tote that had my iPad, medicine, purse - essentials. I just didn’t feel comfortable having that one in the pile left unattended in the lobby as we all walked up.

And a reminder when traveling independently. I leave off my Cotopaxi often at the next hotel when I arrive. At least 50% of the time a room is ready, but otherwise, I do take my essentials placed into my purse vs. leaving them in the lobby. It can happen anywhere.

I am so sorry for your tour mate. What a headache to deal with. I've had multiple friends in similar situation.
I have left my carry-on roller at the lobby multiple times, especially during my Morocco trip/tour as instructed. But I never left my backpack especially my essentials like wallet, phone, passport. Those are with me always.
Traveling alone, I also play on the safe side and always bring my backpack with me instead of asking someone I just met on a tour to watch my bag for me while I use the restroom, for example.

I am cautious where I leave my bags.

In Venice, a number of years ago, I asked if I could leave my bag. They said yes and directed me to an alcove that had no door and was not visible to the reception desk. It was next to the elevator and anyone could have walked off with a bag.

If a hotel doesn't put my bag in a separate room where only they can retrieve it, I don't leave it.

That is really unfortunate.

I can promise you though I am never not carrying my backpack with my wallet and my phone. I am keeping that on me. Would you leave your purse like that ??

I agree. I would never leave my phone, money or passport unattended like this. That seems to be asking for trouble. I’d be wary of leaving my clothes to be honest.

Based on another recent post from the OP, it looks like where this happened was Catania, Sicily. But of course theft can happen anywhere. I’ve taken many trips with companies like OAT that ask you to put luggage outside your hotel room by a certain time, for it to be collected by hotel porters for transportation, where it often is in the lobby for a while, and there’s never been any problem with that in my trips. And I’ve also personally had hotels hold my luggage often, with no loss. It’s low risk. Most thieves have no interest in the dirty clothes and toiletries found in most luggage, at least in most luggage left by someone in a pile in a hotel lobby. And I would never leave valuables in that situation. I wonder here whether this thief just got lucky, or had some reason to think that that particular bag was worth stealing.

I’m very sorry this happened to the person on the trip but it maybe shows a slight lack of common sense.
I’m not sure when the advice was given to leave luggage in the hotel lobby they meant a bag containing all a customers valuables.

I talked to a family in Amsterdam last week who had a backpack stolen while checking into their hotel in Amsterdam. The wife said they are generally hypervigilant with luggage while managing their four kids during check in. The dad turned his back for a moment to finish check in at the desk, turned back around, and his backpack was gone.