At least 10 people robbed as they slept at luxury hotel in Midtown, police say

ATLANTA — People staying at a fancy hotel in Atlanta say they are having their stuff stolen while they sleep.

The robberies have happened at least 10 times at the Crowne Plaza Midtown on West Peachtree Street since September.

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson was at the hotel, where there are still a lot of questions about why and how the robberies keep happening.

In each case, the victims said they locked their doors, but somehow, possibly with a master or recycled key, someone is getting right next to them as they sleep.

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Ajah Cottman said she woke up to find her credit cards stolen last Sunday. She’s one of at least ten people who have reported thefts there in the last few months.

Cottman said it’s even scarier someone was in her room as she slept.

“How could somebody possibly come into my room? My purse was next to my head on the nightstand,” Cottman said. “Anything could have happened that night. Thank God, it didn’t, but anything could have happened.”

One victim told police he was “awakened by an unknown male wearing no shirt and a mask.”

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Another victim told police he woke up with his door cracked, the security lock still in place and his items gone.

“As much money as we spent staying there, you should feel secure,” Cottman said.

A spokesperson with the hotel issued a statement to Johnson, saying:

“We have been in touch with the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown, which is independently owned and operated, and understand that the hotel’s management team is working with local authorities to investigate these incidents. The hotel also has 24-hour security at the property and has added additional patrols to ensure the highest level of guest and team member safety.”

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Security expert Parris Brooks, who is the CEO of Gridiron Protection, said it’s possible a master key or an old key is being used.

“They definitely need to perform a key audit,” Brooks said.

He said you can take steps to make sure old keys can’t be used easily.

“No matter what, just ask for a new key,” Brooks said. “Make sure and ensure it’s a new key and hasn’t been duplicated.”

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