Advice to foil thieves

No one took much notice of a well-dressed, middle-aged woman limping among the tables toward the restaurant's exit until a woman cried out: "My handbag is gone! Somebody help me!"

Alerted by the shouts, an observant waiter lunged for the limping woman's ankle and grabbed a leather shoulder bag. The thief had passed by, knocked the purse to the floor, stepped inside the strap and was dragging it away.

The bag was returned to its owner, the would-be thief was delivered to the police.

Here are some safety tips for staying at a hotel:

Never sling your handbag over your chair back in a restaurant. If you set a purse on the floor, put a chair leg through the strap.

Tote bags, briefcases and expensive coats, especially fur or leather, are also favored by thieves who frequent hotel lobbies and target unsuspecting travelers.

Such items should never be left unattended. If possible, check them with the hotel concierge.

Many travelers aren't careful with their hotel room keys. They leave them on the table in hotel restaurants, especially at breakfast, or on the bar when they stop off for a drink.

It's easy for a thief to pocket the key and clean out the room before the guest notices the key is missing.

The solution is to keep your key deep in your pocket or another safe place on your person. When you go out of the hotel, deposit your key with the front desk.

Don't assume plastic card keys without identifying room numbers are safe. Thieves may watch you and get to know your room number, the clothing and jewelry you wear, your schedule and when you're likely to be out of your room.

If you misplace a plastic card key, ask the front desk to change the electronic configuration of your lock and issue you another card.

Have your key ready when you approach your room, so you can enter without standing in the hallway and fumbling to find it.

When you enter or leave your room, make sure the door is completely closed behind you. Always check the bolt lock, chain and adjoining room doors to see they are properly secured. Before opening your door, look through the peephole.

Whenever possible, leave valuables in a safe in your room or at the front desk, and don't carry all of your identification and valuables in one place - disburse them among other belongings.

Carry copies of the front page of your passport and your driver's license, and keep a list of serial numbers of items such as credit cards, telephone calling cards, traveler's checks, airplane tickets and blank bank checks, to help police track stolen belongings.