AUSTIN, Texas — An Atlanta man is warning others after he said thousands of dollars worth of items were stolen from inside his hotel room in Austin.
“They wiped me out. Literally, they wiped me out,” said Parris Fleming
Fleming said he was staying at Sonesta Select Austin North for contract work with the city that was supposed to last a year.
“I was just going to go ahead and probably get an apartment down there,” said Fleming.
Now, Fleming wishes he did. He said on Aug. 14, his room key stopped working. When he eventually entered the room, his bags were open and expensive valuables were missing.
“The watch and the chain alone were $50,000,” said Fleming. “The gun, about $600, the PlayStation $600, the designer shoes.”
Fleming said his credit card and other items were stolen as well. He believes over $60,000 worth of belongings was taken. Fleming provided KVUE receipts for his $21,000 Rolex and other stolen items. He said immediately his credit card started being used, but thankfully the credit card company reimbursed him.
Austin police confirmed they are investigating this incident. The detective said Fleming’s gun was recovered in a separate incident but that person is not a suspect.
“I didn’t know how to take it,” said Fleming. “I felt terrible though.”
Fleming said the hotel was at first helpful but eventually stopped responding.
While the hotel has 4.1 stars on Google, one reviewer claims they witnessed a situation where staff let strangers into a guest’s room and items were allegedly stolen. Another review claims their room door was left open, prompting theft concerns.
Hotel management posted a response to both of those reviews writing in part, “Rest assured, we take great precautions to ensure the safety of our guests and the security of their belongings.”
“I want my things back or I just need to be compensated for them, and I just need them to up on their security,” said Fleming.
The hotel clerk said after Fleming’s incident, they installed cameras.
In a statement, we were told the property is owned by a franchise and “there is no comment to be made at this time, as it is an active police investigation.”
APD said right now detectives do not have suspects and no arrests have been made. If you have any information, give APD a call.