Three women who thought they would have the time of their lives in Ocho Rios, St Ann, during the Easter weekend celebrations, are now counting their losses.

The women, who were staying at a hotel in Ocho Rios, told THE STAR that after leaving for a party on Saturday night, they returned to the room to find most of their personal belongings, including cash, missing. To make matters worse, they received no support or reassurance from the hotel's management.

Latoya, one of the women, told THE STAR: "On Saturday evening, we left there about 1 or 2 p.m. to go to j'ouvert and we came back about 8:45 or so. When we came back our things were still there. The hotel was hosting a party that night, so we left the room about after 11 and came back after three or four in the morning."

money missing

She said it was while checking her bag to take a tablet that she realised some of her money was missing. "I had money two places, so when I saw that that was missing, I checked my purse and that money was gone too." After checking their belongings, her friends realised that they too had been robbed. One woman was robbed of J$23,000 and US$20 (J$1,800), another J$10,000 plus jewellery and a cellphone and the other J$5,000 and US$2 (J$180).

Latoya said there were no signs of forced entry into the room, and they believed a key was used to open their door. She said after searching and finally locating the hotel's owners, they were treated as though it was their fault the items were stolen. "The lady started to cuss us out and said to me, unnu neva see the sign on the door." A sign declaring that the hotel was not responsible for lost items was placed on the door of the room.

The women said the hotel's facilities are open to the public and there was no real security system. "There was one likkle security that looked like he couldn't even catch a fly and there were no cameras there," Latoya said.

Efforts to speak with the hotel owners proved futile yesterday as they were not available.

While still coming to grips with their lost valuables, the women are angry at the owners who they believe did not take their plight seriously.

The Constabulary Communication Network confirmed that the Ocho Rios police are investigating the matter and confirmed that a report of items vanishing from a room while its occupants were out, had indeed been made.