A Disney World housekeeper — who was at least the third employee to be arrested in an ongoing sting at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside — admitted to a string of thefts across several hotels, court documents show.
Julian Bracero Jimenez, 21, of Davenport, was arrested March 30 and charged with employee theft, which is a third-degree felony, according to Orange Circuit Court Records. He pled not guilty this month.
An Orange County Sheriff’s detective was conducting video surveillance on an empty hotel room that was set up with Disney cash as a decoy room. The detective watched Jimenez enter and look around the room, his arrest affidavit said. Jimenez took money out of a backpack that had been left in the room. He stuffed the cash in his pants pocket and left the room when a detective intercepted him.
“I approached the suspect, placing my hand on his shoulder, and told him I was a Detective to put his hands behind his back,” the law-enforcement official wrote in the report. “The suspect stated that he knew why we were there and he said it was about the money.”
Jimenez was handcuffed and read his Miranda Rights but he kept talking.
He admitted to taking $300 in the decoy room and confessed to other thefts, the report said.
“l asked Julian if he had taken money from any other rooms. He stated that he has taken money from other rooms on a few occasions. He stated that he has never taken more than $200 at a time. He stated that he has taken money from rooms located at Port Orleans, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Caribbean Beach resorts,” the detective wrote in the arrest report. “He also stated that he has taken small items from rooms like key chains and other small items that guests have left in the rooms.”
Jimenez’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, it was a busy March at the hotel.
Jimenez is at least the third Disney housekeeper to be arrested at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
On March 9, in the same hotel but a different decoy hotel room, the sheriff’s office was conducting video surveillance in a similar sting that led to two other housekeepers’ arrests.
In addition, a teenager who was wanted back in South Carolina for double homicide charges was arrested at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside on March 11.
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I gotta say, this really does tarnish the magic. The first thing that came to mind when I read this, was to think back over the years and wonder if anything of mine was stolen over the years and I simply never noticed. I have always left money and expensive items laying out in the open. Perhaps its a good thing that DVC only cleans every 4 days or so. less opportunities to pilfer. I will definitely have this on my mind on the next trip.
We stayed at Port Orleans for 8 days back in November 2021…Storms were predicted later in the afternoon and went back to the room to get the umbrellas…particularly my wife’s Vera Bradley $72.00 one that mysteriously disappeared that day…I called Port Orleans lobby and inquired whether maybe the maid who emptied the garbage pail might have assumed this new umbrella was garbage? I asked for the lost and found department and was told none was turned in…I was totally pissed..
I went down to the lobby and saw the manager on duty…I explained the details and was given a certificate redeemable at Disney Springs…which was where we were originally heading….I received (2) cheaply made Disney umbrellas @ $13.50 each…That night the wind and rain came and ultimately turned these umbrella imposters into…garbage.
I truly believe that with the lack of housekeeping and the lack of guest’s tips received by the employee…this indeed was an invitation for this individual to self compensate himself…maybe hotel security should begin to look within the employees…not the daily guest security room checks…I will never use or purchase another Disney umbrella …ever. Even if its free.
My favorite sweatshirt was stolen out of my room at port Orleans riverside in November! We had declined housekeeping too. It was weird because we had a rainy day and stayed in the room and employees kept knocking on our door. Felt off. Glad they are catching them.
Might have to use the in room safe and hope guys like these don’t have the combination.
Can’t even trust the mouse – I guess thieves are everywhere- this is just another other reason to boycott Disney and there high prices!!