A Canadian family vacationing in New Zealand were counting their losses yesterday after staff at their hotel gave a stranger access to their room -- where the man made off with valuable possessions and their passports after running up a food and drink tab in their name.
The con man tricked staff at the Quay West Hotel in the northern city of Auckland into letting him into the Black family's room, after apparently pretending he was drunk and had lost his room access key.
Once in the room the intruder took the visitors' money, computer and passports.
The thief then nipped into the hotel bar for a glass of expensive Drambuie liqueur on the family tab before making off with three stolen bags of loot.
They believe the man saw their surname on their baggage in the lobby earlier in the day and used that information to get the key.
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