You are staying in a nice hotel. They provide toiletries in your bathroom including shampoo, conditioner, soap and hand lotion. You really like the feel of the lotion and the smell of the shampoo. You want some to take home with you. You decide to raid the housekeeping’s cart.

Are you a thief? Think about that for a moment before reading on.

Most likely, if you ever have stayed in a hotel, you have brought toiletries home with you. I want to state right up front, there is a difference between bringing home the toiletries you don’t use and raiding the housekeeping cart for additional supplies. I hope you would agree.

What makes me such an expert on what is stealing and what isn’t, you ask? Well, for one I had an issue with theft in my past and now, as a counselor for theft classes, I make "self awareness and responsibility" a part of my life.

At a recent stay in a Las Vegas hotel I asked a housekeeper for her thoughts. I hope you agree they are quite poignant. If you sneak up to her cart while she is cleaning a room and gran a few extra bottles of soap, conditioner, lotion or other items she thinks that is stealing. Why? Because if you asked, she would give you a bottle or three.

What do you think?