Public restroom-be very aware of your surroundings

How scary! It kind of sounds like he was scouting for purses to lift from the hook, but that's ballsy to do in a casino with all the cameras they have. I've heard of similar things happening elsewhere, though, where a thief looks over the stall and grabs a purse if one is hanging on the hook, knowing that someone with their pants around their ankles can't give effective chase. And I suppose the restroom is probably the only place to steal that's guaranteed to be off camera even in a casino, so if he stuffed the stolen purse in his backpack before leaving the room, he might think he could get away with it? Or at least be stupid enough and tempted enough to try.

I really wish more places would go to properly enclosed stalls. I don't carry a purse often but when I do I feel like it has a big ol' "steal me" sign on it, particularly on restroom hooks and other times I have to take it off/put it down.
 
RedAngie said:
I’d be more wary of a man “standing guard” outside a casino ladies room than anything that could happen inside. I’d likely try to find another restroom.
Click to expand...

The OP was TL/DR. I lost interest when she said her husband usually accompanies her to the restroom and stands outside “for safety.”
sam_gordon said:
I have waited outside a bathroom for my wife, but not to "stand guard", just because I have to wait somewhere. lol
Click to expand...
Sure, practically every husband has done the same. But almost all stand 10 or more feet away, not right outside the entrance.

So what does this husband do for “safety?” Interrogate every woman who enters after his wife? Give dirty looks to everyone who passes within 5 feet? Sounds like Karen (Kyle?) behavior.

And then the one time he doesn’t watch supposedly something bad happened. Pffft. Not buying what she’s selling.
 
thinkerbell said:
Just an experience… We just got back from Las Vegas a couple of days ago. This happened the last night we were there. Actually, we were supposed to already be home but our flight got cancelled and rescheduled for the next day. My husband and I were in a casino and we were playing a slot together. I needed to go to the restroom and let him know that I would be right back. He normally goes with me and stands outside, for safety, but it wasn’t that far away so neither one of us thought anything about it. I went in and there was no one else in there that I could tell. I had passed the girl that was working in there on her way out. This all happened in just a few seconds, less than a minute.
As I was conducting my short business, someone came into the stall next to me. There were at least 20 stalls in there so there were plenty of others to choose from. The shadow on the floor caught my eye because there was a lot of motion going on. I looked up to make sure no one was looking over. I’m not sure why, other than the shadow motions, but I felt uncomfortable. Looked up again a couple of seconds later and a man was looking over at me. I was scared to death, I think because I didn’t think anyone else was in there and afraid of what he might do. I screamed bloody murder. I have never screamed like that in my entire life. He quickly ran out. I stopped screaming for a second. The doors were not totally solid. There was a small section that was kind of opaque. I saw a shadow of someone walking by the door and I started screaming again because I thought he was back. A lady said something to me to let me know it was her out there. She had seen the young man with a backpack running out of the restroom. The lady who worked there that I had passed came in and said she had heard me screaming but thought someone at a table game had won something. I know it doesn’t sound nearly as scary as it was to me, and I’m shaking right now just remembering it. At the time, I could hardly get my words out, I was so scared. I’m pretty sure that he saw me go in and I was his target because he came in so close behind me. Not sure if his intent was to steal my purse or something else. I am an overweight 59 year old woman so I’m thinking maybe the purse, although he was looking over near the back of the stall.
When I got to my husband and let him know what happened, he immediately hunted down a security officer. I really don’t think there was a lot that they can do but they had me to write a statement and said they were searching the recordings near the restroom to see if they could find footage of the man. He said that they would send the man’s picture to all of their properties and he would get in trouble for trespassing if he ever came on any of their properties. One thing he did tell us was that, by law, they couldn’t keep men from going into the women’s restroom. He said that a big burly man with a foot long beard could go in and they couldn’t say anything. Makes me want to take my big burly man in with me every time. It scared me so much that I can not imagine how I would have felt had he actually done something to me other than looking.
Now I have decided to always go in the first (or last) stall so there is only one stall wall that can be looked over, if possible. I will look up multiple times just to make sure. And, my husband will always be stationed right outside like he normally is.

Please be very aware of your restroom neighbors.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the great advise/warning! I'm so sorry this happened to you and thankfully you were not physically harmed. Unfortunately CREEPS are out there, right under our noses.
 
Babs Johnson said:
The OP was TL/DR. I lost interest when she said her husband usually accompanies her to the restroom and stands outside “for safety.”

Sure, practically every husband has done the same. But almost all stand 10 or more feet away, not right outside the entrance.

So what does this husband do for “safety?” Interrogate every woman who enters after his wife? Give dirty looks to everyone who passes within 5 feet? Sounds like Karen (Kyle?) behavior.

And then the one time he doesn’t watch supposedly something bad happened. Pffft. Not buying what she’s selling.
Click to expand...
We must be reading different posts. I don't recall reading that her husband waited right at the door or sized up every individual walking past. There wasn't hyperbolic language in OPs post, but this sure is. She isn't "selling" anything besides a reminder to be cautious about your surroundings.
 
I'm starting to get the feeling some of the posts are jealousy of OP that she has a husband that cares enough about her safety to check up and make sure she is ok after a previous incident that she had. I'm just picking up what others are throwing down.

If we really want to get into hyperbole - maybe the OP post causes offense in the voyeuristic community who enjoy these types of casual encounters. That's the only other logical explanation I have for why someone would defend a peeper.
 
Babs Johnson said:
The OP was TL/DR. I lost interest when she said her husband usually accompanies her to the restroom and stands outside “for safety.”

Sure, practically every husband has done the same. But almost all stand 10 or more feet away, not right outside the entrance.

So what does this husband do for “safety?” Interrogate every woman who enters after his wife? Give dirty looks to everyone who passes within 5 feet? Sounds like Karen (Kyle?) behavior.

And then the one time he doesn’t watch supposedly something bad happened. Pffft. Not buying what she’s selling.
Click to expand...
TL/DR
 
Karin1984 said:
We don't know how the OP sounded to the man in the stall. For all we know she made sounds that were unusual or sounded as if she was in pain. It's Vegas, maybe the man was intoxicated just a little (could explain his sounds).

To me it's quite a stretch that this man is up to no good. It's a busy night at a casino, there is an employee working there, women (and apparently men) can walk in and out constantly. There are only a few seconds available.
Option 1: He is a peeping tom. Not likely. He would have been in the bathroom the entire evening and probably looking through the gaps at the door, as there is less risk, and a better view.
Option 2: He wanted to do more than just peep. Unlikely, as he has a better chance overpowering her when she comes and and push her back in. But if he wanted to overpower a woman, he would probably have chosen a frail-looking woman. (like the girl in Florida the previous poster referred to)
Option 3: He wanted to steel her purse. It then doesn't make sense to look over the bathroom wall when the intent is to steal, as you probably cannot reach a purse on a floor, on the lap or hanging at the door. You have a better chance to kneel and reach from under the door, if the purse is on the floor. And there must be better ways in Vegas to pickpocket and steel purses, as everyone is focused on their games.

I don't want to diminish the OP's feelings and that she got scared by suddenly seeing a man's face where it shouldn't be. It's described as a horror story, which maybe it was to the OP, but with what really happened, I have no reason to believe that the man was up to no good, and instead it could be a mistake.
Click to expand...
A 20 year old friend of my daughter was raped in a restaurant loo cubicle in a busy city centre shopping centre in the U.K. Sadly it happens. I hate unisex loos, and loos that have a shared corridor and I will never understand why US loo doors are so far off the floor and ceiling.
 
Marrila said:
Really? Controlling??
Lots of folks wait for a spouse or friend. It happens all the time at WDW. And yes, people do the same in Vegas. It's easier to find each other and get on with our day together.
When on our own? We use the facilities and leave.
Click to expand...
Actually the OP inferred and later confirmed it was not just at the casino but every public washroom . And that she doesn’t leave home without the husband.
Of course my husband sometimes waits outside a WDW washroom if we are walking by.

But not every public washroom and I’m out without him all the time so there’s that.
Seems like something traumatic happened to OP that requires this behavior which is sad.
 
Do we really want to go to completely enclosed bathroom stalls in restrooms?
Maybe not so fast...

Why are bathroom stalls designed the way they are in the US anyway?
What were the thought processes for why they are as they are?

https://onepointpartitions.com/blog/2018/05/18/why-are-bathroom-stalls-not-to-the-floor/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642735/reason-public-bathroom-stalls-have-gaps

If you want to know why bathroom stalls don’t go to the floor, you’ve come to the right place to find answers. Here are some of the reasons that justify bathroom partitions not extending all the way to the floor:

  • Easier to Clean: By having a gap at the bottom, bathroom partitions are much easier to clean, as is the whole restroom. You can hose down or even powerwash a restroom that has partitions with gaps at the bottom because the water has somewhere to run even if there’s not a drain in a given stall.
  • Emergency Access: If someone loses consciousness in a fully enclosed bathroom, it may take hours for someone to notice. If this happens in a stall with a gap at the bottom, the odds are good someone will notice much quicker, which is important in instances where every second can mean the difference between life and death. Instead of having to break down the door, a first responder can crawl through the gap at the bottom of the partition and unlock the door to render help.
  • Deterrent to Undesirable Behavior: Because people can partially see into a bathroom stall that has a gap at the bottom, this type of partition is a natural deterrent to undesirable behavior, such as someone spray painting the stall with graffiti. A gap also provides just enough of a dent in privacy to make any kind of undesirable public behavior—like sexual activity or drug use—less practical.
  • More Affordable: Partitions that don’t extend from the floor to the ceiling don’t have to be custom made to fit a room’s exact measurements and they don’t require as many materials to construct. This makes them considerably more affordable.
  • Better Air Circulation: Better air circulation is one of the top reasons why there are gaps under toilet stalls. While restrooms with this kind of partition may still get a bit stinky from time to time, things would be even more overwhelming in a fully enclosed stall.
  • Keeps the Line Moving: Having a gap at the base of a partition allows people waiting in line to see if a stall is occupied or vacant. This visibility keeps the line moving and prevents wait times from being any longer than they have to be. When a stall isn’t fully enclosed, people often feel like they have to take care of their business even faster, which also helps keep the line moving.
  • ADA Compliance: Space is needed to allow for easier maneuverability for patrons in a wheelchair. The gap allows toe space for wheelchair users which allows more room to move within the stalls. 9″ minimum toe space is required per ADA guidelines.
  • Escape Route: A lock can jam for a wide variety of reasons. If this happens in a stall that has a gap at the bottom, you have an escape route — you can simply crawl out.
  • Toilet Paper Can Be Shared: If you’ve ever run out of toilet paper and had to ask the person in the stall next to you for a few squares, then you’re already familiar with one of the leading reasons for bathroom partitions not extending to the floor. If you’d run out of toilet paper in an enclosed stall, you may have been caught with your pants down at least figurately!
Additionally, doors that come only part of the way down are universal, meaning that suppliers and installers don’t need to custom-measure them. This saves on costs.

If you’re still not convinced gaps are a design win, consider that an enclosed stall is going to have only limited air circulation. The last thing you want or need in a public bathroom is to trap odors. It also helps keep loitering to a minimum. (Then again, so would the stench.)

Remember—if you’re mildly uncomfortable in a public stall, that’s the point. And if you collapse from the fumes of the previous occupant, at least someone will be able to see you. :teeth:
 
Pea-n-Me said:
Do we really want to go to completely enclosed bathroom stalls in restrooms?
Maybe not so fast...

Why are bathroom stalls designed the way they are in the US anyway?
What were the thought processes for why they are as they are?

https://onepointpartitions.com/blog/2018/05/18/why-are-bathroom-stalls-not-to-the-floor/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642735/reason-public-bathroom-stalls-have-gaps

If you want to know why bathroom stalls don’t go to the floor, you’ve come to the right place to find answers. Here are some of the reasons that justify bathroom partitions not extending all the way to the floor:

  • Easier to Clean: By having a gap at the bottom, bathroom partitions are much easier to clean, as is the whole restroom. You can hose down or even powerwash a restroom that has partitions with gaps at the bottom because the water has somewhere to run even if there’s not a drain in a given stall.
  • Emergency Access: If someone loses consciousness in a fully enclosed bathroom, it may take hours for someone to notice. If this happens in a stall with a gap at the bottom, the odds are good someone will notice much quicker, which is important in instances where every second can mean the difference between life and death. Instead of having to break down the door, a first responder can crawl through the gap at the bottom of the partition and unlock the door to render help.
  • Deterrent to Undesirable Behavior: Because people can partially see into a bathroom stall that has a gap at the bottom, this type of partition is a natural deterrent to undesirable behavior, such as someone spray painting the stall with graffiti. A gap also provides just enough of a dent in privacy to make any kind of undesirable public behavior—like sexual activity or drug use—less practical.
  • More Affordable: Partitions that don’t extend from the floor to the ceiling don’t have to be custom made to fit a room’s exact measurements and they don’t require as many materials to construct. This makes them considerably more affordable.
  • Better Air Circulation: Better air circulation is one of the top reasons why there are gaps under toilet stalls. While restrooms with this kind of partition may still get a bit stinky from time to time, things would be even more overwhelming in a fully enclosed stall.
  • Keeps the Line Moving: Having a gap at the base of a partition allows people waiting in line to see if a stall is occupied or vacant. This visibility keeps the line moving and prevents wait times from being any longer than they have to be. When a stall isn’t fully enclosed, people often feel like they have to take care of their business even faster, which also helps keep the line moving.
  • ADA Compliance: Space is needed to allow for easier maneuverability for patrons in a wheelchair. The gap allows toe space for wheelchair users which allows more room to move within the stalls. 9″ minimum toe space is required per ADA guidelines.
  • Escape Route: A lock can jam for a wide variety of reasons. If this happens in a stall that has a gap at the bottom, you have an escape route — you can simply crawl out.
  • Toilet Paper Can Be Shared: If you’ve ever run out of toilet paper and had to ask the person in the stall next to you for a few squares, then you’re already familiar with one of the leading reasons for bathroom partitions not extending to the floor. If you’d run out of toilet paper in an enclosed stall, you may have been caught with your pants down at least figurately!
Additionally, doors that come only part of the way down are universal, meaning that suppliers and installers don’t need to custom-measure them. This saves on costs.

If you’re still not convinced gaps are a design win, consider that an enclosed stall is going to have only limited air circulation. The last thing you want or need in a public bathroom is to trap odors. It also helps keep loitering to a minimum. (Then again, so would the stench.)

Remember—if you’re mildly uncomfortable in a public stall, that’s the point. And if you collapse from the fumes of the previous occupant, at least someone will be able to see you. :teeth:
Click to expand...
I love the last reason.
 
Pea-n-Me said:
  • Keeps the Line Moving: Having a gap at the base of a partition allows people waiting in line to see if a stall is occupied or vacant. This visibility keeps the line moving and prevents wait times from being any longer than they have to be.
Click to expand...
In European bathrooms there's usually an indicator on the door that shows if it's occupied/locked or not. Very easy to see and you don't need to peek at people or knock to do it.
 
Moliphino said:
In European bathrooms there's usually an indicator on the door that shows if it's occupied/locked or not. Very easy to see and you don't need to peek at people or knock to do it.
Click to expand...
That's here too in various places around the U.S.

I usually see it one of two ways

1) Vacant/Occupied words right at the handle part and the green color shows for vacant and red for occupied
2) A placard towards the top of the door that turns green for vacant and red for occupied.
 
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