A Hotel in New Orleans Is Offering a $15,000 Stay to the Guest With the Stickiest Fingers

Let's be real, we've all had that moment in a hotel where you talk yourself into stealing the tiny shampoo bottles and soaps, because they're going to throw them out after you leave anyway, right? But one hotel in New Orleans is encouraging guests to prove they can get away with taking more than just lavender-scented toiletries. The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria hotel, is hosting a contest in celebration of its 125th anniversary — and it's going to take a true thief to rake in the $15,000 prize. So how do you earn this extravagant reward?

"The person that offers up the most outrageous stolen item from our hotel between now and July 1, 2019 will receive seven free nights in our Presidential Suite, along with free private dinners cooked by the executive chef, and spa experiences," General Manager Tod Chambers told Condé Nast Traveler. "We'd estimate nearly 700 of our logoed Sazerac glasses are 'borrowed' from the bar during the holiday season alone. This is letting us recapture a little history and have some fun doing it," Chambers added. "In a way, knowing they have something that reminds them of our Roosevelt in their own homes? Well, that leaves us flattered," he said.

A one-night stay in the hotel would total $1,500 per night for the room alone, making the total prize worth $15,000 — way better than mini shampoos!

Originally known as the Grunewald Hotel, which was founded in 1893, the hotel became the Roosevelt in 1923 and has since developed a rich history and seen thousands of guests, including musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. After 125 years, Roosevelt guests have had plenty of time to swipe more than their fair share of bathrobes, hotel keys, pillow covers, menus, vases, and hotel decor (sneaky rascals). Past guests can feel free to return any item from the hotel without judgment. One person even returned an entire tablecloth, and kudos to them for pulling off that creative escapade.

In order to enter the contest, you have to have visited sometime in the last century or so and gotten away with a pretty amazing keepsake — which means new guests are NOT encouraged to steal from the hotel (anymore). As far as limits to what can be returned? "We will accept any item from any time period in the building's hotel history for our Historic Giveback Contest," Chambers said. "We want to celebrate her entire past."

The winner of the contest will be announced during the hotel's 125th birthday bash in July. Keep reading or pictures of some of the items returned for the Giveback contest so far below.