“This could have been prevented.”
Auto theft is just about a driver’s worst nightmare, especially if it happens in a foreign country. That’s what two US travelers experienced in December of last year, when their vehicles were stolen outside the Bloom Hotel in Mississauga, a Hilton-owned property.
Justin Riddle and Glenn Bennison were in the Ontario city with their daughters for the Two Nations Girls Hockey Tournament when they say both of their cars, a Lexus RX 350H and a Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro, were taken.
Via email, Riddle told Motor1 that the hotel has refused to assist in any way. “The property owners and Hilton just ignore any communication and turn a blind eye,” he wrote.
In an email to Hilton, Riddle says hotel staff informed him that car theft was a “known issue” in the city.
There’s evidence to support this claim. Just recently, the Ontario Provincial Police recovered 306 stolen vehicles in the Mississauga area, dismantling a criminal organization. That purportedly hasn’t slowed down the issue, however.
Local media reports that in just the first 10 days of 2026, 70 cars were stolen in the Mississauga and Brampton area.
Riddle also described a suspicious interaction with a man he identified as a “hockey dad,” who allegedly approached him in the parking lot. According to Riddle, the man handed him passports and his daughter’s hockey equipment.
The man reportedly claimed he found them behind a dumpster and disappeared shortly after handing over the items.
In his email to Hilton, Riddle says he requested that the hotel assist in identifying the man, release relevant security footage to the police, and take accountability for the situation.
Under “requested actions,” Riddle partly wrote: “Formal acknowledgment of Hilton’s and its affiliate’s responsibility when charging for parking without adequate security.”
In an email provided to Motor1, Bloom complained to the hotel and Hilton about its refusal to accept liability. He wrote, “The hotel manager repeatedly cited ‘park at your own risk’ signage, only offering 50% off my rate and free breakfasts after I insisted on escalation.”
At the direction of Bloom Hotel staff, Riddle reported the theft to Peel Regional Police, who are now handling the case.
In the US, hotel liability for vehicle theft or damage largely depends on the laws of the jurisdiction and the parking situation itself. Legal experts agree that generally, hotels are not liable in these cases. There are some exceptions, however; for example, if the guest uses the hotel’s valet and the hotel fails to exercise reasonable care to safeguard their vehicle, it may be liable.
If your vehicle is broken into or stolen at a hotel, you should consult a licensed attorney to find out if the hotel may be liable.
In Canada, whether a hotel is liable for vehicle theft depends on how much control a hotel has over a guest’s vehicle at the time of the theft.
Under the country’s Hotel Keepers Act, hotels may not be liable when self-parking, meaning the guest keeps their keys, and the hotel simply provides the space without additional security.
Liability may be more likely in cases where hotels offer valet parking. In that scenario, a guest hands their keys over to a hotel employee, and the hotel takes “custody” of the vehicle. This can make the establishment responsible if the car is stolen or otherwise damaged.
In fact, in a 2018 case, a Quebec judge ruled that a hotel near the Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport was liable for damages after two cars were stolen out of its parking lot.
This was a case where the guests handed their keys to hotel staff, though there was debate over whether that meant the hotel had “custody” of their cars.
However, in Riddle and Bennison’s case, they likely didn’t hand their car keys over to the Bloom Hotel staff. In a screenshot Riddle shared with Motor1, the booking confirmation shows the hotel offered self-parking only, with no security or coverage (despite seemingly charging C$16.00 per day for parking).
In a recent conversation with Motor1, Riddle said he hasn’t heard back from Peel Police. He noted that on the day of the theft, the police only arrived around 18 hours after it occurred.
He also said he isn’t aware of whether the hotel and police are collaborating to locate the mysterious man who returned his belongings.
Riddle also expressed frustration with the hotel’s response. “Hilton has only provided me a refund of my bill for the remainder of my stay ($300ish), and they keep claiming they have no liability because of a sign,” he wrote.
When asked what resolution he hopes for, Riddle said he wants the hotel to upgrade its security measures and provide compensation. “I’m out thousands of dollars, and this could have been prevented,” he wrote.
Riddle believes Hilton may be liable under the Ontario Occupiers’ Liability Act, which generally requires property owners to ensure guests are reasonably safe while on the premises.
Motor1 has reached out to Hilton via email to request a comment on the case. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
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– The Motor1.com Team