"The RFID chip will trip an alarm that will instantly alert the staff." (Image by Jessica F.)

Swiping towels at check-out time just got tougher as hotels have begun embedding in their linen radio-frequency chips that sound an alarm if the items are removed from the premises. From Endgadget:

“For many travelers, stealing hotel towels or bathrobes is more pastime than petty crime. Hotels, on the other hand, apparently take it more seriously. So seriously, in fact, that some have begun embedding specially crafted RFID tags within their linens, just to help us avoid ‘accidentally’ stuffing them in our suitcases before heading to the check-out desk. The chips, designed by Miami-based Linen Technology Tracking, can be sewn directly into towels, bathrobes or bed sheets, and can reportedly withstand up to 300 wash cycles. If a tagged item ever leaves a hotel’s premises, the RFID chip will trip an alarm that will instantly alert the staff, and comprehensively humiliate the guilty party.”