Is it patently clear that it’s a private/locked closet or did they think it was just a jammed door?
Since it’s happened a couple of times, you may need to add it somewhere. I know you have lots of last minute bookings, but even a one page laminated instruction sheet left in the room may help. I don’t think people would be put off by it.
Were they trying to get to extra towels or something?
When something obviously is locked, what the hell is it with people??
I think you could mark them down for house rules, as this is an unstated but obvious one.
For example, I don’t need to state, “Don’t throw a Superbowl party and invite 50 friends.” So If they do it, can they say it was Okay because not a rule? Sounds like my son trying to get out of homework when he was in middle school. Yes, it actually happened. The teacher sent me an email saying he was arguing it wasn’t homework to do the daily read and respond, because it wasn’t written on the board like the other homework! 
--silly boy, now he is about to earn two bachelors degrees and a certificate in International Relations and will have more education than the teacher who scolded him! 
)
But back to your closet. It’s bad, caused some minor damage that you will have to fix. And they shouldnt have been forcing it. So NO, they were not five star guests when they try to force their way into your closet.
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It’s visible but at the bottom. Pry might be too strong a word but it definitely takes an effort beyond a simple push of the door.
Because thumbs down means I wouldn’t host them again. I would host them again and I think they would be fine at other Airbnbs. I don’t know that it’s an attempted break in. At midnight after a long day maybe it’s just a brain fart. For example, lets say you walk up to a car that you think is yours. You push the unlock on your fob and reach for the door. It doesn’t open. You try again. You push on the car and the alarm goes off. Someone approaches you and claims you are trying to break into their car. At this point you claim you thought it was your car and hope they don’t beat you, shoot you or call the cops. LOL.
It’s possible. Here’s what it looked like when I went in. Your opinion is welcomed.
In the first picture most of the scrape is from the first guests who attempted to open the locked door. They pushed the door all the way open and put a 20" scrape in the door. These women appear to have opened it about 6". They didn’t even attempt to close it all the way back (and therefore cover up their “crime”) so I think is was an innocent attempt. To what end, I don’t know.
Okay, got it - and it looks like an innocent mistake by one or more of the women to me. It’s obviously a closet and being right next to the kitchenette set-up, I would have thought to look inside also. It doesn’t help that there’s a little thumb-hole to entice!
I would put an itty-bitty printed note (since you don’t like “signs”) … …maybe about 1" x 1/2" at eye-level on the door, [Owner’s closet].
That’s all it will take, trust me.
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I have a one page laminated sheet in the room and it’s full. I can put a second sheet but honestly, what’s the point when they don’t read what’s there. I’m trying to keep it short. Between instructions on how to use the digital lock (fail) and telling them to turn off lights/AC/heater/TV/radio when they leave (fail), instruction on how to use the shower (fail), how to use the TV if they don’t get a signal (fail), how to log into the wireless (fail)…and most of the instructions are for the one person in 100 that has a problem.
Definitely not towels, they didn’t use the two I left out. I also have two extra pillows and an electric throw on an open shelf in the room. Some sort of toiletry that they needed? A feminine pad or tampon maybe. But there’s no evidence of blood anywhere. And they didn’t shower so that’s probably not it. That’s the only thing I can think of that I don’t keep in the bathroom… taking care of that now…brb.
See pictures above. Not terrible just a little touch up paint.
Honestly I think it was just curiousity or looking for some space to put stuff. They did have a cat with them and maybe they thought they could put the litter box partway in the closet?
@KKC, looking at the photos I’m surprised that more guests haven’t tried to do this, to be honest! The lock isn’t obvious so perhaps they thought they should be able to open it and the door was a bit stiff or something. Some people (me included) just want to look in every available drawer or cupboard when they’re in a new place. Like when you’re a kid and excited to be in a hotel. Yes it’s sort of childish but not necessarily malicious.
Maybe you could point it out to guests when showing them round and explain it’s your locked storage cupboard?
Or hang a curtain over it? Yeah bit tacky…also it would make it even more enticing. Ooh, curtain reveals a secret cupboard! I wonder what’s in there?
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That is an obvious locked door. How could you miss the lock at the bottom?
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Not to me! I wouldn’t think to look at the bottom of the door. An obviously locked door would have something at eye-level, even a little padlock, something to make it…y’know, obvious! Like @SandyToes said, there is nothing except a thumb-hole that basically says “try me”!
It’s easy to forget that guests are completely unfamiliar with your set-up and need basic stuff explained. If they do something wrong it doesn’t always mean that they’re stupid or being deliberately disrespectful, as K9 has concluded.
I have a horrible feeling that sounds patronising and/or critical. Apologies if so.
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I tend to agree with @SandyToes and you that it could be missed and it’s not on purpose. Sometimes I forget to lock it and so far nothing that I know of has gone missing. I could just keep it unlocked. One of the main reasons I lock it is so people aren’t knocking around in there and making noise that would cause the dogs to bark. I’m now thinking some of the banging around I heard this morning was from them trying to open the closet.
Not a huge deal. I just thought it was in the same category as moving everything. Not needed and irritating but not necessarily that terrible. Thanks to everyone for chiming in. A little perspective goes a long way.
Oh, Inna, believe me, I feel your pain! Our guests can hardly help it with the pine needles, though, as the area we live in is called Pinares de San Anton and our lives are ruled by those damn conifers!lightest bit of wind and we can instantly fill half a dozen garden sacks with pine needles …
Wrong!! 
This is NOTHING compared to walking bleary-eyed into your OWN KITCHEN in the morning to make a cup of tea only to find that guests have moved the canister. That is justified NUCLEAR RAGE! (In my opinion 
).
Indeedy. I’d just point it out when showing them around. Excellent that you’ve had nothing taken when you left it open.
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And also … how would you ever get to Narnia if you didn’t open enticing closet doors?
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You know, I was thinking exactly the same thing when writing that response but I didn’t want to get too carried away! K9, you MUST put some fur coats in that closet!
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OMG! You must have forgotten who you’re talking to. Does fauxfur count?
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If another agrees with me, that would be…two for faux fur! <Now try saying that three times in a row.
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Well when I say “fur” I mean… soft hairy stuff that feels like fur.
The most important thing, though, is that you install a freezer at the back of the wardrobe with an automatic snow machine.
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with a lion please.
20 20
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Horrified gasp!! You don’t get the lion until you’ve had tea with the Faun. Do penance, child.
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If I do all that I’m definitely going to have to raise prices. What if I just put CS Lewis books in bookcase?
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No one will steal them!
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