There are always certain risks in the field of real estate rental. So, one tourist shared the story of how he was easily robbed in a rented apartment. Criminals used fake keys.
Marketing agency director Jez Ashberry rented an apartment in Paris with his family and was robbed. In an interview with the Daily Star, he said that unknown people broke into his home at night and stole valuables from his bedroom while he and his children were sleeping. “We stayed in a Paris apartment rented through Airbnb. I woke up in the night to find a man in our bedroom with a headlamp on his head. I was half asleep but I heard the front door slam so I got up to check, found no one, and went back to sleep. The next morning, I wasn’t sure if I had dreamed it, but then my son and daughter noticed that things were missing, including an expensive camera and sunglasses,” the interlocutor said. At first, the police doubted his story, but when it became clear that they were renting an apartment in which similar burglaries had already occurred, they gave the case a go.
Official Airbnb commentary and experiences from other hosts
An Airbnb representative emphasized that the platform has zero tolerance for criminal activity and takes measures to prevent the presence of criminals. However, such incidents continue to occur. Landlords renting out their properties through the service also share their horror stories, raising questions about how safe apartments are for tourists. According to them, some guests are intruders. They make copies of keys, and then periodically visit addresses and steal other guests’ belongings.
What to do in order not to lose things in rented premises
Security expert Shahzad Ali answered this question. He drew attention to the importance of creating the illusion of presence in rented apartments: by using timers for lighting and electrical appliances. For hosts, he recommended regularly updating security codes and using a patent-pending key system that requires ID when requesting a copy.