Airbnb owner, Heidi Sampson, recently shared a shocking video on TikTok, showing CCTV footage of a couple allegedly stealing from her venue in Gqeberha. The post went viral, receiving 98.8k likes, 8 758 comments, and 37.1k shares. The couple, who were guests at the venue, were seen stripping electrical outlets, fixtures, and walking off with appliances such as a microwave and air fryer.
Airbnb Owners Seeking Help from Specialised Investigators
Specialised investigators and forensic experts say that owners of Airbnb’s and guesthouses are increasingly seeking their assistance in a bid to catch thieves, as the crime continues to grow across Cape Town and the country. Ben Lombard, a Cape Town forensic expert from LieTech Polygraph and Forensic Services, has been working on several cases, often finding undocumented criminals such as cleaners, who have been pinching jewellery from guests.
In one case, Lombard worked on a theft at an Airbnb in Constantia, where the thieves tried to conceal their crime by flushing the stolen jewelry down the drain and toilet. The victims, a couple from KZN, chose not to open a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to avoid an administrative nightmare and were compensated by the owner.
Methods of Concealment and Disposal
Lombard said that polygraph examinations were conducted on the individuals identified as having access and opportunity, and one individual made a full admission regarding involvement and indicated the methods of concealment and disposal. The items were discarded via a shower drain in one of the bedrooms, and additional items were concealed within a toilet system in another room and were purportedly unknowingly flushed away before recovery could take place.
Despite the method of disposal, the majority of the items discarded via the shower drainage system were ultimately recovered. Following the investigation, the remaining jewellery was secured. Lombard advises owners to do criminal checks and to take a photograph of the employee along with any other proof of identity.
- Always conduct thorough background checks on guests and employees
- Install CCTV cameras and alarm systems to deter thieves
- Keep valuables in a safe and secure location
