Introduction
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Auckland couple’s home vandalized by strangers, their homeshare rental account hacked
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Victims say intruders used drugs, had sex, destroyed homes and stole their cars
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Oakland police are investigating
Auckland – An Oakland couple said Friday they are still cleaning up and taking stock after their home was taken over by strangers and their home-sharing account was hacked, allowing them to use drugs, have sex and even steal cars.
“The people here are rubbish,” said one resident, Eric and his wife Jenny, who did not want to be named.
“They were using drugs. There was drug paraphernalia all over the house,” Jenny said.
“There are needles in every bathroom,” Eric said.
House rental account hijacked
what we know
The couple said they were frustrated after their home in Oakland’s Leona Heights neighborhood was hijacked by strangers through the HomExchange rental platform.
This week, while on a 21st anniversary vacation in Lake Tahoe, they realized strangers had taken over their home.
Their doorbell camera shows a lot of people showing up over and over again.
“There’s a lot of people coming and going,” Jenny said. “There were about nine people coming and going.”
The intruders left the dirty dishes in the sink just as they would at home and stayed there for 36 hours until the couple’s cleaner came and saw what was going on.
The couple rushed home from Tahoe to clean their house and cried, upset that someone claimed they were a couple who needed to get home at the last minute because they were visiting a sick relative in the hospital.
“We haven’t slept in two days,” Eric said.
An intruder stole the couple’s beloved Mini Cooper.
They also suspect the intruders brought women over for sex.
“I mean, these guys were the lowest rungs of the whole criminal ring that came into our home,” Jenny said.
One man even brought a dog and fed it the couple’s dog food.
“They brought a dog and they bathed the dog in our bathtub and they used one of our brushes like a brush and it was full of dog hair,” Jenny said.
Eric’s voice shook as he said, “Keeping a home is hard work. We work hard, we are teachers, we contribute to the community.”
“I’m just getting through this by being grateful and recognizing that we have a beautiful house and we have each other,” Jenny said.
Company response
what are they talking about
The couple said HomeExchange has promised to make them whole by covering their expenses, including hiring a locksmith. The company did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
“I just hope they really take this as a wake-up call and do the right thing,” Jenny said.
Oakland police are investigating the burglary, fraud and auto theft.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. Email Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him at @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
source
KTVU reports, Oakland police
