An Airbnb owner near Edmonton is grappling with the aftermath of her property being ransacked during a booking, resulting in estimated damages exceeding $200,000. Jocelyn St. Onge discovered the incident after a neighbour alerted her to the raised hood of her truck on Jan. 21. The guests, scheduled to check out that day, had rented the property for a week.
Upon returning to her home, St. Onge found extensive damage – furniture, important documents, artwork, and even her truck were stolen. Drug paraphernalia, burn marks from crack pipes, and evidence of illegal activities were scattered throughout the house. The property, which she had lived in for 22 years, was left in a state of disarray.
Mounties located St. Onge’s truck a week later, but no charges had been laid against the two individuals arrested in connection with the stolen vehicle. St. Onge is in the process of compiling a list of stolen property, estimating it at $170,000. Additionally, she faces professional cleaning and repair costs of $45,000 and $25,000, respectively.
While insurance and Airbnb are expected to cover most expenses, the reimbursement process may take months. St. Onge, who also resides in the property when not rented, has lost both her home and primary source of income.
Despite the severity of the incident, Airbnb’s response has been criticized for delays. The company took two weeks to initiate discussions on possible reimbursement. St. Onge expressed disappointment that Airbnb offered only three nights in a hotel and failed to compensate for the bookings she had to cancel in February.
Staying with her children for now, St. Onge is sharing her story as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for caution among Airbnb hosts. She urges hosts to recognize the lack of vetting for guests and emphasizes the importance of personal safety measures.
In response, an Airbnb spokesperson expressed condemnation for the reported behavior, stating that the booking guest was promptly removed from the platform. The company affirmed its support for St. Onge and willingness to assist the Alberta RCMP in their investigation.
St. Onge, traumatized by the incident, has decided to sell her property, ending her two-year stint of renting it out on Airbnb. The disturbing incident serves as a rare but impactful reminder for property owners to take measures to protect against potential crimes of opportunity.