Renters leave Kentucky Airbnb early after unsettling discovery
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WDKY) — Police in Lexington, Kentucky, confirmed they were called out to investigate an Airbnb stay that left the occupants feeling “unsettled.”
The renter, who requested to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told Nexstar’s WDKY that they live out of state and visited Lexington the weekend of April 13 for their daughter’s equine competition. The group, consisting of the renter, their elderly mother, and four teenage girls, rented an Airbnb off Leestown Road for the weekend.
After returning from dinner on April 13, the renter described an unnerving scene.
“Later that night, when we returned, the girls hung out, and we got ready for bed around 11:30,” the renter said. “One of the girls came in and told me that her window was open. My mom and I went to find that both windows in their room were indeed unlocked and cracked open.”
Upon inspection, the renter described all the windows in the home as being in a similar position, despite leaving the home with them closed.
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“When I opened the window, there was a car that had been parked across the street with tinted windows. When I looked up and looked at their car, the car immediately started and took off,” the renter said. “My mom called 911, and the deputy quickly came.”
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the Airbnb around 11:38 p.m. for suspicious activity.
“When officers arrived, they learned that the guests had arrived back at the residence and noticed a door unlocked and a window opened. Nothing was reported missing, and officers could not determine if someone had unlawfully entered the residence,” Lexington police said.
Officers told the renters that if they felt unsafe, they should find a hotel for the remainder of their stay. Officers stayed at the property until the renters had packed their things and headed to a nearby hotel.
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“I think that the officers did an outstanding job and definitely made us feel safe,” the renter said. “When we opened the garage doors and saw that there were two cars and officers standing outside, it made us feel really safe. It also validated what happened to us.”
The renter said they made a social media post to encourage their network to be more vigilant when traveling.
“I told the girls that they should always trust their instincts when they feel that something is wrong. If they had not noticed that cracked window, if they had thought it was no big deal and just went to bed. But they didn’t,” the renter said.
WDKY reached out to the property owner but has yet to hear back.
Airbnb advises guests who feel like they are in imminent danger to contact local authorities. For non-emergency safety issues, the company says they can be reached 24 hours a day.
Airbnb also suggests doing a “safety check” when you arrive at any property rented on its platform. You can look for the fire extinguisher or first aid kit, and ask your host if anything seems out of place.
Lexington police said there was no indication that the incident was related to human trafficking, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if any criminal activity occurred.
If anyone has information, they are asked to call the Lexington Police Department at (859) 258-3600.
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