A family's Airbnb stay took a frightening turn when they found the front door wide open and signs of someone being inside, leading to fears they were targeted by kidnappers.
The family, comprising a mother, her daughter Laura Schilling, and three teenage girls, arrived at their rental property in Lexington, Kentucky late on a Thursday night. Laura, in a Facebook post, explained they received the door code just before reaching the property, only to find the front door wide open upon arrival, with just the glass storm door closed.
"It was very uncomfortable walking up to a home with the front door wide open at night," Laura wrote, describing their unease. The mother cautiously checked the entire house, from closets to under the beds, to ensure no one was inside.
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The family arrived at the property to find the front door wide open, Laura Schilling said (No credit)After confirming the house was clear, the girls entered. They then double-checked all windows and doors, ensuring everything was locked and secured, before parking their rental car in the garage.
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Laura mentioned the property had a deadbolt and a hotel-style latch on the front door for security.
The following day, Laura revealed that after a family outing, they came home to find unsettling evidence of an intrusion. Laura recounted: "We knew someone had been in because the deadbolt was unlocked and the hotel style latch was now open."
Initially brushing it off as possibly the Airbnb host's doing, the family's concern escalated when they discovered windows in the girls' bedrooms had been tampered with post-dinner. Laura described how the window screens were removed and a mysterious car nearby hastily drove away when spotted.
Fearing for their safety, the family didn't hesitate to dial 911. The responding deputy advised a swift exit from the property, suggesting a potential kidnapping threat.
Laura Schilling described how she feared they were targetted by kidnappers (No credit)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Laura shared the officer's alarming suspicion: "Deputy felt strongly that we had been set up for someone to take the girls that night after we had gone to bed."
With police assistance, the family secured a new place to stay, hurriedly gathering their things amidst the anxiety of opening the garage door. Despite the tension, they managed to pack their minivan with luggage.
Laura revealed that as they made their exit, the deputy remained outside waiting for them, even going as far as to call for backup. The family expressed their gratitude towards the officers, who humbly responded that they were merely doing their job.
The deputy voiced his worries that the family could have been the target of a more malicious scheme.
Since the incident, the family said they have reached out to both the Airbnb host and the company itself. They shared a cryptic one-liner from the host, which left them feeling uneasy.
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In her message to the host, Laura wrote: "[...] someone broke in the home while we were away. We had to call the police and they advised we leave ASAP. They came in and unlocked the windows in both front rooms as well as the kitchen windows." To which the host simply replied: "Oh my gosh! ".
Despite the unsettling incident, the property is still listed as available on Airbnb. An Airbnb spokesperson told us: "We take reports of concerns seriously and our team has been in contact with the guest to provide a full refund and further support. In the rare event of a safety concern during a stay, our 24-hour Safety Line is available for guests to reach our specialized Safety team for help."
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