NEWS – “without comment”
Caught on camera: Airbnb guests turned thieves
Genevieve Serra – Cape Argus – News, South Africa
April 29, 2026
Specialised investigators and forensic experts say the owners of Airbnb’s and guesthouses are increasingly seeking their assistance in a bid to nab thieves, as the crime continues to grow across Cape Town and the country.
Airbnb owner, Heidi Sampson, went viral on TikTok on April 15, sharing her shock after guests, who were a couple, allegedly ransacked her venue in Gqeberha, stripping electrical outlets, fixtures, and walking off with appliances such as a microwave and air fryer. – The post received 98.8k likes, 8 758 comments, and 37.1k shares.
In a second video, Sampson shows CCTV footage of the couple allegedly walking off with her belongings, including a television.
She shared that the couple had been apprehended but were only held for three nights due to the case being withdrawn following a lack of evidence.
Cape Town forensic expert, Ben Lombard of LieTech Polygraph and Forensic Services, has been cracking cases at Airbnb’s and guesthouses, often finding undocumented criminals such as cleaners, pinching jewellery.
He said often victims chose not to pursue a criminal case and sought compensation from insurance companies.
“We find that many of our clients are reluctant to report it to the police due to the fact that they are maybe foreigners or out of town and these cases drag and become an unnecessary expense,” he added.
Mike Bolhuis, the founder of Specialised Security Services (SSS), who is a prominent private investigator and cybercrime specialist said often,
the criminals at establishments are “right under your nose”, working or as guests, and called for stricter vetting protocols.
“We have seen an increase in people renting a space, particularly Airbnb and similar institutions, and then they would call us to assist.
Many of these people who commit these crimes are using stolen identities.
You have to make sure the person renting from you or workers, that they are evaluated and vetted.”
Full story: https://iol.co.za/capeargus/news/2026-04-29-caught-on-camera-airbnb-guests-turned-thieves/
Posted by: Ian (D. Withers)
www.WAPI.org
Disclaimer: News items in W.A.P.I.’s “News Without Comment” section are republished articles from external sources. W.A.P.I. is not the originator of this content and does not endorse or verify the accuracy of the material. Complaints or requests for correction should be directed to the original publisher. W.A.P.I. will review any substantiated notice of defamation and, if appropriate, remove or update the content.