This couple had no idea about hidden cameras in their Airbnb room

Do you ever check the smoke detectors in the hotel room you rent? You must, for someone could be watching you.

travel Updated: Oct 13, 2017 16:42 IST
Do you ever check the smoke detectors in the hotel room you rent? You must, for someone could be watching you.
Do you ever check the smoke detectors in the hotel room you rent? You must, for someone could be watching you.(ABC ACTION NEWS/@MARYWFTS/TWITTER)

Do you ever check the smoke detectors in the hotel room you rent? You must, for someone could be watching you.

A couple from Indiana in the United States discovered two cameras hidden in their Airbnb rental in Florida’s Longboat Key — one in the bedroom, and one in the living room — reported ABC Action News.

Starnes immediately called the police.

The condo’s owner, Wayne Natt, has been arrested and charged with video voyeurism. He has been an Airbnb host for two years and has more than 40 renter reviews.

According to online newspaper Independent, Natt, 56, told police that he uses the cameras to “record sexual activity at “swingers” parties that he holds at the property when not renting it out, but only with consent”.

But Starnes shared a photo he took off the device that shows him and his wife staring up at the camera.

“My wife and I are distressed by this situation,” Starnes told ABC Action News. “I hope more victims will come forward.”

Airbnb, in a statement to ABC, said that they were “outraged” by the reports of a hidden camera.

“... as soon as we were made aware, we permanently banned this individual from our community and fully supported the affected guests. Our team has reached out to local law enforcement to aid them with their investigation of this egregious offense and we hope justice is served. We take privacy issues extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy against this behavior,” it added.

While Airbnb states on its website that they perform background checks for criminal records and sex offender listings, there is a catch. “Background checks don’t always identify a person’s past crimes or other red flags,” expands the FAQ section.

And Airbnb writes that its screening is “never a guarantee that a person won’t break the law in the future.”