An Oakland couple says their 21st anniversary getaway ended in a horror story back home, after they returned to their Leona Heights house to find strangers living inside and using the couple’s own home sharing account to get in. The unwelcome guests allegedly used drugs, washed a dog in the bathtub, left needles scattered in multiple bathrooms, drove off in the couple’s Mini Cooper, and left the owners spending days cleaning and cataloging the damage.
According to KTVU, the homeowners, who identified themselves only as Eric and Jenny, say their doorbell camera recorded about nine people coming and going over roughly 36 hours. The couple told the station that the group appeared to move in as if they belonged there, using household supplies, leaving dirty dishes, and abandoning drug paraphernalia throughout the home. Oakland police are investigating the case as burglary, fraud and grand theft auto, the outlet reports.
Homeowners Describe The Aftermath
Jenny told KTVU the intruders “were using drugs” and that one person even washed a dog in the couple’s tub using their brush. Eric said, “in every bathroom, there are needles,” and added, “these are trashy people that were here.” The couple says they rushed back from Lake Tahoe and have barely slept as they work through the mess, cleaning rooms and taking stock of what was damaged or taken.
Platform Response And Account Security
The homeowners say HomeExchange told them it would cover certain expenses, including a locksmith, although they say they had not yet received formal reimbursement paperwork. HomeExchange’s membership materials highlight guarantees and support options for users, but owners caution that any online account can be vulnerable if passwords are reused or exposed in phishing attempts. Consumer guidance typically urges people to contact platform support right away, preserve reservation and message records, and refuse off platform payments in order to reduce the risk of account takeovers.
How To Protect Your Home And Accounts
Security advice for homeowners using rental or exchange platforms starts with the basics. Use unique, strong passwords for each account and turn on two factor authentication whenever it is offered. Keep an eye on booking and reservation confirmations so you can quickly spot anything you did not authorize.
Experts also recommend saving security camera footage to an offsite or cloud location and filing a police report as soon as possible so there is an official record to share with platforms and insurance companies. For a deeper look at rental listing red flags and steps to take if something seems off, the Better Business Bureau outlines common scams and how both owners and renters can respond…