Owner Of Burglarized Vacation Rental In Hollywood Hills Learns Big Lesson
HOLLYWOOD HILLS (CBSLA.com) — The owner of a vacation rental in Hollywood Hills said he learned a big lesson after his house with four bedrooms and four bathrooms was ransacked.
According to Rudi Polak, when he listed his 2,866-square-foot property online for rent, he unknowingly advertised all his valuables shown on the photos depicting each room. He even included a calendar indicating when no one was home.
"Actually, burglaries can look at every single room in your house and decide exactly what they want to steal. Then they look at the calendar and see when you're rented when you're not," Polak said. "It makes the perfect entree to almost the perfect crime."
The homeowner said the burglars broke in through a back door and took everything of value, even his clothes. He shared with CBS2/KCAL9's Randy Paige security video from his neighbor, showing the thieves casing his property.
According to property managers, homeowners can take the following precautions when they list their rental properties on Airbnb or HomeAway:
- Install a security system that includes cameras on the property's exterior to deter potential burglars
- Don't provide the property address
- Don't show the front of the house
"But the outside of the home is such an asset. You're competing with beautiful homes across the city that are worth a lot of money, and you want to make sure that your home stands out," Polak added. "That means advertising with a drone that flies over your home. You want to show the view."
Polak has since put up his Mediterranean-style mini estate on North Knoll Drive for sale.
