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'They booked my house intending to rob it'

Eva Dallison

Christchurch has had a spate of robberies targeting online rental accommodation. A family speaks out.

A family in Christchurch have spoken out about their experience when renting out their house.

A family had requested to stay at Bridgette Hamilton's house through online booking platform Bookabatch. 

Hamilton accepted the booking. Little did she know it was a pre-planned robbery. 

"My neighbours had actually seen a couple of 'off-looking' characters scoping round the house a few days before," Hamilton said.

"They booked my house with the intention of robbing it."

Half of the contents of the house were stolen using a moving van. 

Hamilton said her insurance company was doing little to help, and encouraged other hosts to be very careful. She suggested meeting the guests or getting a trusted friend to if you were not available.