Group of young children accused of looting and ransacking Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale – NBC 6 South Florida

Video obtained by NBC 6 shows the aftermath of a home that was raided, ransacked and damaged over the weekend – inside and out.

The Grimaldi and Weiss Management company, which lists the three-bedroom house in Fort. The Durrs neighborhood of Lauderdale as a short-term rental through Airbnb, says the damage occurred at the hands of young children.

“They even opened the water pipe inside the house and wet the place, they threw toilet paper. It’s not a crime a small child would commit,” said Chris Johnson, responsible for the maintenance of Grimaldi and Weiss.

The video revealed patio furniture and a grill in the pool, and inside the house televisions and furniture were destroyed.

“We had to replace every television inside the house,” Johnson said.

Johnson says the chain of events that led to the recent property damage was likely triggered months ago. Before the property was listed on Airbnb, he says management agreed to allow a few children to swim in the pool with adult supervision.

But Johnson says once customers started renting the property, children complained about asking to use the pool, although the company said it was clear the property was run like a business. .

On Sunday, Johnson says he received a call from his manager saying children were on the property and management arrived to inspect the damage.

“The cleaners forgot to lock the backdoor,” Johnson said. “The first group of children we allowed to swim in May was a nice group of boys and girls. But all we’ve seen in the video for the past few days as we approach the house are the girls.

On Wednesday, Johnson tracked down the girls again on the property and called the police.

He says some parents also showed up and were angry with the children.

Grimaldi & Weiss management company co-owner Jordan Grimaldi said the state’s attorney’s office decides whether the children should be charged.

“I really have no interest or pleasure in young children going to jail, I just hope they learn a lesson and be taught that what they did was wrong and was a crime. very adult,” Jordan said.

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