False COVID-19 claim leads to arrests, seizure of stolen goods

Two men werearrested and thousands of dollars in stolen propertyrecovered from an Airbnb suite after neighbours became suspicious of a tenant who claimedhe was too sick withCOVID-19 symptoms to leave the unit.

The owner had calledVictoriapolice to investigate on Saturday, afterneighbours noticedthe man coming and going from the building in the 600-block ofHerald Street.

Police say the tenant had been allowed to remain living in the suite free of charge after he claimedhis symptoms made it impossible for him to leave.

When officers entered the unit, they discovered another man inside who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, as well as a stash of stolen property worth thousands of dollars.

The property wasseizedand both men were arrested.

Police say the investigation is ongoing, and officers are working to return the stolen items to theirowners.

Anyone with information about this incident or any other COVID-19-related Airbnb scamis asked to call the Victoria Police Department at 250-995-7654.