Man Allegedly Ties Up & Robs Airbnb Host After Renting Basement

A man in Georgia is being sought by authorities after allegedly using Airbnb to rent a basement space and then robbing and restraining the homeowner.

According to an initial news release from the Gwinnett County Police, they are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 26-year-old Khalil Hamilton, a suspect in an armed robbery case. On the evening of September 26, Hamilton purportedly rented a basement room in a Buford residence through Airbnb. Following the rental, he allegedly sent a text message to the homeowner, claiming there was a need for a bathroom repair.

During the alleged robbery incident, the homeowner stated that his wife and child were present in the house, but they were not harmed and were left unattended. A police report mentioned that the suspect had used the pretext of a “leaky toilet” as the reason for the purported “bathroom repair” mentioned in his initial text message. This ruse was seemingly employed as a means to gain access to the residence and subsequently carry out the robbery.