Intruder tried to steal entire flat (Norway)

Aftenposten ^ | May 24, 2005 | tr. Nina Berglund

[franksolich]

A 40-year-old Oslo man faced a nasty surprise when he came home from a trip: Another man had broken into his rented flat and set in motion a scam to rent the flat out to others. The intruder pocketed thousands in fraudulently obtained rent deposits.

It all started when Even Nyrud, who lives in Oslo's popular Majorstuen district, was the victim of a break-in that he apparently didn't even notice. Newspaper VG reported Tuesday that a 29-year-old man broke into Nyrud's flat and took photos of it.

The 29-year-old then posted the photos on a web site that offers homes for sale and rent, www.finn.no, which is partially owned by Aftenposten. He then ventured back to the flat while Nyrud was out of town and held an open house at the unsuspecting Nyrud's home.

Baited by low rent

The 29-year-old, writes VG, purported to rent out Nyrud's flat for NOK 5,000 (USD 830) a month, a relatively low rate for Majorstuen. Around 60 people showed up at the open house to see it.

Police say at least 24 of them were offered the flat if they put up three-months' rent in advance. Eleven persons did so, meaning the 29-year-old was able to bank NOK 165,000.

"It's an awful feeling to know that someone has broken into my flat and then showed it to so many people," Nyrud told VG. "I can't understand how they got in."

Neither he nor his landlord, Martin Stensaker, were acquainted with the intruder, who was eventually arrested at a local bank and confessed the entire scam to Oslo police.

"This looks like one big fraud from beginning to end," said police sergeant Ingrid Christensen. The man has been charged with fraud but was released after questioning.

[franksolich]

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[Fido969]

When I went looking for a place to live a couple of years ago, landlord were demanding first and last months rent, plus at least one month security deposit. And they were looking for payment up front. I went to one place, a waterfront house, small and old, but a nice place. The lady that claimed to be the owner was a little scruffy, and it occurred to me that I was about to give a check for $2400 to someone I didn't know from Adam. Anyway, I didn't get that place, but it occurred to me what a scam it could be to rent places that you don't own.

Years ago I was going to rent a house in a town I knew nothing about. I came to an agreement with the renting agent, who want a couple thousand dollars to secure the lease. I found the real owner of the house and asked him if the guy renting it was legitimate. He assured me he was, and then the agent called me, furious that I would dare question his integrity, and refused to have any dealings with me based on that.

[monday]

"He assured me he was, and then the agent called me, furious that I would dare question his integrity, and refused to have any dealings with me based on that."

lol, he must have found another renter.