Ben, 13, Jack, 16, Sophie, 18, Dieter Winkler, Noah, 10, Jacquie Young and Lochie, 9.
DIETER Winkler was readying sausages for a barbecue when 10 armed police smashed through the front door of the Gold Coast home where he and his family were having a Christmas holiday.
The Sydney family of seven, who had rented the three bedroom house in Burleigh Heads through Airbnb from Boxing Day, were not even 24 hours into their stay when armed Burleigh Criminal Investigation
Branch officers, wearing bulletproof vests, kicked the door down.
Mr Winkler, 48, his partner Jacquie Young, 46, and their five children, ranging in ages from nine to 18, were ordered to sit in the lounge room where they were kept for five hours while police questioned them over a sophisticated drug setup found in one of the bedrooms.
SHOCKED VISITORS: Ben, 13, Jack, 16, Sophie, 18, Dieter Winkler, Noah, 10, Jacquie Young and Lochie, 9.Source:News Corp Australia
Visitor’s holiday interrupted when police find drug lab in Burleigh Heads home.Source:Supplied
After ransacking their possessions, police had kicked open the locked door to the bedroom that the woman owner had told the Winklers was “off-limits” because of an electricity fault.
Inside the room was an extensive hydroponic cannabis setup, later described as a “fire waiting to happen” because of the illegal electrical wiring, with eight cannabis plants right next door to the bedroom where the children had been sleeping.
Mr Winkler said he had wondered about the ‘off-limits’ room which had lights burning day and night.
Exterior picture of the Burleigh Heads home that was raided by police. Picture: Glenn HampsonSource:News Corp Australia
The Randwick-based project manager spent $1800 for the family to stay in the Burleigh home for 11 nights.
Mr Winkler described the experience as “horrifying”, saying police had “bull raided” the home and questioned them for five hours before ordering them to leave.
“The cops piled in on a mission,” Mr Winkler said.
“They didn’t know who we were so it was quite mortifying.
“They didn’t know we were innocent, so it wasn’t a friendly reception.
“We’d just been getting ready for a barbecue.
“My 72-year-old mother was at the home at the time and my little five-year-old niece rocked up mid-raid.
Lochie, 9, Jack, 16, Jacquie Young, Dieter Winkler, Sophie, 18, Ben, 13, and Noah, 10, at home in Randwick after the vacation from hell.Source:News Corp Australia
“It was the first time the whole family got together in two years. We all thought we were dreaming.”
Police described the situation as “nasty”, saying holiday-makers needed to be wary of what they could get themselves into with these sorts of websites.
“People need to understand that you don’t know who the homeowner is, or if you’re renting a room who you could be staying with,” Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Garrett said.
Because it was a peak period, the family could only find alternative accommodation in Biggera Waters, which left them another $2600 out of pocket and an hour away from their family.
“We were so far away from them for the rest of our stay and to be honest had the worst holiday,” Mr Winkler said.
“It’s put us off ever using Airbnb again.”
Airbnb refunded the $1800 and have offered to reimburse the $2600.
“The activity is illegal and absolutely does not reflect the views of Airbnb,” an Airbnb spokesman said.
“We have taken the house off our website and have fully refunded the family.”
Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella it people should always book accommodation through reputable agents.
“There is always a risk when booking things like accommodation when it’s sight unseen and done through a new website business,” Ms Mercorella said.
“It’s often safest to book holiday accommodation through reputable agents, whether that’s a travel agent or an REIQ accredited agent, because that offers certainty and security.”
A 40-year-old woman has been charged with unlawfully producing a dangerous drug and is to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on February 28.
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