Dougie Hamilton said he found a 'spy camera' in a digital clock in an Airbnb in Toronto, Canada on Thursday. Photo / Facebook
Dougie Hamilton said he found a 'spy camera' in a digital clock in an Airbnb in Toronto, Canada on Thursday. Photo / Facebook
A British couple has revealed their horror at finding a 'spy camera' in an Airbnb flat while on holiday in the center of Toronto, Canada on Thursday.
Dougie Hamilton, 34, of Glasgow, Scotland said what tipped him off was that the clock was "connected to a wire like a phonecharger" and fears it may have taken video of the couple.
The host of the property had "six other properties [available for rent on Airbnb] and hundreds of reviews," Glasgow said he was told by Airbnb, according to the Daily Record.
"We have removed the host from the platform while we investigate and are providing the guest with our full support," a spokesperson for Airbnb said. "We take privacy issues extremely seriously and have a zero tolerance policy for this behavior."
Toronto police have also confirmed they are investigating the incident, but have not released the name or names of any suspects.
"I just happened to be facing this clock and was staring at it for about 10 minutes. There was just something in my head that made me feel a bit uneasy."
He had recently seen a video on Facebook, he said, about 'spy cameras,' and it got his mind wondering whether this odd-looking clock might be one.
Toronto Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, and Hamilton said Airbnb's security team is also looking into it. Photo / Facebook
"I thought, 'Do I want to be the crazy guy that checks a digital clock for cameras now?' In my head, I felt a bit weird even thinking it and I kept telling myself not to be daft. But there was just something," he said.
"I took the charger out of it and saw there was a lithium battery in the back. At this point, I slid the front facing off the clock and could see there actually was a camera."
He added: "We didn't know if the owner had been watching. It just felt really creepy and we didn't want to stay.
"We're innocent-minded people but the clock was facing where our bed was and we thought it might be for something more sinister like a sex ring."
Hamilton said the camera faced the living room and bedroom and "could see everything".
Toronto Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident. Hamilton said Airbnb's security team is also looking into it.
Hamilton added that the vacation home rental platform promised him a full refund and said they would cancel upcoming reservations at the property.
