NYC police impound vans being used as Airbnb rentals in Manhattan

New York City police said seven vans being used as Airbnb rentals in Manhattan were impounded Thursday and Friday in what was dubbed “Operation Room Service”, NBC affiliate WNBC reported.

“Sheriff’s Road Patrol Deputies were busy this week impounding seven alleged fraudulent and illegally registered vans being used as Airbnb rentals on various streets in Manhattan,” the New York City sheriff’s office said in a tweet on Saturday.

Sheriff’s Road Patrol Deputies were busy this week impounding seven alleged fraudulent and illegally registered vans being used as Airbnb rentals on various streets in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/rBZ1TBZ2xt

— NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) September 25, 2021

Five of seven vehicles were parked in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, and two more were impounded in Chelsea, according to WNBC. 

Sheriff Joseph Fucito told WNBC that the seven vans had New Jersey license plates and that registrations for three of the vehicles had expired more than four years ago. Three of the vans had license plates that belonged to other vehicles, while one wasn’t registered at all. 

Fucito said the investigation included watching a YouTuber’s review of renting out one of the impounded vehicles in the East Village, WNBC reported.