Copenhagen targets illegal rentals as French police warn of car theft

Copenhagen authorities are preparing to crack down on illegal short-term rentals. A new legislative proposal aims to provide authorities with more tools to detect and stop unauthorized rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. Line Barfod, the Mayor for Climate, Environment, and Technical Affairs, stated that many homes intended for families are being used as ‘shadow hotels’. To combat this, Copenhagen has allocated 6.8 million DKK annually over the next four years to fund a housing patrol that will monitor rental platforms and investigate citizen reports.

In a separate security matter, French police are warning car owners about ‘relay theft’ or ‘mouse jacking’. This method involves thieves using devices to intercept and extend the radio signal from keyless entry fobs, allowing them to unlock and start vehicles in under a minute without triggering alarms. According to insurance company MAIF, 140,400 cars were stolen in France in 2023, with 88 percent of those thefts utilizing this method. Experts recommend using signal-blocking pouches to protect keys.