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Vans used as illegal Airbnb rentals impounded by NYC police

NEW YORK — Seven vans illegally registered and used as Airbnb rentals were impounded Thursday and Friday by Manhattan authorities in a sting dubbed “Operation Room Service.”

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Deputies with the New York City Sheriff’s Office partnered with the New York Police Department to execute the impromptu evictions, WNBC reported.

A YouTube video review of one of the vans alerted investigators to the issue, WABC reported.

New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito told WNBC that investigators discovered that parked vans on streets throughout Chelsea and the East Village were being used as unauthorized rentals for the online lodging company.

According to records shared by Fucito’s office, all seven of the vans had New Jersey license plates. Meanwhile, registrations for three of the vans had expired more than four years ago, while three others had plates belonging to other vehicles. The seventh van was in no way registered, WNBC reported.