10/10/22 update: WFAA-TV news story "Plano officials to discuss short-term rental regulation after recent sex trafficking bust."
On Wednesday, Sept 21, 2022, the Dallas Police, assisted by the Plano Police, conducted a raid on a short-term rental (STR) in the Ports of Call neighborhood that was being operated as a brothel. Neighbors report police cars were in the neighborhood conducting the raid for over four hours. The police arrested two women as the suspected ringleaders and escorted 12 girls from the home, which was listed on Airbnb.
Ports of Call residents were shocked to find that a brothel was operating in their once quiet south central Plano neighborhood. According to news reports, the sex trafficking ring had been operating in N. Dallas since July and recently relocated to the STR in Plano.
News of the raid has been reported on NBC 5, CBS 11, Fox Channel 4, and KERA Channel 13 in the DFW metroplex. Here are links to view the two of the reports:
1. NBC 5 story titled “Plano Short-Term Rental Used as Brothel, Arrests Made” by Ken Kalthoff and Meredith Yeomans at: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/plano-short-term-rental-used-as-brothel-arrests-made-dallas-police/3079653/
2. CBS11 news report by Robbie Owens at: https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/video/plano-sex-trafficking-bust-adds-to-growing-frustration-over-short-term-rentals/.
This tragic story illustrates why short-term rentals, which are commercial properties, do not belong in residential areas. It also clearly shows the continuing dangers that STRs pose in our neighborhoods. And it also confirms the worst suspicions many of us have had about STRs operating in our own neighborhoods.
Thank you to the Dallas Neighborhood Coalition who assisted our Plano coalition in getting the word out to local news sources about the raid, ensuring that the arrest and the STR received wide news coverage throughout the entire Metroplex.
Comments