When I rented my apartment to Hans and Greta, a sweet elderly couple with warm smiles, I thought I’d found the perfect tenants. They paid rent on time, kept the place immaculate, and left thank-you notes. But as their lease ended, they seemed rushed to move out, citing urgent family matters. When they left, I discovered the hardwood floors were gone, leaving only bare concrete.

I texted Hans, who replied, “In the Netherlands, it’s tradition to take the floor with you when you move. We were in a hurry because our granddaughter needed help with her new baby. We’re so sorry for the trouble. Please visit us in the Netherlands.”

Skeptical, I asked a private investigator to look into it. He discovered Hans and Greta were part of a scam, stealing valuable items from landlords. They were selling my floorboards at an antique market. We set up a sting, and the police arrested them.