BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man learned the hard way that renting a personal car on an app like ”Turo” may not end as intended.
Shawn Skoff, according to a police report reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, rented his personal 2013 Hyundai Sonata to Sarah Rowlands. The two were connected through the “Turo” app which lets car owners rent their vehicles to people seeking a car, but disinterested in using major companies like Hertz or Avis.
Skoff did everything he was supposed to do, including keeping all records, emails, a copy of Rowlands’ license, and more. But what Skoff apparently didn’t know is that Rowlands is a recovering drug addict. Her mom told police that she ”relapsed on narcotics” after taking Skoff’s Hyundai.
When Rowlands never returned the vehicle at the agreed time, Skoff tried to find her but failed. He also couldn’t find his vehicle. He called Boca Raton Police. Detectives launched an investigation and reported the car stolen. It was later found by polic in Margate, at a Shell gas station, on State Road 7. The car was damaged. The cost to repair: $5,283.
Police spoke with Sarah’s mom who apparently spoke with Sarah. She told her daughter police needed to interview her about what happened. Sarah apparently told her mom she didn’t remember.
“(The mom) explained that Sarah does not remember much with the vehicle as she was relapsing on narcotics and thought the vehicle situation was handled since the Hyundai was located.”
Police thought differently. They ultimately located Sarah Rowlands and charged her with grand theft auto. She was booked into jail and later released.
Turo, on its website, claims to cover damage incurred to vehicles while “rented.”
