Went by our storage unit tonight to repack the truck for our next art show and found it ransacked. Nothing appears to be missing but we had some damage and lots of clean up to deal with and reorganizing. Damage wasn't great enough to warrant turning this into our insurance as our deductible is more than the value of the items that were damaged. We have used the same location for 2 years without a problem, ironic that we have an issue now when we were there 10 days ago after being gone for 10 months.
Dale found obvious signs of forced entry on several neighboring units, so you can bet the manager gets to answer a few questions regarding why we weren't notified of an issue that was known to 2 other unit owners who happened to be there tonight as well. Another couple who was there and had just started using their storage room a week ago said that another unit owner was discussing her ransacked room with the manager last weekend. So obviously the manager knew there was an issue, maybe he/she didn't take the time to look at any other units for obvious signs of forced entry.
Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and how you've dealt with it? We leave in 2 days and with needing to work the next couple of days we don't really have the time to move locations. Am I being unrealistic in thinking the manager should have called everyone who had a unit that looked like it had been tampered with?
RickandJanice said
09:15 AM Jul 9, 2015
We do not have a storage unit, but I do not think it is unreasonable to expect the manager to check other units and notify the owners of signs of forced entry.
pkhalin said
05:16 PM Jul 9, 2015
No matter how you slice it, that just stinks. It looks like a total disregard for their customers. If you have the time, I think I'd be considering a change.
NWescapee said
05:23 PM Jul 9, 2015
Talked to the manager today, she was unaware that any of the units were showing signs of forced entry. She was going to check that out and call the other unit tenants, especially those that Dale saw the same crowbar marks on as ours. This manager seemed to be unaware of issues with any other storage rooms in our building, makes me wonder how well the communication is for the various people working at this facility. She assured me they do lock checks 3 times per day making sure none of the locks are tampered with, but seemed really surprised that someone could use a crowbar to get into the room, which makes me think this is a bit unusual.
We don't really have time to think about moving storage rooms before we leave in 2 days, so we're hoping this was an isolated incident. We'll be back in the area in 2 weeks for an RV repair and will check in at that time and perhaps consider moving then.
The Bear II said
10:51 AM Jul 10, 2015
In the areas throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties there has been a rash of storage unit break ins.
The police reports point the cause towards drug addicts. The sheriff told me when he was out investigating a break in at my Dad's place (the house, garage and 2 Sea Containers were broken into) the addicts use the items as barter for drugs. The sheriff has a difficult time finding the stolen items since they get traded from druggie to druggie and not sold to pawn shops, on ebay or craigslist...etc.
We had stored our first TT at a lot for many years before someone got into the lot and broke into 5 of the RVs. Luckily ours seemed to be the last they broke in to so we only lost 2 Ski vests and a portable 8-track player. On some of the RVs the thieves took a crow bar and bent up the bottom corner of the entry door to get in. Ours they just broke the window in the door tore the screen and reached in to turn the deadbolt lock.
The current lot we store at we chose because it had a very sophisticated security system with motion sensors, cameras, and a fiber optic cable along the fence that would set off the alarm if the fence was messed with or the cable cut. No problems for the first five years until the fiber optic system broke and the company had gone out of business so there was no way to repair it. Within a week after it broke, someone cut through the fence. They only broke into 2 RVs. Since then the lot has added more cameras and motion sensors...no problems for 3 years.
There's not much you can do to prevent break ins. We learned that at My Dad's place. It was broken into 11 times. I tried everything I could come with to prevent it but each time they were able to defeat my security attempts. I should have had an RV'er stay on the property as a care taker.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 10th of July 2015 10:57:33 AM
Went by our storage unit tonight to repack the truck for our next art show and found it ransacked. Nothing appears to be missing but we had some damage and lots of clean up to deal with and reorganizing. Damage wasn't great enough to warrant turning this into our insurance as our deductible is more than the value of the items that were damaged. We have used the same location for 2 years without a problem, ironic that we have an issue now when we were there 10 days ago after being gone for 10 months.
Dale found obvious signs of forced entry on several neighboring units, so you can bet the manager gets to answer a few questions regarding why we weren't notified of an issue that was known to 2 other unit owners who happened to be there tonight as well. Another couple who was there and had just started using their storage room a week ago said that another unit owner was discussing her ransacked room with the manager last weekend. So obviously the manager knew there was an issue, maybe he/she didn't take the time to look at any other units for obvious signs of forced entry.
Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and how you've dealt with it? We leave in 2 days and with needing to work the next couple of days we don't really have the time to move locations. Am I being unrealistic in thinking the manager should have called everyone who had a unit that looked like it had been tampered with?
No matter how you slice it, that just stinks. It looks like a total disregard for their customers. If you have the time, I think I'd be considering a change.
We don't really have time to think about moving storage rooms before we leave in 2 days, so we're hoping this was an isolated incident. We'll be back in the area in 2 weeks for an RV repair and will check in at that time and perhaps consider moving then.
In the areas throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties there has been a rash of storage unit break ins.
The police reports point the cause towards drug addicts. The sheriff told me when he was out investigating a break in at my Dad's place (the house, garage and 2 Sea Containers were broken into) the addicts use the items as barter for drugs. The sheriff has a difficult time finding the stolen items since they get traded from druggie to druggie and not sold to pawn shops, on ebay or craigslist...etc.
We had stored our first TT at a lot for many years before someone got into the lot and broke into 5 of the RVs. Luckily ours seemed to be the last they broke in to so we only lost 2 Ski vests and a portable 8-track player. On some of the RVs the thieves took a crow bar and bent up the bottom corner of the entry door to get in. Ours they just broke the window in the door tore the screen and reached in to turn the deadbolt lock.
The current lot we store at we chose because it had a very sophisticated security system with motion sensors, cameras, and a fiber optic cable along the fence that would set off the alarm if the fence was messed with or the cable cut. No problems for the first five years until the fiber optic system broke and the company had gone out of business so there was no way to repair it. Within a week after it broke, someone cut through the fence. They only broke into 2 RVs. Since then the lot has added more cameras and motion sensors...no problems for 3 years.
There's not much you can do to prevent break ins. We learned that at My Dad's place. It was broken into 11 times. I tried everything I could come with to prevent it but each time they were able to defeat my security attempts. I should have had an RV'er stay on the property as a care taker.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 10th of July 2015 10:57:33 AM