THEFTS & BREAK-INS
THEFTS & BREAK-INS
Deterring And Handling On-Site Crimes By David Allan and Robert Madsen
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reak-ins and thefts are a real- ity in the self-storage industry. Every owner and operator needs to understand, manage, and minimize exposure and liability for the company and minimize impact and damage for the customer. According to a leading provider of self-storage insurance, theft is now the second most common source of claims after water damage. While not possible to identify the specific cause of all crimes, popular media has created a fantasy where self-storage facilities contain hidden “treasures” that make contents of self-storage units seem much more valuable than they typically are. In re- ality, contents of self-storage units are only truly valuable to the owners of these goods. They contain family col- lectables, keepsakes, “Heartifacts,” and items that carry emotional meaning to those who choose to store them. They may also contain com- mercial inventory meant to be sold in a retail store or commercial inventory for trades, such as electricians and plumbers, that do not have signifi- cant financial value. Rarely, if ever, do units contain the treasure and bullion that some popu- lar television shows have us believe is commonplace. However,
October 2022
this combination of high perceived value and low perceived secu- rity make it easy to understand why these crimes occur. Storage facili- ties do not generate much traffic, so once the manager of the site goes home, facilities can appear to be vulnerable despite high-tech se- curity. This article is intended to share ways to enhance security and provide considerations of what to do once a break-in has occurred.
Types Of Perpetrators First, let’s identify the three typical types of perpetrators of self-storage break-ins:
1. Smash and grab petty thieves, 2. Organized groups targeting specific items, and
3. Tenant staging paths of their own units.
Smash and grabbers gain access to a facility and cut locks until they find something of value. Organized groups often know what they are looking for and where they are going to find it. These break-ins often have an “inside job” component. The self-sabotaging group looks to capitalize on an insur- ance payout.
In the past, it has been difficult to bring charges against criminals as this type of break-in has been con- sidered petty and victimless. Without
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punishment, these criminals often repeat their methods while frustrat- ing owners, staff, and customers. Thankfully, this has begun to change with charges and jail time being brought against offenders.
How Does It Happen?
While every crime has its own particu- lar nuance, there are certain consis- tent characteristics.
Gaining Access
In facilities with outside access (drive-up units), criminals will often cut through a fence to access units. The limiting factor to this strategy is that it limits what the thieves can steal to what they can carry. After a few trips back and forth through the fence, they usually quit, which limits the damage and exposure to the storage facility. An alternative way of gaining access is to tailgate another car through a gate or have somebody hold a door open for them in indoor-access facilities. Once inside a facility, they will prop or jam a door open or tape over the door latch so they can come back and access the door after hours. Another clever way to access units is to rent under a fake or bogus name to gain facility. They access the facility with their own security code and then break into other units. Often, they
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