My storage unit was completely wiped out clean. For those with storage units, beware.

[peacebuzzard]

This theft is certainly of a grand larceny category and these incidents across the nation are on the rise.
I have just been ill since the storage manager called me 3 weeks ago; I had to make 3 trips cross-country to assess, try to get help, and then finally close my empty unit. My BP has been sky high and I just can't relax. I can't sleep thinking about the photos I will never see again. It was everything I was saving for retirement. Photos, art books, paintings, deep winter clothing, family heirlooms. Especially heartbreaking was the photographic collection from the early 1900s by my grandfather who studied and photographed throughout South America. My collection from the 70s; and 80s all in 35 mm had not been transferred yet to digital. All gone.
The thieves had no idea about this stuff; only useful to me. I am sure they just wanted to rip out the boxes, luggage, and some farm equipment to find what they could scrap.
On my first trip out to the storage, the manager told me 3 more units were vandalized overnight. The second time I went the count was up to 9 in a matter of a day or 2.
The police report could only be done online. I tried to go to 3 stations but this type of crime had no assistance other than an online report. I thought of getting a private investigator but gave up due to the logistics and follow-up.
I know from this life we take nothing; a friend of mine passed away just a few days ago and I realize that it is just tracks and few memories we leave behind. But it sure gave me a curve-ball.
And many sleepless nights. And high blood pressure readings mixed in with exasperation. There went my vacation.

[yonder]

1. Sorry about your loss.

Many people just can't see the hurt their choices cause other people. They were looking for something of value to them whereas the value lies in what they cannot see.

Perhaps some things may turn up locally — maybe a PI acting as your agent would be worth it, at least initially, since you live elsewhere.

The whole thing pretty much sucks. Good luck.

[Hekate]

2. I am so sorry for your loss, words can't express. It's as bad as a fire, but with malice

[peacebuzzard]

16. Thanks, Hekate

the feeling of gloom is frustrating. It will subside. Today I am going to fill out the insurance claim for finality. The loss will never be resolved. I am sure most items will be tossed ...💔

[Chainfire]

26. Perhaps the offer of a "reward" for the unquestioned return of the items with little pawn value?

[murielm99]

3. What a terrible thing.

I am so sorry.

[True Dough]

4. This is terrible, peacebuzzard

Sorry to hear it's causing you such stress.

Of course monetary compensation is not going to make up for these items that hold far greater value to you, but is there insurance coverage?

Does the storage company hold any liability? Is it not a secure compound that is fenced off? Wondering if the thieves breached/damaged the fence? Or maybe someone stole someone else's passcode and used it to rob the storage facility?

Take care.

[peacebuzzard]

12. It is fenced with cameras. I saw the feed

it was timed and sporadic shots rather than continuous, one camera was down and the codes to doors perhaps were meaningless. My gut feeling it was an inside job but of course no proof.

[peacebuzzard]

17. There is an insurance in place;

and after I wrote down the items yesterday I knew the adjuster would be lowballing everything deducting for age of items, and capping in areas. These are items that were never appraised and cannot be replaced.
I am doing the claim for finality. The unit was in an area that over a decade has become a crime playground. Meanwhile, I am across the country and caught up in an east coast shuffle.
Thank you, my BP is finally coming down.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. What a terrible loss. I've never been robbed, but

the feeling of violation must be overwhelming. I'm so sorry.

[hlthe2b]

6. I wish I had better words of comfort, but I am genuinely so sorry.

[Maraya1969]

7. That's really hard. I'm sorry it happened to you.

[2naSalit]

8. That happened to me once...

A long time ago and it still haunts me. It's such a violation that leaves you with a very unsettling sense thereafter.

I hope you can resolve some part of this mess... at least enough to help you get past it somehow.

[peacebuzzard]

19. I know, it causes me to worry about safeguarding even more.

Since I travel and live alone in a remote area I am more obsessed with guarding my home. I have cameras and I watch the feed when I am away.
I have become hyper-vigilant now.
I guess I am a borderline neurotic at this point.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Must be great CATV. No monitoring?

What does management do? 9 thefts and no one saw anything?

[peacebuzzard]

15. Manager on premises, cameras, codes,

but recently the area has recently been plagued with crime. This facility was a target and I lived and worked thousands of miles away and was unaware that storage thievery has become a prime target. I did some searching on the internet to find out that this is an active target across many states and increasingly in city centers. I had the unit rented far too long, for ten years. I should have done something earlier when I noticed a decline in the area.

[bamagal62]

10. Happened to me about

30 years ago. We had put our things in there temporarily while going overseas for a year.
The thing that still hurts are the things that they would not get any money for: my wedding photos, old family photos, my wedding China, my grandmothers old dining buffet, etc. still pisses me off to this day. It did teach me not to get too attached to things.
But, I am obsessive about how any photos are transported. (Back then they were hard copies and negatives). They go with me. And, I try to have back up photos in different places.

[peacebuzzard]

14. I was beating myself up daily about not digitizing the collections.

I just kept putting it off for when I had time and never did.
My co-worker truly a nice person, died a few days ago and now I have a different perspective for the moment.
If anyone here has precious belongings in storage I hope this post encourages extra thought on safeguarding.

[mopinko]

11. watch ebay.

start watching ebay listings. you’d b surprised how many ppl sell old photos.
make a list of as many identifiable objects as u can, and save the search.

i lost a unit in my divorce. my fault. had 2 units, the bill went astray, i paid it. but turns out it was only for 1 unit. had vintage toys i was saving for grands, some rare books, and my mom’s dining room table and chairs. had a bunch of the ex’s beer cans and beer signs. someone did rly well, i assume.

i’m not sure how i wd have felt if the other went- all my artwork, sitting there. i need to empty the damn thing, even if just to have a bonfire.

[peacebuzzard]

13. I did a limited search on craigslist

and gave up. The art books with embossed replicas of the original works and limited print editions were the greatest loss.

[mopinko]

20. sounds identifiable.

set a search on ebay. they’ll let u know if they come up.
you can search if they’ve already been sold.

[peacebuzzard]

23. I will do that

I am very familiar with eBay and have recently bought a rare photo online of an author. Although I think, gut feeling, I was vandalized by very low-level individuals with no knowledge of what they took or of how to transact in any way besides cash. The books and items were heavy and difficult to lug around. They just heisted the boxes and luggage with no knowledge of the contents. This is my imagination of who was involved after assessing the storage location and customers frequenting the location. I really did not think too much about my storage of items for the past 10 years. I was just waiting for the right downtime in my life that never came.

[mopinko]

24. they cd have handed it off to someone smarter, tho.

sounds like an organized ring. i’ve read a couple news stories lately about retail theft rings busted on ebay.
and back in ‘03 i helped raise funds for the oriental institute of chgo to scan all the pics they had of stuff that went missing from the baghdad museum. they shared them w customs agencies, and watched on ebay. dont know how many items they traced, but it was significant.
i dont suppose u have pics?

[peacebuzzard]

38. all the photos were in the heist. Nothing left. This was very low level, thanks tho, mopinko.

I sincerely doubt if the thief would have been able to list on ebay or have contacts with the knowhow and setup. I had the storage unit 10 years and this particular area suffered enormous economic decline during that time; I should have moved my stuff out long ago.

[Marthe48]

18. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss

I have a storage rental right up the street from my house. I never thought of people trying to get in and robbing it. If you have pictures of your collections, you might try to circulate it to thrift stores and recycle centers in the area around the storage unit. You can do that online. Or contact the resale/recycle places online with a written description of your stolen items. Many times you can count on a lot of compassion if you get in touch with places like that.

I have stuff that is of no use or meaning to anyone else, but I want to hang on to it till I'm gone. After that, it doesn't matter. But it is a violation of yourself that it was taken.

[peacebuzzard]

21. Since the storage was across the country

close to where my disabled sisters live, it has been a mix of logistics and travel to assess what happened. I tried for over 2 weeks to get answers and now I am resigned to my ebbing frustrations about what I should or did not do.
I also think the recent sudden death of a pleasant co-worker I have known for over 20 years jolted me into reality and a different perspective.
I will try to safeguard my home and sweet innocent kitties even more.
The loss to me was everything material of value besides where I claim as a residence.
Thanks for your kindness, Marthe48.

[Stuart G]

22. Sorry about your loss.

[debm55]

25. So sorry for your loss, peacebuzzard. I wish you luck trying to find your items.

[Historic NY]

27. No security, gate coded, cameras, etc...

Everyone built near me has that .

[Niagara]

28. I'm sorry that happened to you, peacebuzzard.

Orangecrush, another DU member recently had a storage unit theft happen to them back in August as well.


If there are any other DU members that have items in storage units, now would be the time to get your things sorted and situated.



https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181875595

[peacebuzzard]

31. wish I could have seen orangecrush's post in August.

just read it, and it is very similar.

[Chautauquas]

29. I'm sorry that happened to you

I had some of my mother's possessions in a storage unit a few years ago and I didn't even think about theft. I would have been devastated if her personal belongings were stolen.

[peacebuzzard]

30. All I had left from my mom was in this unit I had.

I am glad you have your mom's belongings.

[appalachiablue]

32. Very sorry this happened to you and I hope

the health issues from this upsetting experience abate.

It's a reminder that I need to get to work sorting items similar to yours, for myself but the bulk for descendants - family photos, genealogy material, mementoes - before something happens like a home flood from a burst pipe, water damage, a break in, god forbid, I perish or whatever. I've delayed for too long.

Wishing you all the best. You had a difficult situation with long distance and work. I don't have the same. Take care.

[barbtries]

33. that's heartbreaking, and maddening.

does the storage have video? I'm so sorry this happened to you.

[XanaDUer2]

34. I'm so sorry

I misplaced a precious photo I still haven't found, and I'm bereft. I couldn't imagine what you're going through

[whopis01]

35. I'm so sorry to hear that

I can’t imagine how much that hurt. And for things that were of such little value to anyone else compared to what they meant to you.

Wish I had something better to say.

[progressoid]

36. God, this is sickening.

Are there pawn shops in the area you can check with?

[area51]

37. I'm so sorry this happened to you. n/t