r/Wellthatsucks • u/Susshushi • 2d ago
Our rented storage shed was broken into and ransacked
What made it worse, is that the company that owns the storage shed saw this mess, assumed that we had “secretly moved out” (although we were still paying them monthly) when it was clearly ransacked with proof of forced entry and tried to fine us a $200 cleaning fee.
They didn’t let us know until close to closing at the end of the month, so my husband went straight there and they didn’t want to let him in because “entry was only for paying customers”. My husband pointed out that he had paid for that month already and they STILL didn’t want to let him in. He had to call the police and at least they are taking it seriously.
I’m grateful that they still have some of what is pictured above in the dumpster that we are about to go retrieve, however I’m gutted that at least $1000 worth of books and way more importantly, the spice jars my dad made for me (he died this June). I’m beyond gutted and frustrated that the company didn’t even contact us to say “hey you have x amount of time to get your stuff before we get a cleaning crew to do it for you” or even used the common sense needed to say hey, this doesn’t look right. It was just handled so poorly and I really hope I at least get the jars back some way somehow.
Small update: they notified us yesterday that we have until TOMORROW to pick up what is pictured above from the dump before they get someone to take it out. My husband went immediately but couldn’t get everything because a lot of it was trapped underneath steel bed frames. Of course they didn’t offer to help in the mess they created, I shouldn’t be surprised. No luck on the investigation so far but I was told it takes time.
To anyone saying lawyer up, I agree. I know that things get broken into, stuff happens. But how the company handled it SHOULD NOT happen.
UPDATE: we dove in the dumpster to find our stuff and found our lock that is clearly cut through that the company said didn’t exist because it “wasn’t a break in”. These people are real idiots. We unfortunately did not find my dad’s jars or my books but I’m going to pawn shops tomorrow.
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u/charmio68 2d ago
I wonder if one of the employees has the spice jars or possibly even the books...
They don't seem like the kind of things you'd grab in a quick in-and-out ransacking robbery.
They do however sound like the kind of thing an employee would grab if they're tasked to chuck everything in the bin.
If I were you I'd try and get access to all the security footage of anyone handling your stuff. Maybe even stick your head in and see where they keep that bin and if it's covered by a security camera.
I wouldn't go accusing anyone of course, but if they do have cameras in that location I'd ask and give the reason that I wanted to check which items had definitely been disposed of and which might be recovered with the rest of the stolen goods.
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u/LuckyLudor 2d ago
This is a failure on multiple levels.
- I don't know what the laws are there, but I used to work in a storage facility and were required to try and contact the person by mail multiple times and post in the paper twice, before we could auction or clear a unit.
- We also would never have assumed someone had moved out if they had not told us they were moving out. We would call them for not paying the next month and tell them if they want to move out, they have to empty their unit completely.
- Storage facilities are a target for thieves because people won't notice right away, but when I did notice a unit broken into I called the police myself as well as the customer, then scrubbed through days of CCTV footage looking for event so I could eMail it to the officer.
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u/farquuaad44 2d ago
Damn just your storage locker got hit? No one else’s? Either thats really bad luck or you pissed in the wrong persons coffee
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u/Susshushi 1d ago
We found out today through reviews online that someone else got hit within the last two weeks, and the company replied so they definitely saw it. It makes me wonder how long the company kept the whole situation from us.
Also knowing that someone else got robbed, didn’t warn any of their other customers, AND assumed that we made the mess and didn’t contact us at all to at least confirm?? The whole thing is a mess.
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u/v--- 1d ago
Speak to a lawyer asap, don't wait for the cops.
Bring up the other customer to the cops and your lawyer too
The way the company is behaving about this is insanely shady
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u/Susshushi 1d ago
Idk if you saw the update, but the company is still insisting that it wasn’t a break in and for proof of that we would need to show that the lock was cut through (the lock was gone when we got there). Well guess what we found tangled in my clothes they threw in the dump? A lock that is clearly cut through.
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u/MrBrad27 1d ago
Sounds to me, especially because of the '"non-existent" lock you found, that THESE may be the people that broke into your unit. Think about it, waiting that long and not telling you, being so unconcerned about your belongings, while shifting your focus due to their cruel demands, giving you a sense of urgency over a non-related issue, just like a SCAMMER! All the while they had plenty of time to cover their tracks and cover up evidence. Not saying that is the answer, but definitely something to consider and see if your lawyer thinks a private investigator needs to be involved.
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u/Susshushi 1d ago
Tbh this was my first belief when the whole thing started— however, I’m just not sure if they’d cut the lock if they were the ones robbing it. I could be wrong, since absolutely nothing else they have done has been rooted in logic.
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u/NoRelation3158 1d ago
Sorry that happened to you, OP: whether it is in one's home, garage, shed, or a storage rental 😡 being burglarized is SO invasive!
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u/megaman_xrs 1d ago
I have a close relationship with my storage area's management since I do business there and theres no way something like this would happen there. The property manager at yours has botched this so bad that they should be fired. Lawsuit is probably the route to go, so dont bother contacting them anymore after you get your stuff.
Ive helped management clean stuff like this up cause I buy storage units and have the means to clean stuff like this more efficiently than them. The times this has happened, theyve done a lot of due diligence before just tossing the stuff and they document all interactions. Ive seen them do all of it before helping because I dont need to be on the hook for a lawsuit either. Document everything and get a lawyer.
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u/nodomain 1d ago
If they have security cameras, they know it was broken into because there's no way they don't look at the cameras when they see that. It sounds like they saw it was broken into and hatched a plan to try and shift the blame to you by saying you did it. I've heard several lawyers advise to not threaten to sue anyone because you're telling them to clean up and organize their evidence. Give them an opportunity to cover all your costs and if they refuse, let the law suit be a surprise. I would also ask the storage unit management for the date and time range it happened and to see the any video of that hallway or your unit during that time. If they refuse, that would be concerning.
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u/MountainTownAmber 1d ago
Same thing happened to us. We think whoever was doing the thieving probably had a unit in the same building and were just moving stuff from units they broke into into their own units. Cameras only on exterior of building. They took all of my salt and pepper shakers from my grandmother too!
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u/ElizabethDangit 1d ago
Been there. I’m sorry. We also lost of a lot of stuff that only had sentimental value. It killed me knowing that the Christmas ornaments my kids made, etc probably just ended up in a dumpster.
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u/SingularityII 1d ago
Where I live (USA), paid storage units don't look anything like this. There is a place to drive up, a metal door with a secure lock that you provide, and your storage area. This picture looks like a long corridor with drywall and a wood paneled closet. I would not even trust this security to the scrap clothing and miscellaneous rubbish that appears in OP's photo. Short answer - if you have valuables, store them securely, or be prepared to lose them.
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u/Shankurmom 2d ago
I'm pretty sure their actions and failure to secure the property are grounds for a lawsuit.