Self-storage facilities make appealing targets for criminals. In Lauderhill, Florida nearly three dozen storage units were broken into over one weekend. “This is the first time I’ve seen so many units in a two-day time span be broken into,” said local Police Lt. Mike Santiago.
In another astounding case, one Yukon, Oklahoma man was charged with breaking into 10 storage units by pulling the doors from their hinges, after previously being linked to break-ins at about 67 storage units in the same area.
It’s no surprise that criminals find self-storage facilities so tempting. After all, many people use them to store valuables, antiques, coins, electronics, and other high-value items. Effective security measures need to go beyond locks, lighting, and passive cameras to safely secure a storage property.
In the above video, Stealth security professionals monitoring a Georgia self-storage facility observed two individuals arriving in a rental truck and attempting to access a parked vehicle on the property just before midnight. Security staff immediately activated the onsite audible alarms, and due to the nature of the activity being observed, contacted local police dispatch as well. Responding officers arrived on site within minutes, making contact with the pair and appearing to take one of them into police custody.
Help Deter Suspicious Activity at Your Self-Storage Facility with Proactive Security
Quick responses to potential threats are crucial when dealing with criminals targeting self-storage facilities. In reference to the Lauderhill storage unit burglaries, one perpetrator was able to cut through 26 locks in under two hours. While footage was later accessed to attempt to solve the crime and catch the culprit, if live video monitoring was available, the thief may not have made it far before getting caught.
In the example video above, Stealth’s proactive security solution, live video monitoring, allowed for intervention before any damage could occur. We use a combination of high-tech video analytics in our surveillance cameras that respond to activity, not just simple movement, and highly trained security professionals who are able to determine whether activity is normal (a storage tenant, for example, accessing their unit) versus suspicious (like late night visitors carrying bolt cutters, or accessing parked vehicles in the lot.) This combination of technology and human intelligence helps reduce false alarms calls and typically results in faster police response times, thanks to our ability to provide police dispatch with real-time information of activity in progress.
Best of all, Stealth’s live video monitoring solution is typically 25-60% more cost-effective than traditional security measures and is completely customizable to suit the needs of your unique property. Ready to learn more? Contact us today and speak with a self-storage security expert or request a quote.
Texas Private Security License Number: B14187
California Alarm Operator License Number: ACO7876
Florida Alarm System Contractor I License Number: EF20001598
Tennessee Alarm Contracting Company License Number: 2294
Virginia Private Security Services Business License Number: 11-19499
Alabama Electronic Security License # 002116
Canada TSBC License: LEL0200704
