When managing a self-storage facility, the security of your customer’s assets are top priority. Family heirlooms, artwork, collectibles, and important records are just a few of the highly valuable possessions commonly stored in storage facilities. How do you provide security?
Self-Storage threats are on the rise.
When you have highly valuable assets stored in a facility, crime is usually quick to follow. Theft is a major threat to storage facilities, especially if little to no security is in place. One storage facility located in Ontario, Canada was broken into 76 times in 2021 alone(1).
Theft isn’t the only security threat that self-storage facilities face. Due to the privacy factors inherent when renting a storage facility, individuals with ill-intent are quick to take advantage. These units can become homes to illegal contraband, or worse. In one instance, suspicious chemicals were found in a storage unit, leading law enforcement to suspect a drug lab had previously been operating out of the unit(4).
Why "reactive" security systems aren't enough
CBC News in Canada recently reported on a self-storage theft that occurred at a facility in British Columbia. The culprits broke into an artist’s storage locker and stole pieces from her personal artwork collection, and a variety of family heirlooms.
CBC reached out to Alex Vourkoutiotis, the CEO and security expert at our Canadian counterpart, Caliber Communications. Alex said, “If you don’t have an active, monitored system, then you run the risk of just going in after the fact and perusing video footage — that may or may not exist — to determine what happened or maybe who did it”(5). You can read more about CBC’s special investigation into self-storage theft here.
Our Proactive Self-Storage Security Solution
When it comes to preventing theft or other criminal activity at self-storage facilities, our innovative video monitoring security service features many advantages, like operating over the national Cellular LTE+ network instead of traditional internet.
As a first line of defense, we deploy video surveillance warning signage around the facility. This provides visibility to the public to inform them that their actions are being monitored and recorded. The core of our security solution is our industry leading video security unit which comes equipped with high resolution stationary and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. These are strategically placed around the perimeter of a site, with views of important areas such as entrances, exits, and corridors.
When an individual is detected on our security cameras, our trained video monitoring operators first employ active deterrence techniques using voice commands to warn the suspect they’re on camera and their actions are being recorded and will be sent to the Police. For additional impact, operators utilize a blue LED strobe light to reinforce the message.
These tools are also helpful as a way of alerting police to specific locations around. In the event that the suspect cannot be deterred, operators immediately contact local law enforcement, providing them with critical details such as suspect’s description, location, and behavior. When police arrive on site, operators continue to gather additional details to further assist the police in apprehending the suspect.
Once suspects are apprehended, incident reports are accessible to clients through our security information reporting platform, syncroReports. This platform provides access to important security information such as in-depth reports, security analytics, and live security camera feeds.
With storage facility theft on the rise, adding a video monitoring service to your security efforts has never been more important. Our proactive security system and service provides an effective solution that detects and deters crime, in real-time.
References:
- 1,2. “Ontario Man who had $11,000 worth of goods stolen from storage unit now in dispute over who should pay”
- 3. “$30,000 worth of stolen goods recovered after string of Quinte West storage locker break-ins” Global News, Alexandra Mazur, April 27th, 2020
- 4. “London police find suspected drug lab in storage unit on commissioners Rd.” The London Free Press, Dale Carruthers, April 26th, 2021
- 5. “Got something in self storage? What you need to know amid rising thefts” CBC News, Erica Johnson, November 29th, 2021