In March, a self-storage camera at an Uncle Bob’s Self Storage in Houston captured several police officers beating a burglary suspect—who also happened to a be 15-year-old boy. Right now there’s a whole lot of he said-they said going on and an investigation has been launched. You just cannot deny the power of video.
Cameras have long been a self-storage security staple. They are literally the eyes on your property. They can catch criminals busting into units, people damaging property, crimes in progress, or even a bad manager.
However, there’s more to security cameras than just installing them. You must choose the right kind for your property, decide how and when they’ll record, and keep them clean. In addition, you may also want to hire a third-party video surveillance company to watch the camera feed 24/7—something your manager cannot do.
You may have already received the June ISS, our annual issue on site security. Inside, you’ll find several articles on how you can keep yourself, your business and your customers safer. You can also find these articles and more in our online archives. The security category has dozens of articles on everything including tackling installation, new products, marketing your facility’s security measures, how to prevent crime, the manager’s role in security and more.
Another place for ideas on prevention—or even to post a tale of caution—is Self-Storage Talk, which now boasts more than 3,000 members. I recently asked members how many security cameras they have, how they’re monitored and where they’re positioned. Reebee shared how her facility’s cameras caught a guy stealing gas from stored RVs. See what others SST members say and share your thoughts.
Cameras should be the cornerstone of any facility’s security system, but think beyond those eyes in the sky. Here’s a great article about creating the “illusion” of security. Plus, there are dozens of posts on SST about keeping your facility safe. Check them out and evaluate if you're doing everything you can to keep you and your tenants safe.