Public storage Property stolen from public storage, inside job. Lock still in place! Nice little scam that public storage employees have going. This needs to be stopped and the employees needs to be exposed! Los Angeles, California

Hi,

I rented at the same location PS on La Cienega in mid-late 2010. I lost my job and had to move in with friends, while in between houses, I stored my stuff in the PS location. I had many deeply personal items stored there, like my Malibu High School yearbook, many deeply personal medical records, jewlery, etc. My mom(who stored things as well) and I came back to our storage after a week away, our lock seemed intact, only to see that it looked like 1/3 of the stored items were gone. Many boxes were taken, a filing cabinet was gone and boxes of womens clothes were empty. The interesting thing was, all of my luggages were opened but no mens clothes were taken, only womens clothes were stolen. The storage staff were completely disinterested and the woman who worked there suggested that I probably took the items. When my mother asked to see camera footage of who put the code in over the last few days, she said they were not working. Willis insurance refused to help unless we had receipts and because our lock was intact, they would not pay anyway. We filed a police report, but they doubted anything would be recovered. I was suspicious of the woman that worked there as only womens clothes were taken, and she was the one who was most diligent in pointing holes in our side of the story. Younger african american lady, red hair if I remember correctly. She did live on property as there is this little facility near the gate that the manager lives in. I have no proof of anything, but it was my feeling about her due to her attitde and repeated suggestion that it was my fault, not being helpful, and the fact that only womens clothes were taken, not to mention that she lives on property. I would be willing to pay $1000 literally and seriously to recover my yearbook. 

Our situation is very similar. We had a large amount of winter clothing removed from our unit. The Miami Police officer who came out noted that there is a gap in the wall where someone from the next unit could easily reach through and remove the hanging garment bags. The insurance that Public storage mandates , and seems to be owned by them, declines coverage as the lock is intact. PS themselves claim no responsibility.

Not hard to believe that it could easily be an inside job. The employees could easily have done this while sweeping out the adjacent unit.

Consumers should also note that the insurance adjusters are also owned by public storage.

In the case of Public Storage -

They generaly only use it on one side of the unit, meaning removal of it takes about 60 seconds, and then your into the next unit. If there was broken drywall on one side of your unit, and the unit to that side was vacant, they will have vendors go into the vacant unit and replace all the drywall from that side, giving the Vendor complete unsupervised access to your belongings, I have personaly done this 1000s of times.

Your stuff could have been taken by anybody, vendor, employee, random thief, and you would have never been notified. Thats how PS operates.

Read the story and my replies. I never said that the author was lookin for our sympathy or for us to feel bad for them... Although they were looking for it from the Public Storage company, which is what I said.

You are correct, this site is designed to warn other consumers of wrong doing... Although this storage company according to her story did not do anything wrong. This is where we have crossed the line. It's called slander based on personal opinion.

You caught me.. I am a public storage employee here under cover. Post consumer reports about FACTS! Things the company had clearly wronged you on. This whole entire story is based on personal assumption without any proof or any logic. This is why I am on here posting... But it doesnt matter why I am here, I am merely a moron.

Xplizit u complete miss the whole point if this site. IT IS TO WARN OTHER CONSUMERS! The author didn't get on here looking for anyone's sympathy or for unto feel bad for them. It is a fact the storage companies dip their hands into these lockers and I have seen proof of it. However u may be correct that it was probably his neighbor because the facility would have never went through that much work in this instance because it would be substantially easier to cut the lock as I'm aware of how they do this. This site is designed for us to help each other and possibly to vent over unjust things that happen. Either way the employees steal from the lockers and the public period. But the worse part is the inside jobs. All need to be careful and make sure none see what goes in your locker especially if its a large locker. And ignore comments from people that have no idea of what they are talking about. Why Is explicit commenting here anyway if u have no expireience with these companies unless your an undercover employee or owner why else would u be here?

In response to "Cmgodown" who is speaking about cutting locks... sure.. not problem... completely understandable. in this story, we are talking about a lock which was "still intact, not tampered with or anything". Apparently people will go to such great lengths to steal a single television that they will tear down a wall and then rebuild it. In addition.. they rebuilt is in such a way.. that they were able to teleport out of the unit after they were finished taping, spackling and painting.

Although after the original story was published in such great detail and I mentioned this flaw regarding the laws of construction.. apparently the original author decided to mention how the screws were installed from the other side and how the police "took notice to this fact"... though it was not important to mention this originally. 

This story is flawed.. not flawed in a way that has us accusing the author of "stealing from themselves" as they noted... but it is flawed in a sense that it clearly has no justification for such great measures to be taken in order to steal a single TV unit from a sealed storage unit. The property could easily steal this TV in much easier methods which could go unnoticed. They could have staged a massive break in.. they could have cut your lock, left it unlocked "with nothing touched" (certainly a common mistake an average person can make), cut the lock and replaced it with a similar lock (you mixed up your keys).. there are many other ways to steal something. 

I don't apologize for things that I didn't do. An apology is an admission of error. They do not owe you an apology or grief or any sort of condolences unless they are apologizing for something they did to you. As far as the storage company is concerned.. you are just another person with a complaint about something missing.. one of many people who complain to them about things they have misplaced.. or someone has stolen.. or items being damaged by water or whatever. To them, your complaint is as a parking tickets is to a meter maid. There is no alarm.. there is no surprise.. no grief for your sob story of how you forgot. 

So you didn't misplace it.. because yes, it is a large item to misplace.. maybe you forgot to put it into the storage or it was sitting in your vehicle and someone outside the unit around the same time took it. Maybe someone at the storage company DID break down the sheetrock like the Koolaid man and then rebuild it from the inside prior to particulating to squeeze out of the cracks without opening a locked door. But why does this assume that everyone at the storage knows about what really happened?? Why should they all jump and serve you the minute you make a claim that they stole your TV? The guy picking his fingernails probably didn't give a toot about what the fuss was about. Why should he? 

So the girl smirked at you in the end...... It doesn't matter if your claims were real or not... you were probably over-reacting. Police officers are more trained than you believe. They know when someone is lying and they know when someone is bat s**t crazy. You were likely acting more like bat s**t that day. All I am saying is that your expectations are ridiculous. You expect people to be amazed the minute you tell them something odd happened and for people to cry and bend over for you.. pleading for apology.. you expect the officer to let you hear their conversation with the opposite side, as if it would not cause conflict or arguments. The girl HANDED you the forms and you in turn SNATCHED it from her.. you look like a crazy person, I believe most people would giggle or give you a facial response in that situation.

An organized crime ring? Hardly. Either way, if your suspicions about the sheet rock were accurate.. don't you think a photo would have been in order? You have nothing other that your own suspicions now and a sketchy story to top it. You have no sympathy from me.. and most people with a brain will see that your accusations regarding this specific event are out of line.

The author of this is not 5150! I sold a PS. Manager a house some years ago and he admitted that they would cut locks on units that had not been visited for a long period of time and take items out! He said most would not notice that items were taken and when they do notice he just hands them the insurance claim form! He also would call me when the good units would come up that would be scheduled for auction and he would pull them out prior to auction and sell them himself and pocket the money! He made more money from the stuf he pulled from the units then he would make in salary! It's funny how people make these comments on here that have no idea of what they are talking about! People domu really think this guy would take the time to report this if it didn't really happen?.. The ones that are defending PS must be undercover employees or owners cause I don't see why you would be on here defending them just randomly. Public beware if you have items that are very valuable (especially small items) don't out it in these storage units! People are people and will ripp u off if given the chance. A middle eastern business partner once told me that good people will screw over other good people! It's human nature and survival.

I don't believe it was the employee at that location. I have serviced that area as a vendor for 10+ years. Here are some questions that should be asked -

#1. Was there a break in? I have repaired many properties in the LA market where they break in though one door, and then break the drywall into as many units as they can and carry the stuff out one exit.

#2. It could have been the tenant in the next unit. Again, many times they simply break a hole into the drywall and walk into your unit.

Keep in mind that Drywall is extremely easy to break, doesn't make any noise while your doing it, and it happens, alot. I have repaired huge pathways through PS properties, so when I hear what happened to you from my personal experience, I would guess it was a tenant, more then likely in the next unit to yours.

Having any questions, feel free to ask me.

Yes, I know exactly how drywall is installed. There were two units on the opposite side of my unit. Even the cops mentioned that the screws are on the opposite side. Evidently someone went through all the trouble to remove my television. I didn't just make this up. You and everyone else are treating my complaint as if I am the thief. I have no reason to steal my own television, I make good money & can go and get another one right this minute if I chose to. I would hate to see this happen to you and anyone else with these smart alec responses!

With what you have posted here there would be Prosecutors that would take this case.

This should have said...
With what you have posted here there would be NO Prosecutors that would take this case.

But the crooks probably have it in their hovel.
You will never prove it (unless you find it at the PS and can trace).
BUY LESS CRAP. DON'T USE STORAGE PLACES.
You payed these people how much? hundreds to thousands?
Should of just sold your crap and bought new when needed.
Electronics that sit for long periods tend not to work.

I have no proof other than the fact that my plama television set was stolen and the unconcern and disregard that the employees showed me regarding my stolen merchandise.
- Exactly what did you want them to do?  According to you the "theft" could have occurred anywhere between July 2010 and Aug 2011, that is about a 13 month period.  It's not like the "thief" was packing up your TV and moving it to their car at that exact moment.

You seem to think, with absolutely no evidence, that the employees were somehow in on this "scam".  Okay if they are involved in this scam, wouldn't it be easier for them to just cut off your lock?  Instead based on what you wrote you think they cut out drywall, moved your item into another locker, and replaced the drywall.  All of that effort and what do they do?  They take ONE 55 inch plasma TV.

With these facts and if you kept telling the cops that the employees MUST be involved in this, of course the 5150 comment is going to come up.  Especially if you are yelling, or making other irrational statements.

By the way you also seem upset that they police wouldn't let you listen in to what the employees told the cops.  Well that is standard in investigations to interview people separately.  Especially if you are accusing them of being involved in this scam.

Hopefully insurance will cover it, but I can just about guarantee you that they are at least thinking..did that person even have a TV in there to being with?   Because this story does seem to have some holes(no pun intended) in it

This facility and any other facilities that are involved in these scams needs to be exposed and the employees prosecuted to the full extent of the law!!!
- With what you have posted here there would be Prosecutors that would take this case.

You said, "My son and my brother begin looking around the facility and noticed that the drywall leading to the adjoining storage space was farely new and did not have the same wear as the other side.". As if to say that the employees at public storage removed the drywall, to take just your TV and then reinstall new drywall to make it seem as if nobody entered the storage.

Have you ever stopped to think about how drywall is installed? Someone from INSIDE the unit would need to install the drywall with screws or nails... then tape it.. and paint over. After doing so, they would need to figure out how to get out from INSIDE... after the drywall was installed.

You said that you wrote this because you wanted people to be aware that their property is not safe and "to be more observant".... maybe you too should be more observant of little details such as this.

 I personally do not care about how you were struck by my unfounded allegations. This is what happened and you did not have to experience what I went through so who cares what you believe. I have no proof other than the fact that my plama television set was stolen and the unconcern and disregard that the employees showed me regarding my stolen merchandise. For your info this not just a rant made by some digruntle customer. This is a very dissatisfied customer! Regarding the comment that the officer made, evidently this officer and his partner chooses to use the term 5150 lightly because that's just what he said whether you choose to believe it or not! My family were there to witness his comment! I know what the term 5150 means! I chose to explain it in laymen terms! Also for your information, my property was insured! That's not even the point, the point is that this could be an ongoing problem & someone needs to look into this particular facility! I see that you label yourself as Tom the storage expert, evidently you're living in a bubble because there are facilities that are stealing their customers blind & I believe this facility is one of them! After the insurance company has to shell out enough money due to these ongoing occurences maybe they will start taking these allegations more seriously! I reported this crime to warn the public to never believe that their property is safe in a storage unit & to be more observant. Whether you believe what happened to me or not is not even important! Now you suck it up & get a life!

While reading your post, I was struck by your unfounded allegation that Public Storage MUST have stolen your plasma television set.  Since the plasma set is gone, Public Storage must be the culprit?  You offer no proof of any kind and you engage in this rant to disparage Public Storage.  Police officers do not use a 5150 comment lightly. (5150 is a section of the California Welfare & Institutions Code where a police officer can detain a person that they deem to be mentally disturbed for evaluation and treatment)  

Your problem cannot be made to be the problem of the entire world.  You could have insured your property, but in this case, absent signs of forced entry, even your own insurance carrier would not have believed  you.  

Suck it up and move on...