Preventing and Addressing Self-Storage Crime

A Business Plan Needs A Marketing Plan.

A marketing plan needs a security plan:

• To attract customers with goods to secure;
• To deter and repel crooks who want those goods;
• To protect your investment.
  Why You are The Biggest Loser
  when crime finds your facility.

Create a Road Map to Security.

• Start your security planning at the curb by
  creating sight lines into your facility.
• Place barriers such as rocks and shrubs at
  the base of your fence.
• Place lights that broadcast your security.

Make your Gate an Access Control Point.

• Assign your gate codes. Most customers will make any easy one. Tell them that you assign codes “for their
  protection.” [It is, but it’s also for yours. You don’t want “roamers” on the site.]
• Have an entry and an exit point. You want visitors to be trackable.

When You Select Cameras, Focus on Placement, Not Quantity.

• Who is the key audience for your lobby monitors? Customers? Potential thieves? Your manager? You online?
• Have an array for show pointing out, and a screen facing inward for the manager. Don’t forget: Cameras Record Crime, They Don’t Stop It.

Is Your Manager Your Greatest Asset or Your Greatest Threat?

• A well-trained manager can sell your features, screen your renters and maintain visibility to prevent crime, dangerous activities and vandalism.
• A poorly-trained or dishonest manager can rob you and your customers, infiltrate your data and information, help his criminal associates and compromise your security.

Is Your Computer An Asset or A Liability?

• Protect your assets and information by setting strict access levels.
• Protect against hacking by
  • Ensuring PCI-compliant software*
  • Verifying SOC1 accounting controls*
  • Considering a “penetration test.”*
    Don’t be a headline:
    “Self-Storage computer data hacked.”

*Don’t know what this means? Ask your software provider, and demand a clear answer.

Invest in The Final Line of Defense: Locks on The Unit Door

• “Your lock, your key” lets the customer set the security level at your facility.
• Since you offer insurance, the customer loses little with a cheap lock.
• You lose your reputation, and damage your investment.

Require or Offer Locks and Lock Systems That Stop Thieves.

• A pin tumbler padlock belongs on a yard shed, not a self-storage unit.
• Don’t be fooled by a “round padlock.” All disk locks are not alike. Select one with a pick and drill resistant keyway.
• Consider a cylinder lock system to deliver security that attracts renters and repels crooks.

What is a “Bump Key”?

• If you think a generic padlock deters crime, just search “Bump Key” on Google or YouTube and be afraid.
• A medium or high security lock just might send that crook down the road.

Why Cylinder Locks?

• Flush mount system integrated with latch. No shackle or lock body to cut.
• Available with tubular or high security (virtually pick and drill proof) keyways.
• All units look the same. No “easy road map” for thieves.

Require Insurance or an Insurance Waiver to Protect Your Investment.

• Discuss with your attorney how to set liability limits for renters in your lease.
• Make the renter sign to acknowledge that he or she has selected or refused insurance.
• Restrict the type and value of property to be stored, or require a waiver of liability*.

* May not hold up in court. Consult with your attorney.

What’s New?

• Automated facilities built around “24 hour” kiosks promise hands free management.
• The questions you must ask: How do you
  • maintain control of the site?
  • lock and unlock empty units?
  • restrict access to individual sections?
  • ensure on site renter safety?

Summary

• A Business Plan needs a Security Plan.
• You risk more from poor security than your renter.
• Select your manager carefully.
• Make a security lock the final line of defense.

Questions for You

• Do you have contacts with local law enforcement?
• Does your local planning board require a security plan?
• Is there drug activity in your area?
• Do you calculate cost per unit for security?

Acknowledgments

Presented at Inside Self-Storage World Expo, April 3, 2013, Las Vegas, NV.

Thanks to the following for their information and insight:
Jim Chiswell, Jim DiNardo, Jeffrey Goldberger, Markus Hecker, Norm Kotoch, jr., Mike Sawyer.