Storage Facility Thefts Spike In Plano
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PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - You trust leaving your valuables in them but are they safe?
Plano Police are concerned about an alarming number of thefts at storage facilities during the past 3 months.
Alison Jennings found her storage unit cleaned out when she opened it on Monday.
"I opened it and everything was gone except a painting and a drawing that my son had done," said Jennings.
The Plano musician also had her guitar stolen by thieves who somehow got into the secure Public Storage facility and broke locks before cleaning out the unit.
"I asked the manager 'has this been a problem' and he said 'yes you're the ninth person report something'," said Jennings.
Plano Police said 20 similar cases were reported recently at four storage facilities.
"Anytime that you're dealing with the same type of crime that's occurring as many as 20 times over three months. That's always something that is very concerning to us," said Officer David Tilley, Plano Police Department.
While CBS11 News found security cameras pointing at customers inside the retail offices of the storage facilities, police said none of them had cameras pointing at the units that customers like Jennings paid to rent.
She wishes she had paid more attention to the damaged doors she took photos of and locks that seem to have been tampered with.
"When I went in there I had a really bad feeling about the unit and I couldn't pinpoint why but I learned to always trust my gut because... it just didn't feel right at all. Just negative energy; now I know why," said Jennings.
None of the storage facilities' corporate offices responded to the CBS11 News request for comment.
Police said never store valuables like electronics guns or passports in storage units, all of which have been stolen.
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