Letting Off Some Steam

Machspeed

Machspeed

Member
So, I'm trying to restore a car, one that has been with me since I was 16 years old. In fact, it was my first car and I still own it today. I parked it around 1983 and it has sat up until about 2 years ago. In all this time, I have been buying parts for the car, some of which I have at my residence and some stored in a storage facility. The car is on a rotisserie now and I need to pull it off and do some mock up as it is somewhat of a resto-mod. Went to my storage facility to pull some things for this mock up and note that the lock on my storage unit is not mine. At first I thought maybe I was at the wrong unit but a quick call to the wife who pays the bills confirmed that indeed it was my unit. I asked her if she paid the bill for which she said she did. So, not feeling good about things, I go and buy some bolt cutters and another lock. I cut the lock off and open the door to note that some very expensive things were taken. They took everything that was new, meaning in boxes. I have other things in there that were pulled from the car such at the rear end housing, brake spindles, axles, etc. I even have a few engines in there. So far, it looks like they got away with about $7k worth of parts, this to include a TKO600 trans with conversion kit and my entire suspension that I purchased through Opentracker Racing. I am mad as hell and sick to my stomach over this loss. I can't understand why people do what they do sometimes. And you know, while the loss is great the violation runs right there with it. The audacity that someone would break in and take something that is not theirs just rips at me. I suppose I'm more fortunate than others, they could have taken everything. Heck, I still have the car. I guess that's something. Just a bump in the road of life, I guess. I'm glad they put a lock back on it to keep what was left secure.
 
Seems like maybe the cops and the storage company should have been involved from the moment you discovered the lock wasn't yours.
 
crashtech said:
Seems like maybe the cops and the storage company should have been involved from the moment you discovered the lock wasn't yours.
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Yeah, both were notified. This kind of break in is considered a misdemeanor where it was once a felony. Not a big deal. This is what we do when we want to keep our jails and prisons empty. The officer who took my report told me that too. Said breaking in these storage facilities is the thing now.
 
I didn't think they'd catch the perp, but it ought to be insured, the storage place will probably get out of being responsible, though.
 
Wow John that is terrible! :mad: I've been in a similar situation several times and you are right it is such a personal violation.

Couple of thoughts, first does the storage place have a gated entrance? What about cameras? They should have both. That should be a requirement for all storage facilities. Gut instinct is that these were meth heads or some other form of junkies and they took what they thought they could sell quick. Has to have had a vehicle so if there are cameras then you should be able to get a license plate. Read your storage agreement to see what rights you have in the contract. Check all the Pawn Shops, not just locally but out of the area as well. That would be the first place they would try to unload your items. Pawn Shops are required by law to get ID's and if they purchase something stolen it's on them. If there are records of them purchasing parts similar to yours then they are responsible to make you whole. Check with an Attorney. $7000 is a felony amount no matter what state, no way that's a misdemeanor. Cops are probably too lazy to want to do the legwork. If the Cops won't do the legwork (here in the county I live in the County Sheriff doesn't seem to care either) then you can do it. Compile it all and compel the cops to do their job. Folks like that make me want to put my Christianity aside for an afternoon, grab a baseball bat and give the jerks permanent limps. (or worse) :mad:
So sorry that happened to you. Check with an Attorney to see what rights you have and what the next steps you could take. Also check your homeowners insurance to see it you have any provision about household items (your hobby) in storage facilities.
 
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Man I am so sorry and can completely relate! Back in 2000 I parked my 95 Lightning after I popped a head gasket (tuning mistake). I moved and put it in storage along with almost all of my tools and some very expensive performance parts. Almost everything I had (tools, parts, etc) except the truck was stolen. I know it was the storage place owner's kid as he had driven by one day when my wife had the door open getting a couple of other things we had stored. He asked her about the truck and she foolishly told him about it. A few weeks later not the lock, but the door lock mechanism was cut out. Oh and coincidentally the cameras were "down" that night. Yeah, cops totally didn't care. I think the worst part of the whole deal was losing some things I had kept in my tool box from high school and some parts and stuff off my very first car. That and the bastards walked on the roof of the truck and hood. Grrrrrrrrrr
 
Not trying to be an ass but are you sure the wife was always up to date on the bill and the lock was not cut and replaced by the owner of the storage unit? After so many days of non pay the contents is theirs. Sorry to hear this,it sucks. Also, a different lock won't stop a Milwaukee 4 1/2 grinder with a cutoff wheel. Thieves are one of the lowest life forms.

At the very least,hide a game camera in your storage spot,it can't hurt.
 
Just awful!

My two cents worth it had to be either someone with a unit that seen you unload a few times or an employee of the place.
.need to talk to an attorney as maybe a "care, custody, and control." And they may have insurance to cover this but they are not going to turn in for fun and that's where the Attorney comes in.
 
this really sucks!!! i hope everything that was stored in there is documented. it can be difficult to prove if there isnt certain criteria is met saying the items were in there.
might wanna check your local for sale sites for the parts- craigslist,FB marketplace, web forums. maybe even pawnshops.
 
Thanks for the sympathy and kind words fellas. My wife asked me last night if I was ever gonna smile again. I really didn't know what to say to her. I guess that's how down I am in the whole deal. And Chris, you're right about wanting to put aside the Christianity. Moreover, my attitude for doing anything for anyone now is totally absent. For the moment, I just don't care. I know it is a bump in the road of life and I'll get over it.

A little insight on the storage facility. My car was parked in there for over twenty years along with a bunch of parts. I pulled it out a couple of years ago to begin the restoration. I've never had a problem there until recently. I have always been guarded about it, telling no one and sneaking in and out of there to get things. I typically park my truck in front of the entrance so no one can see in. The place is open with no fence or cameras, sits in an L shaped configuration with a bunch of offices on the small leg of the L, the owners who is an accountant being one of them. In front the units is a relatively new Mexican food restaurant that stays very busy. Walking right out of the back door of the restaurant, which is the kitchen area, one can see my unit not more than 25' away. If the door is open and my truck is not blocking the view, one could see in it. I was there a few months back and a couple of the workers were on a smoke break and I know they saw some things. I have suspicions about them and I put it in my police report. I know the law here real well and I do feel like they are working on some things. They called the owner of the storage facility yesterday. The officer that took my report said that they would be checking the pawn shops and such. I am going to inquire about the owner's insurance.

Thanks!
 
I would be curious to know if that is something insurable by yourself moving forward. I know that at one time I was considering buying a CONEX and sitting it next to my shop, but was concerned about it being robbed. But my agent said as long as it's on my property, my garagekeeper's policy covers the contents. I would not know about a remote location, but it seems like some kind of renter's insurance should be able to be bought that would kick in if there's no other coverage.
 
I swear, as memory serves....My insurance agent had mentioned to me that my homeowners insurance covers rental storage units automatically....State Farm.
I forget the topic of conversation, but I think I just happened to mention keeping some things at a storage unit and he was "Ooh, you know that stuff is covered..."

That being said, too much activity on your acct. is bad news also, but at $7k in losses, I think I would look into it.
 
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