A message from the Newport News Police Department

There are many things to consider when choosing a self-storage unit for your belongings. By making it a point to do a little research prior to choosing a secure storage unit, you may save yourself a lot of expense in the long run. 

Most theft from storage units is done by cutting a padlock with bolt cutters. There are several products now available that make this more difficult, such as a disk lock, which is like a padlock except it has smaller bars making it harder to cut. It is important to make sure you can use your own lock. When researching facilities you should also check that the area is secure, i.e., you have to have a code or key to gain access not only to your unit but also to the facility itself. In addition, confirm there is 24-hour video surveillance at the facility and/or security guards present on the grounds at all times.

When using the storage unit, visit regularly and keep an up-to-date inventory of all items in your unit with photographs – especially of valuable items like jewelry. Record serial numbers where available and report any break-ins to the police as soon as possible.