Would you tell... - Self-Storage Talk

Gina6k · #1 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 04:14 PM

1. If the following incident happened to you; would you phone your neighboring facilities and make them aware of this type of incident?
2. Please explain why you would or would not do so.
3. Do you have a policy or procedure in place for this type of occurrence? If you do, please share.

Police incidents: Jan 22, 2010
Who slaps a girl? This guy
A man in a gray-hooded sweatshirt committed a strong-armed robbery about 10 a.m. Monday at Metro Self Storage, 8900 Murray Ave. The man slapped the clerk and pushed her away after entering the business. He removed $2,879.20 in cash and $1,700 in checks from drawers behind the counter and then removed the video surveillance tape from the recorder. He then ran out of the storage facility in an unknown direction.
The identity of the suspect is unknown. He is described as a Hispanic man about 5-feet, 4-inches tall and about 120 pounds. He is slender and has a mustache.

Mel Holsinger · #2 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 05:07 PM

Absolutely, of course I would assume the first call the manager made was to 911, second to the Owner/Manager, then I would call as many of my competitors as possible. In addition, I would let the neighborhood businesses know as well.

Who knows, maybe someone else will be able to prevent this from happening to them if they are made aware.

geraldine1051 · #3 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 06:21 PM

Like Mel, I would call 911 first. I would most definitely call my neighboring competitor and, when I calmed down, I would absolutely call the few other storage facilities in town.

I have my dog at work with me, and I sure do hope she would intervene, like biting the dude. Did he have a gun? Yikes!

We do not have a procedure for this type of event, however, from my retail experience, I know that you always give the jerk the money.

We are a small operation here, but still, I can't help but wonder why there was so much cash and so many checks on hand at 10 in the morning.

Gina, did this happen in your town?

Gina6k · #4 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 06:50 PM

Geraldine - This article appeared on the ISS website yesterday. It was also on a 'local' newspaper. There seems to be a news article periodically about a robbery somewhere on the ISS feed, so I was wondering... if it happened to you.

FHARumRunner · #5 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 07:22 PM

Always cooperate with the criminal and do as they say. First rule of survival in retail. I have stressed this with my only other employee and hope she follows my advice. Next lock the door or doors when they leave, and then place the 911 call. Try to write down as much as you can remember about the individual and what they were driving if you can. Then get on the phone to your owner, manager, or management company to report what happened. Last thing is to call nearby facilities and pass the word if you can. Always remember one thing, money is replacable you are not! Just my two cents worth as usual.

Autodoc · #6 (**permalink**) 26th January 2010, 08:00 PM

Everyone else has stated the obvious order of things that would happed, but to answer your question

YES!!!

I would phone everyone in the area to get the word out as quick as possible -- chances are he is storing at some other facility (or has in the past) so he knows the routines.

The other piece of advice I would give to everyone is never keep that amount of money in your cash drawer. On busy days we make frequent drops into our wall safe - hidden in another room. If anyone sees our cash drawer they will not see much money in it.

astro · #7 (**permalink**) 27th January 2010, 09:49 AM

911, management, and everyone else you can find.

My first thought was what the h___ was that much money doing in the store at anytime? We are mostly a CC and check facility, and only keep a minimum of cash on hand, but even here, I have made more than one deposit in the day. I am not in the middle of nowhere up here, but from this very chair I am sitting as I type this, by looking out a window, I can easily see tha middle of nowhere.

Secondly, why was the recorder (whatever type it was) so readily available to anyone that came in the store. Why not put up a sign that says video recorder off site for your protection, and then hide the recorder some where else near the office?

Incidentally, I make no secret of the amount of petty cash I keep here to help dissuade robberies. (A convenience store up the road had somewhere over $35,000 stolen last year. The wire transfer for all of the mexican labor up here back home to Mexico).

finallyfoundit · #8 (**permalink**) 27th January 2010, 02:05 PM

Yes, I can't imagine keeping that much cash on-site....sometimes people are suprised that I don't accept cash, but it's really not a problem at all to just accept all of the other payment alternatives.....keeps me safer I think..........
Jeez, poor Manager....and yes I'd probably let the other Manager's in the area know....much later after a few day's I'm sure that it would take for me to calm-down and thank-God I wasn't killed.............

shaekirk · #9 (**permalink**) 27th January 2010, 02:17 PM

I was also going to comment on the amount of cash in the office....WOW!

I would definately call 911, then management. I would let other businesses know, as soon as I straightened out!

Gina6k · #10 (**permalink**) 27th January 2010, 04:18 PM

All of your comments are what I was thinking. HOW much cash on site? Really?? Now it is a more of a 'lower working class' area so I can see a lot of cash payments, but here's the kicker; they go on anniversary due dates.

From spending hours on end at their sister sight, I know the video tape machine isn't obvious there, but I can't state for sure about that particular location. I've not been in either store 'as a friend' since the multiple changeover of ownership the sites have gone through.

We all had to read it on ISS & the 'local' paper email alerts a week later! The staff did not notify any neighboring sites about the theft. I know I would! Heck, up here if we just have a really strange (drugged or crazy) potential customer we warn our neighbors they're making the rounds. I guess the difference is; we care about each other and are friendly competitors. Thanks for validating what I thought was only the right thing to do gang. I appreciate knowing I'm not out here in left field by myself.

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