Self Storage Security Devices?

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Are there any devices I could place inside my storage unit that I could use as security incase the unit was burglarized?

Maybe something that could send me a text if it detected movement, better yet video. There would not be power available so would have to run off of batteries and I guess use cell service of some kind as wifi would not be available of course. If someone was to break into my unit I would want to know right away, I am close enough to be there in just a couple minutes, I would not want to go to my unit and find someone burglarized it a week or more earlier.

Please share if you know of anything like that. I might also be interested in maybe some small GPS trackers to put in some of the items incase they did get taken so they could be recovered.

[Intimid8tor]

Some storage units have alarms built in. Our old one did. New one doesn't.

I just make sure insurance protects it and move on.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Robotron2k84]

I once built a micro-router with VPN and storage bound to a 3G PCMCIA card that hosted a pan and tilt webcam with motion alerting, all inside a Sterilite container zip tied to a lofty fixture in a storage unit.

Power ran off of the light socket receptacle and was in total about 5W so wasn't concerned about leaving it on all the time. I had removed the overhead bulb and had another floor work-lamp that could be turned on if needed.

I could VPN into the router to use the camera and it would record movement to the local storage. I suppose that if a thief had stolen it, too, it wouldn't matter if it recorded anything, but it had no lights or LEDs showing except the IR ones for the camera.

I was never robbed or broken into, so I guess I never really got to test it. I'm sure I didn't follow the storage rules to the letter, but they usually just shrug their shoulders and say file a claim if your stuff goes missing.

[the86d]

Well there are these:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=mini+a8+gps

There is a monthly cell service fee, and you would have to know when to track... but I hope this helps. I am going to drop one in the car my son drives...

Alternatively you could use an old cell phone? Maybe have it always charging (replace the batt 1x/year), and running Cerberus (on a rooted Android Cerberus offers the most options).

My son got robbed, and the officer found it in a gated community in the storm drain to dust for prints, thanks to Cerberus and GPS.

[sigstroker]

Just wanted to mention that this is a good idea because I was robbed by my storage unit company. That's right, inside job. One of the crooks was caught, employee of the company.

[9mmContagion]

Use a cell phone as a hot spot. Simpli Safe is all battery powered. Not sure how long the batteries will last, but I believe this is possible. As far as the camera, you might need to rig something up. Unless you can find another phone with good battery life. In that case you can use an app like “Alfred.” Uses your phone as a security camera. You might need to grab the phone every few days to recharge. Or I imagine you can find a larger battery bank, maybe the charge can last you long enough to only need to recharge once a week.

ETA: I don’t own any Arlo Security Cam systems, but they are wireless cams.

[the86d]

Do self-storage users here not have a garage, or do you store as overflow?

Just curious.

[readysetgo]

Trail cam with sim card/cell service.

[billofrights]

Do self-storage users here not have a garage, or do you store as overflow?

Just curious.

Most of the people I know in CA rent and don't have a fully-enclosed, lockable garage.

Other situations apply too. When my SO and I moved in together, she was living with roommates and I was renting a single room- so we got a storage unit to put our things in as we were combining our stuff, and getting new furniture whenever we found deals so that we'd have it all when we moved in.

[tomk556]

Something like a mifi, battery pack, and your alarm payload would work, but for the monthly cost of the mifi alone, you could probably get absolutely solid renter's insurance with high value riders.

[the86d]

Something like a mifi, battery pack, and your alarm payload would work, but for the monthly cost of the mifi alone, you could probably get absolutely solid renter's insurance with high value riders.

This assumes one is not storing stuff that has never been on the books, but do people do this with off the books pre-reg hardware?

[baih777]

Do self-storage users here not have a garage, or do you store as overflow?

Just curious.

Most apts.dont have a enclosed garage.

[Deedle]

[Toyman321]

Do you have access to wifi at the storage facility?

If you do something like the wyze cam that had off site and onboard storage and send you messages when it detects motion: https://amzn.to/2S9WBPe

Power it with something like this: https://amzn.to/2BpQzTa

Another option is the Arlo Go, it's a LOT more expensize but runs on 4g networks and has it's own power onboard. https://amzn.to/2S6DdCG

[local_nobody]

own a previous gen simplisafe system; wouldn't hold for the batteries in the base lasting more than a couple days off of power, but you won't need a hotspot with it; it has its own cellular onboard (either tmo or verizon, last i checked). If you can get power (from a light socket, for example), this would be my thought.

hidden trail cam might be a good one too, if you can hide it.