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“It was like dealing with hamsters”: Manager after Medicine Hat Storage break-ins

May 18, 2017 | 1:06 PM

 

A local storage business suffered a multi-unit break and enter in early May.

According to the Medicine Hat Police Service, the break ins took place between May 6 and May 8. The business, which is located along 32 Street Southwest, had 21 storage units forcibly entered during that time.

Staff Sergeant Brian Christman said that of the units entered, 11 had property inside, while 10 were empty at the time of the incidents.

He also said the police had no suspects identified in the case.

Christman indicated that the police had not heard of any property being stolen from the units, but said the owner of Medicine Hat Storage is currently reaching out to customers in order to verify if anything was taken.

He encouraged any customers who may have had property taken from their units to contact police.

According to Tamara Traub, the general manager of Storage Group Alberta, who own Medicine Hat Storage, those responsible for the break-ins got into the storage units by forcing entry into the structure. Once inside, they tore through interior drywall to access the units.

“It was like dealing with hamsters,” said Traub.

In the wake of the incidents, Traub said the security at the business will be upgraded, though she did not want to detail the exact countermeasures.

“It’s not just our property in Medicine Hat,” said Traub.

“We manage $16 million in property across the province, and we have seen break ins and property crimes increase at all of them.”

Traub also said the Medicine Hat location had never seen a break-in to this extent before.

“It is definitely tied in to the economy,” said Traub.

“We have more people unemployed, and then you compound that with people who may have just got back to work, and they get laid off for breakup, or they’re not working for six to eight weeks during breakup, aren’t financially for it, and they go to desperate measures to try to look after themselves.”

However, Traub said there did not appear to be much taken in the break ins.

“When you think about the fact that there were several units broken into, and we’re not seeing things missing, I don’t know what to tell you,” said Traub.

“Are you (those responsible) bored, and just looking for something (to do?)”

Traub said that the company will be issuing customers high security locks in the wake of the incidents, and advised for storage users to purchase larger locks, instead of “cheap padlocks”.

“Even a small woman with bolt cutters can get into your unit in under a minute,” said Traub.

“A good lock is your last and best line of defence.”

Traub recommended a hidden, thick shackle, which would limit would-be thieves to breaking through drywall or using a grinder.

As for any security footage the company had captured of those responsible, Traub said it was impossible to tell any details.

“We have these people come in, and they’re wearing hoodies and sunglasses, and you can make out next to nothing,” said Traub.

She said the best course was to “lock them out”.