Question: Found my locks cut off storage unit. what should i do?

(Posted by: on 2010-08-16 15:04:15)

All of our belongings were in there. Our old landlord dumped them there and abandoned. The storage owner helped us find our stuff and has been letting us get it out. Now they're going through divorce so they don't keep track with their storage business. My husband found both our units had our locks cut off. No other locks were place on there. Not sure if anything is missing yet. My husband said he didn't see our big screen tv and some home movies. We suspect our old landlords broke into it trying to get stuff to sell. They illegally hid it for almost one year before we finally found it. Do we call the cops? What's the best legal approach to this? We don't have home insurance. Storage owners have told us that these landlords have done it to others also. They have another unit they've abandoned with other's stuff. Told us that our landlords was just "throwing " our belongings inside. Even our baby's toys.

Posted by: smokey on 2010-08-19, 21:30:20

The best thing to do is consult with an attorney.

Posted by: Simon R on 2010-08-16, 15:08:43

If you paid your bill on time then yes I'd call the cops and have it reported as a theft. How much they'll actually do is another question though. I'd also contact my insurance company and let them go after the storage unit owners. Did other people have this happen to them too? If so, there would be more action by the police if there were multiple numbers of complaints. Good luck!

Posted by: david on 2010-08-16, 18:51:16

If my assumption is incorrect I apologize, but it sounds like you were way behind in your rent and your landlord removed your belongings. I can not figure out why else this would happen. Also, the storage company has the right to cut the lock and sell the items to recoup the back rental fee if that bill wasn't paid either. I hope I'm wrong, but if this is the case, you have very little standing in which to seek damages.