Photography Equipment Stolen from StoreLocal Campbellfield

twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 10:16
Last edited 29/04/2025 - 11:49

On 26th April 2025, I saw my storage unit was open and the lock was missing and my Camera Equipment and Fishing gear gone with loss reaching around $4.5k

I called the company on 26th April and i was informed by the customer service that on April 2nd 2025, a cleaner on site saw and approached a man who they saw fiddling with my padlock and reported it to the company. The company failed to their duty of care, professionalism and ethical responsibility and did not contact me or police and didn't even send someone the following day to inspect the security.

Forensic police mentioned that the place suffers from such crimes.

Found a couple of posts from the victims on Reddit and a post in Epping Facebook group.

The place claims to provide adequate security however,

a) The only security camera installed are facing main entry/exit and lifts/stairs. I believe that 99% of the units available here are not even covered by the CCTV.

b) No office personnel on site.

c) No security company patrols this place.

b) CCTV not monitored by security officers.

d) No insurance. and notification tocustomers to get one because of the ongoing burglaries.

e) T&C only pointing all the problems, duty of care, responsibilities including theft on customer. Nothing about their duty of care, professional and ethical responsibility or making sure their is adequate security or enough security CCTV monitoring the facility.

f) No remorse, call, apology.

Please note that the FB post where a women lost her valuables at the same facility was date in almost a year ago. The company may have offered her compensation so she doesn't pursue things further but the facility didn't do anything to stop such crimes from happening again.

Really wanting to take this further.

Home & Garden

Related Stores

storelocal.com.au
storelocal.com.au

Comments

  • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 10:20

    Images uploaded to imgur

    storelocal

    • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 11:56
      -2

      Photos and screenshots Security

      • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 12:37
        +13

        It literally says "YOU will need to fit a quality padlock." The onus is on YOU, as the storer, to fit an appropriate lock. You cant just "search" for the word "secure" and use it as confirmation bias. "Secure" just means to "lock it up", nothing more.

        Why not post the relevant "Terms and Conditions"??

        1. The Storer warrants that it will not store items which are irreplaceable, such as currency, jewellery, furs, deeds, paintings, curios, works of art, items of personal sentimental value or that are worth more than $2,000 AUD (in total) unless they are itemised and covered by insurance.

        DONT store shit in your locker OVER the value of $2,000 UNLESS it is INSURED!

        1. The Storer acknowledges that to the extent permitted by law, having regard to any non-excludable consumer guarantees under any applicable consumer protection laws (Non-Excludable Guarantees), the Storer’s goods are stored at the sole risk and responsibility of the Storer who is responsible for any and all theft, damage to, and deterioration of its goods.

        If your shit gets STOLEN, it was at the STORER'S risk.

        Your failure to read these Terms and Conditions doesn't constitute a "duty of care" failure on their part. They literally told you to secure it YOURSELF, get INSURANCE and that they are NOT responsible should anything get stolen.

      • Dr Phil on 30/04/2025 - 11:16
        -2

        BOTTOM LINE:
        Storage units are not meant for valuables!

  • JMosk on 29/04/2025 - 10:24
    +7

    Did you get insurance as suggested?

  • Duckie2hh on 29/04/2025 - 10:25

    That sucks OP.

    Read what your contract says, if you believe they have breached their own T&C's then take them to VCAT, QCAT, etc.

    Although usually those T&C are made in their own favour.

  • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 10:27
    +12

    a) Not their job to CCTV your property
    b) And this just add to the cost. Go to a more secure facility
    c) Why, it's not their property that is stored there. Again, this just adds to costs.
    b) (again?) You want to pay for a full time security team to just sit there any monitor CCTV?
    d) Your point being? They are a cleaner, not security.
    e) This is YOUR responsibility to have insurance, not theirs.
    f) So, it was in the T&C's that this is your responsibility?
    g) Why do they need to say sorry because you had an inadequate lock and zero insurance on a rented shed in an unsupervised facility?

    I get it, you're angry at having been robbed, but this is literally what insurance is for. This isnt on the facility. You had the chance to ask these questions before signing a contract with them and to inspect the storage areas for any issues, but you didnt do any of these things.

    So, unless they promised 24h CCTV with 24h patrols and 24h monitoring of CCTV and cleaners that also double as security guards, then you might have a case if they didn't supply any of them, but if there is nothing in your contract that says they offer any of these things, this is mostly on you.

    • 7ekn00 on 29/04/2025 - 10:40
      +6

      TLDR: you get what you pay for :P

  • MS Paint on 29/04/2025 - 10:29
    +2

    Has your insurance company accepted your claim?

    You are a security officer FFS so surely you would know better.

    • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 11:04
      -5

      I am not in security industry anymore. I didn't have an insurance. I am upset at the duty of care or ethical responsibility of the business when the cleaner reported a suspicious activity to the company. the company failed to contact the occupant.

      • rumblytangara on 29/04/2025 - 11:20
        +1

        This probably happens all the time. It was a cleaner- they are not paid the big bucks to be understand ISO certifications. I've walked up to the wrong doors before, fiddled with the padlock then realised why my key doesn't fit.

        • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 11:46
          -1

          I understand however, as a business they are to provide some sort of security or have some security measures in place. If you are reported to the business by a someone in site, what duty of care does the business has towards the occupant of that unit? None?

          • rumblytangara on 29/04/2025 - 11:54

            @twoperspectives:

            what duty of care does the business has towards the occupant of that unit? None?

            Pretty much none I'd imagine. These businesses run on contracts drawn up very carefully by highly paid commercial lawyers who protect that business, and you signed the contract. What does the contract say?

            Beyond that list of a dozen or so bullet points, it all boils down into: You stored highly valuable, highly transportable goods in a low security facility. You knew these places don't do security patrols, you saw the presence or lack of security cameras, you knew how insecure the locking mechanism was and you saw the top access problems with the mesh.

            But somehow you still thought it was a good idea to keep camera gear at a practically unattended site. With no insurance (and you think the company needed to tell you to buy insurance?)

            How is it that the storage company is at fault here? You saw the place, you have industry experience in assessing security, you read and signed the contract. This is a situation of your own making.

            • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 15:26

              @rumblytangara: Even as a professional security officer for years I fell for this now imagine someone who has never worked in security industry. I am not debating the insurance part here as most people are pointing at. I understand that a business like this has a professional responsibility to notify occupants of any activity and that includes an innocent 5 year old trying to enter a key in your units padlock otherwise whats the difference between me chucking my stuff in my backyard and paying a business for the space?

              • rumblytangara on 29/04/2025 - 15:36
                +1

                @twoperspectives:

                Even as a professional security officer for years I fell for this now imagine someone who has never worked in security industry.

                Yeah, that's me- I am not a 'professional security officer.'

                I would never have stored camera gear in a storage facility- the single most expensive item I've ever had in storage was probably a battered $400 suitcase that nobody would want anyway. The rest of it has been furniture, blankets, childrens' toys. All my camera gear is stored at home, exactly because it's valuable, tiny and portable.

                Admittedly I learned my lesson because I once stored a shitty stereo system in a wire cage in an underground garage and someone cut through the wire to steal it. But I was a young, naive student at the time and I learned from it. I didn't think that the apartment management had the responsibility to provide higher security, cameras, or reports (and I was paying building management fees).

                I understand that a business like this has a professional responsibility to notify occupants of any activity and that includes an innocent 5 year old trying to enter a key in your units padlock

                Seriously? Then clearly there is no point discussing this further.

                • 2esc on 30/04/2025 - 10:04

                  @rumblytangara: Why would you pay storage fees for $400 suitcase.

                  • rumblytangara on 30/04/2025 - 10:18

                    @2esc: I think you need to read the entire paragraph again.

      • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 11:50

        I didn't have an insurance.

        Then that is on you.

        I am upset at the… ethical responsibility

        They dont have an "ethical responsibility", they have a "contractual responsibility". Ironically, this "contract" would also outline their "duty of care".

        suspicious activity

        Suspicion is not a crime. "Fiddling with a lock" is not any part of a "serious crime". Define "fiddling"? Looking at it? Touched it? Lifted it? Had a grinder or bolt cutters and attacking it?

        the company failed to contact the occupant.

        They dont have to "notify" everyone of everything that goes on. And what if that guy had just gone to the wrong storage locker, picked up the lock and thought "WTF, this isn't my lock…" What if they had nothing to do with your locker being broken into? It could have been a totally random interaction that had nothing to do with your incident. It was reported on 2/4 and you didn't find it until the 26/4?? Sounds unrelated to me.

        Let's say they did notify you… what then? Let's say they notified you on the 3 April that someone touched your lock (not a crime, btw) then what? 3 weeks later your locker is broken into… How are these separate interactions linked? The information is worthless.

        You are looking to blame everyone else other than accepting any responsibility yourself.

        I have a storage locker and a $400 shutter lock on it, with a specialist, high security key and I have a trail cam set up inside and I have insurance on the contents. I am amazed at the amount of lockers around me that I walk past that have VERY expensive things stored in them, and a $5 Master Lock from Bunnings. My complex has been broken into multiple times (once it was hit 3 times in a month) and my locker has NEVER been hit.

        • 2esc on 30/04/2025 - 10:05

          Looks like the latch was broken padlock is possibly intact.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/04/2025 - 10:38
    +2

    i thought usually these kind of places would be like couriers with respect to declarations of limitations of responsibility

    • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 11:28
      +4

      All care taken, no responsibility makes rants, cheers!

      • rumblytangara on 29/04/2025 - 12:26
        +2

        OP is all about shoving responsibility away from himself as hard as possible. He's even posted up screenshots of what is clearly the most specious marketing blurb from the storage website now. This thread is amazing.

        • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 12:40

          The gift that just keeps on giving.

        • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 15:19

          i am paying for my unit not occupying it for free. I believed the information I saw about security. I believed that would at least has enough coverage but there is literally none. How am I shoving the responsibility when the suspicious activity got reported to them and they did not notify the occupant? you are definitely trolling here or not don't understand the term 'ethical responsibility'

          • rumblytangara on 29/04/2025 - 15:30
            +2

            @twoperspectives:

            i am paying for my unit not occupying it for free. I believed the information I saw about security.

            You decided to trust the marketing blurb on the front page of a website instead of the written contract which you signed?

            I believed that would at least has enough coverage but there is literally none.

            Which is why the written contract said to get your own insurance for contents.

            How am I shoving the responsibility when the suspicious activity got reported to them and they did not notify the occupant?

            How would some random incident several weeks before the theft had impacted this in any way? Perhaps it would have been a reminder to beef up your security, not store expensive portable items, or take out insurance. But from the way this thread has gone, none of this is likely to have happened anyway.

            you are definitely trolling here or not don't understand the term 'ethical responsibility'

            So explain 'ethical responsibility' in the context of a legally binding contract signed by yourself.

            Look, I get it. The situation really sucks and it's terrible that it happened. The thief is scum. But the storage company is clear on this one… the only other party with any real responsibility is you- you failed on so many fronts. You didn't read the contract, you stored the wrong things away from home, you didn't take insurance.

  • Ocker on 29/04/2025 - 10:42
    +6

    Personally, before I stored any valuables is such a facility I would do some checking on all of the points OP is complaining about.

  • SYLTB on 29/04/2025 - 10:52
    +1

    up north and west of bell street like old wild west and campbellfield itself is a faulty name and suburb like dodge city of wild west.

  • Hybroid on 29/04/2025 - 10:56

    Did you have an AirTag or similar tracker embedded in the gear? Might be worth considering for valuables.

  • tenpercent on 29/04/2025 - 10:58
    +2

    TL;DR: This place is a good target for Ozburglers. Get in quick before other Ozburglers get all the good stuff.

  • payless69 on 29/04/2025 - 11:06
    +1

    Not a place to forget valuables.
    Got good camera? Use it or sell it. Tech runaway is biting worse than curbs on new cars.

  • tenpercent on 29/04/2025 - 12:03
    +1

    Did you request and obtain the CCTV footage for the date the cleaner reported the unusual activity?
    Have you filed a report with police?

    There are plenty of storage companies so as a customer if I see two stories in two years where other customers lost all their sh*t due to theft then I would be inclined to take my business elsewhere. I'm sure this storage company knows that too.
    Do you have access to a large audience of people (even if its just a few large facebook groups) to advertise your experience to? Perhaps the storage company might like to pay you off, like they did that woman you referred to, in return for not advertising your experience more widely.

    • twoperspectives on 29/04/2025 - 12:15
      +1

      I requested a call back from their supervisor on Sunday 27th April but haven't received a call yet.

      Yes, the I called the police and reported the theft and they sent the forensics team on site while I was there to get photos of the fingerprints.

      • tenpercent on 29/04/2025 - 12:17
        +2

        Check with the police whether they have requested the CCTV too.

        Did you get any photos of the police on the scene? Could make a good cover photo for your advertisement/warning about your experience with this storage company. Maybe share a draft first with the company before you publish it.

  • kaybrr on 29/04/2025 - 12:34
    +3

    Keep a lookout for places where dodgy people go to sell dodgy stolen goods. Gumtree, FB marketplace and Ozbargain classifieds.

  • MS Paint on 29/04/2025 - 13:48
    +3

    The blame shifting is massive in this thread.

    • pegaxs on 29/04/2025 - 14:28
      +3

      I just look at posts like this and think… "Yep, that's ending up on the 'Rolt's Report' next Monday…"

  • Protractor on 29/04/2025 - 17:00

    Bummer.Lots of good advice above, but these days arse covering as many weak links as possible is crucial. Even good ppl can be AH these days.Plus *CoL crisis bla bla".I mean how's a meth head 'spected to feed his habit, nnnm.

    If you think said thief wasn't wearing a face cover of some sort ,you are being pretty naive.If you have a conspiracy theory it's a dressed up insider operation, set up your own sting.There's probably more break ins & thefts at these places than we'll ever know.

  • 2esc on 30/04/2025 - 10:02

    It actually looks like the latch is broken the best padlock in the world is not going to help. The padlock could still be intact and they broke the latch to get the padlock off. Good design limits access to the padlock.

  • godofpizza on 30/04/2025 - 13:25
    +1

    post the camera models and serial numbers. If you have any photos, the serial numbers are in the exif data of the images.

    If they're gone to a pawn shop, they have a 14 day holding period before they allowed to sell them. It best to start your enquires now before they get sold.

    To claim your goods, you need a proof of purchase(serial numbers) and police report in order to recover any gear at a secondhand goods store.

  • Muppet Detector on 01/05/2025 - 13:31

    Their obligations were to provide a storage space for your stuff.

    They are not insurers and have no idea of the value of the stock you have stored with them.

    Furthermore, they don't even want to know.

    Should you require insurance in on what/you think is inside,

    Take out that insurement.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join