'Tis the season for storage break-ins in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Les Harvey’s storage unit was broken into on Monday.
He has stored 30-years’ worth of hunting and fishing equipment at the Portland Self Storage, located off Southeast 122nd and Foster in Portland.
“You work hard. You gather all these things through the years and now in my later years, I have more time to enjoy that stuff but it's gone,” Harvey said.
Harvey has stored his belongings at Portland Self Storage, also referred to as Northwest Self Storage, for nearly five year. A security camera is positioned near his unit. There is also an employee who lives on the grounds.
“They have their little campers that they stay in. It’s maybe 30 feet from my unit. So I'm frustrated with that,” Harvey said.
Harvey is a locksmith. He says the thieves did not break the locks on his unit, instead cutting the hasps on the sides of the roll up door.
“They break through our stuff but they're probably working harder than if they actually had a job. It's very frustrating to me,” Harvey said.
There are more reports of storage break-ins in the metro area. Even employees admit it is more prevalent during the holiday season.
Harvey has filed a police report, but standard lease agreements hold renters responsible for thefts.
Homeowners or renters insurance is the best way cover lost or stolen items.
“The reality is, it's probably putting me out of hunting,” Harvey said.
