Why Do Storage Facilities Have Gates and Cameras?

Criminals, right?
Fences, gates, and cameras are supposed to keep the bad guys out and make your facility the safest place in town… right?

Well… maybe so. Maybe not.

After nearly a decade in the self-storage industry, I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve actually used our camera systems to catch true criminal activity. (To be fair, our facilities are in pretty safe areas.)
In all that time, we’ve only had one case where law enforcement actually caught and prosecuted the offenders.

What Cameras Really Catch

Here’s the truth:
I’ve used our camera systems dozens of times — but not to find burglars.

I use them to:

• Watch renter activity when someone stops answering calls or texts
• Confirm whether a tenant has actually moved out
• Most importantly, identify who caused damage to gates, fences, buildings, or parking areas

If something breaks, it’s almost always traceable to a renter.

The Gate-Smashing Trucker: A Real-World Story

Just this week, one of our facilities had a customer completely destroy an entry gate.

Here’s how it happened:
A customer rented a parking spot online and left a truck that was being shipped out.
A few days later, he gave his gate code to a truck driver who tried to pull a long trailer into the property.
The driver completely wrecked our gate and fence — even flipped the gate motor!

As Forrest said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

When we reviewed the footage, it was crystal clear who did it and how. The driver could have easily parked outside or entered more carefully. Instead, he blamed the gate.

“The gate closed on me,” he said — but our cameras told the real story: the gate was still opening when he drove forward and hit it head-on.

Of course, he denied everything. Deny, deny, deny.

How Technology Solved the Mystery

All I had to go on was a name and a phone number — and a driver who refused to admit fault or share insurance info.

So, I got creative.
I asked ChatGPT:

“Do you see any trucking or transportation companies related to this phone number?”

Thirty seconds later, ChatGPT replied:

“Yes! We found XYZ Trucking with DOT# 123456 and MC ID# AGS4321. Would you like to see their insurance info and company address?”

Uh… HECK YEAH!

A quick follow-up search confirmed the company and its insurance details.
Now, we’re working directly with their insurance provider to get the claim paid — all thanks to a mix of old-school security and new-school tech.

Key Takeaways for Storage Facility Owners

• Invest in a quality camera system.
  Our Reolink setup — especially the motion-tracking camera — worked perfectly when it mattered most.
• Don’t panic-call your insurance company.
  If you do, they’ll likely record it as a claim, which can increase your rates. Gather facts first.
• Use AI tools like ChatGPT.
  ChatGPT can search across many sources faster and often more effectively than Google for specific information.
• Install a smart gate controller.
  Ours logs exactly which renter code was used and when. Smart Storage Software’s gate activity reports make this data instantly available.

Final Thoughts

After nearly ten years in this business, I’ve learned one thing:
Gates and cameras don’t just stop criminals — they stop excuses.

Every incident is a chance to learn, adapt, and use technology smarter.
That combination keeps your facility safer, your insurance cleaner, and your stress levels lower.

Want to see how Smart Storage Software helps operators monitor gate access, track renter activity, and simplify management across multiple facilities?
👉 Visit smartstoragesoftware.com to learn more.