by Cam Lucadou-Wells
Dozens of customers at a self-storage facility at Hallam have again been targeted by thieves who have stolen thousands of dollars of items over several months.
Victoria Police is continuing to investigate a series of alleged burglaries between February and April at the StoreLocal business on Hallam South Road despite recently charging a 37-year-old Dandenong man.
It comes after Star Journal reported 20 units at the site were burgled last September.
Police recently seized more than 150 items allegedly stolen from the storage facility during raids at five properties in Hallam, Dandenong and Clyde.
Some of the stolen items were returned to their rightful owners, a police spokesperson said.
However, a victim Ben Norman told Star Journal he was not so lucky, with his collection of 1400 Funko Pop boxed figurines worth upwards of $25,000 still missing.
He believes more than 70 other storage units have been broken into this year.
The first he heard of something amiss was an email from StoreLocal warning of break-ins in April.
Mr Norman later discovered his hired storage unit’s padlock had been replaced by another padlock.
The offenders presumably cut the original padlocks and replaced them with their own, he says.
The “sophisticated” operation must have involved large trucks to transport the loot.
“It took me six trips in a one-tonne van to fill the unit.
“I was p***ed off. A lot of (the figures) can’t be replaced because they’re no longer in production.
“At least it wasn’t family photos, it’s simply money.”
Mr Norman blames StoreLocal for not providing security patrols and on-site staff, despite a wave of break-ins since September.
He is making enquiries about sueing for compensation.
“When I was there on Sunday morning, the gates were wide open and people could just drive in. We’re meant to use a keypad to gain entry.
“They’ve done nothing to improve the site. I don’t think it’s fair, I don’t think it’s right.”
StoreLocal does not provide insurance for customers. Its website suggests customers to contact their home and contents insurance provider.
Mr Norman said he didn’t insure his goods. “I should be able to assume that putting them in secure storage will be safe”.
Other customers have detailed their losses on Google reviews for StoreLocal Hallam.
StoreLocal responded to one of the complainant’s claims of the site being unmanned and without security patrols and working CCTV by saying it “doesn’t sound like our site at Hallam”.
StoreLocal was contacted by Star Journal for comment.
The arrested man was charged with possessing an imitation firearm, burglary, car theft, theft and handling stolen goods.
He was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 28 August.
