Burglaries Continue at Simply Self Storage

An alleged burglary on April 24th at Simply Self Storage was the eighth reported criminal incident in four months at the same location.

Since January 12, 2012, police have responded to six thefts and two arson incidents at the 211 Grove Street facility, according to the Bloomfield Police Department's weekly reports. The owner of the storage unit in the first alleged burglary said that his storage unit still “had the lock intact and in place" when he discovered his belongings missing.

After another burglary was reported the following day, January 13, five additional thefts have occurred at a rate of one per month, on or after the 18th of the month.  None of the theft reports described evidence of forcible entry into the units.  

On January 21, the Bloomfield Fire Department extinguished two fires at two separate locations on the Simply Self Storage premises.  According to police, the and referred to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The police blotters listed eight incidents, occurring on the following dates:

January 12:  A man reported that someone entered his storage unit, which still had the lock intact and in place, and stole 50 watches, 3 guitars, 1 banjo, 1 trumpet, clothing, baseball memorabilia, vintage radios and toys.

January 13, 2012:  A woman reported that a Dell computer and a Panasonic 52-inch television with Panasonic surround sound were missing from her storage unit.

  A man reported that someone entered his locked storage unit and stole a 42-inch Panasonic TV and HP desktop computer, and HP scanner. 

January 21, 2012: A couch and mattress were set on fire in two separate locations on the premises of Simply Self Storage.

 A woman reported someone broke into her storage locker and stole two 32-inch televisions, a digital camera and a pair of boots.

  A man reported that five motorcycle helmets, two Pioneer CD players and one HP laptop computer were stolen from his storage unit. 

April 24, 2012:  A woman reported that a 24-channel mixing board and a lighting kit was missing from her storage unit.

Displayed prominently inside the Simply Self Storage office/retail space is a large security station featuring two video monitors and nine views of the interior building.  The exterior premises are surrounded by a locked metal gate and an electronic keypad.  A sign facing the parking lot reads, “Gate Area Video Recorded.”

The property manager at Simply Self Storage declined to be interviewed on Wednesday about the alleged burglaries, saying she was not permitted to discuss it.