Highams Park storage unit break-in sparks 'inside job' fears
A second customer reports theft from Shurgard facility, with no CCTV footage available for investigation.
Incident → evidence → outcomeA Highams Park resident has reported the theft of 24 belongings from her self-storage unit at Shurgard, sparking fears of an inside job. Shanida Osanokor discovered the break-in in September, finding her unit in disarray with items missing, including a laptop and designer sunglasses.
Among the stolen items were a sheepskin merino wool jacket valued at £385, Ray-Ban sunglasses costing £208, and a laptop worth £559. The total value of these three items alone amounts to £1,152. Ms Osanokor also reported 21 further items gone, including sentimental gifts such as a gold-dipped glass rose received for her 16th birthday, which she described as irreplaceable.
Concerns over security failures
The incident at Shurgard's Hickman Avenue facility echoes a similar break-in reported in August 2025. Gary Rozanski, an entrepreneur who had used the facility since November 2023, discovered a cracked ceiling tile in his unit and several possessions missing, including an Xbox, a Sonos speaker, and two GoPro cameras. Mr Rozanski stated that thieves had accessed his unit by breaking through the ceiling, as there was no visible damage to the door or lock.
Mr Rozanski had previously accused Shurgard of systemic security failures and raised concerns about the company's CCTV footage retention policy, which he argued hindered police investigations if thefts were not discovered promptly. This issue has recurred for Ms Osanokor, who was informed that no CCTV footage was available to investigate her break-in, making a police investigation impossible.
However, unlike Mr Rozanski's experience, Ms Osanokor's unit did not show signs of tampering with the ceiling, leading her to suspect the involvement of someone with internal access.
Shurgard's response and security upgrades
Shurgard did not provide a comment regarding Ms Osanokor's incident. In response to Mr Rozanski's concerns in 2025, the company stated it took theft seriously but could not alert affected customers due to a lack of visible damage to doors or locks. Following previous concerns, Shurgard reported strengthening security measures at the Highams Park facility. These upgrades include remote CCTV monitoring and access report reviews after office hours. The facility's opening hours were also reportedly reduced from 6am to 11pm to 7am to 9pm.
Questions this report answers
01What was stolen from Shanida Osanokor's storage unit?
Shanida Osanokor reported 24 belongings stolen from her Shurgard unit in September. These included a laptop, designer sunglasses, and sentimental gifts. Specific items mentioned were a £385 jacket, £208 sunglasses, and a £559 laptop, with other irreplaceable items also missing.
02Why are there fears of an inside job at the Shurgard facility?
Fears of an inside job have arisen because no CCTV footage was available to investigate Shanida Osanokor's break-in. This lack of evidence, coupled with a previous similar incident where thieves accessed units via ceiling tiles, raises questions about internal security and access.
03What has Shurgard done to improve security?
Following previous security concerns, Shurgard stated it has strengthened measures at the Highams Park facility. These include remote monitoring of CCTV and access reports after office hours. The facility's opening hours have also been reduced from 6am-11pm to 7am-9pm.
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