I went to college on the opposite side of the country from my hometown. In the summertime, Id rent a small storage unit for my meager possessions. Sometime between by junior and senior years, I returned to the 5-by-5 only to find my belongings had been pilfered. My first thought: Whod want my junk? Next emotion: anger!

No, I hadnt purchased any insurance. I was saving money and really didnt think it necessary, considering what I was storing. But there were plenty of times in the months to come when I went looking for something or other, only to realize someone else owned it.

I cannot begin to count the times I wondered what ifs. For example, What if I had bought that insurance? What if I spotted someone riding my Schwinn 10-speed bike on campus? What if that self-storage business had actually put some money into a security system and prevented my loss altogether?

The latter what if echoes in my head most of all. Since my days (has it really been decades?) as a co-ed, self-storage security has grown so technologically sophisticated it reminds me of The Jetsons. I thought the barbwire fence looked pretty intimidating, but what if the self-storage site had surveillance cameras? Maybe that would have sent perpetrators down the road. Or what if the facility had a keypad and gate? Or door alarms? And DVRs? And what if the management software was entirely integrated with the security devices? For sure the thief who stole my bike and everything else I owned would have been caught, locked behind bars, forever. Or at least for awhile.

This month, ISS covers everything under the sun in self-storage security. Todays tenants want as much security as possibly to protect their belongings and themselves from thieves and terrorists. Why not put your tenants minds at ease, as well as give your facility an edge over the competition? Think security!

Also in the issue, we are introducing our newest column, Open Forum. Coincidentally, this months contribution is titled Battling the Terrorist Threat, by Clark Stave. In future issues, we hope to bring a variety of topics, issues and concerns regarding every conceivable perspective of the self-storage world. Care to step on the soapbox? Just let us know. Wed be happy to share your views with readers.

Stay safe ... and secure.

Drew G. Whitney 
Managing Editor 
[email protected]