On August 3, 2025, our 2024 boat, valued at approximately $130,000, was vandalized and stripped…read morewhile stored at Safeguard Self Storage in Seffner, Florida. We chose this facility because it was advertised and represented as a secure, premium storage option, featuring vertical pivot metal gates, a 10-foot cement perimeter wall, full surveillance cameras, covered storage, and well-lit grounds. We pay $350 per month for this service (an increase of over $100 in the past six months), under the belief that these security measures would protect our property.
At approximately 9:34 p.m. on August 3, 2025, unknown individuals entered the premises through the exit gate. They proceeded directly to our boat and spent over one hour, according to surveillance footage reviewed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, forcibly working on it. For more than 30 minutes, they used tools to grind off the lock on the trailer tongue, destroying the tongue in the process. The boat was then relocated to the back of the lot, where thieves removed:
The entire Yamaha motor and bracket
Two Garmin GPS units
Steering wheel
Motor controls
Ignition system and wiring
36V lithium battery
Various other equipment and personal property from inside the boat
After the theft, the boat was returned to its original parking spot. Despite the facility's surveillance system and staff, we were not notified until 2:44 p.m. the following day, August 4, 2025. Only after we were contacted did Safeguard notify the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Adding to our frustration, Safeguard Self Storage processed our monthly payment the same day the theft was reported. When we contacted the District Manager multiple times regarding reimbursement, we were informed that the company would not cover any losses or provide financial assistance. To date, no stolen items have been recovered.
Our boat remains at the facility awaiting inspection by our insurance adjuster. This experience has left us financially harmed, emotionally distressed, and with a total loss of trust in Safeguard Self Storage. Despite paying for a facility marketed as safe and secure, our property was directly targeted, stripped, and left under their watch without intervention or adequate response.
I had to give 1 star because it will not allow me to give a zero.