Smith County - What you think is under lock and key, may be in the hands of thieves.
The smith county sheriff's office is investigating a rash of break-ins at storage facilities.
Ace Self Storage is surrounded by a fence, and they have a gate that operates from 7:30 in the morning, to 7:30 at night.
But none of these measures stopped someone from breaking in here, or 4 other facilities in Smith County.
Joshua Grounds points out more than 11 storage units that were broken into at Ace Self Storage during the Christmas holiday.
"People have valuable stuff, a lot of it has sentimental value. Stuff that can't be replaced," says Grounds, the assistant manager.
Fences, gates and locks didn't deter the thieves.
"Apparently either using someone's code to get into the gate of compromising the locking system, putting something in the lock so it won't lock," says Smith County Sheriff's Lt. Tony Dana.
Lt. Dana with the Smith County Sheriff's Office says there have been plenty more since the beginning of the year.
Facilities affected near Chapel Hill, Whitehouse, Flint and off Highway 69 North, bringing the total to 16 units.
"Typically taking televisions, computers, things they can take real quick," says Lt. Dana.
"Since then we've taken the steps of putting in cameras around the, premises even at nighttime, infrareds," says Grounds.
As soon as someone enters the gate, the new system is set up where 8 cameras across the property are watching and recording your every move.
"Make sure they have security system, make sure they have a surveillance system so it can aid law enforcement in catching someone," says Lt. Dana.
Systems like the one Ace installed, so you can rest assured your personal property is staying locked up.
"One step at a time, try to depend on the security surveillance for now," says Grounds.
Ace self-storage is hoping the new camera system will deter anyone from trying to break in again since they can watch remotely, at home.
And advice for those who do have items in storage, get renters insurance.
And make sure you have all of your product identification numbers.
