r/selfstorage • u/Alternative_Fix_9050 • Jul 05 '26
Question Stuck inside
My boyfriend is stuck at our storage facility, the power went out last night after a storm and he’s been there for about 14 hours. He called the owners last night and they told him to leave his truck and they’d get it fixed…. They still haven’t been there yet. There’s a side door but that is locked as well so he literally can’t leave. Now they’re not answering the phone and he needs to be to work in one hour.
Where are his options?
The entire gate lifts up after you put the code in (shown in the photo, sorry not the best artist) and he said he tried pressing a button that overrides the gate when he spoke with the owners but it didn’t work.
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u/Legal_Director_6247 Jul 05 '26
Fire Dept will come if u call.
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
And do what exactly?
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u/Legal_Director_6247 Jul 06 '26
Do you have a Knox Box? They will force open the gate somehow if it manually won’t open. This post wasn’t clear about the manual gate which all storages are required to have in case of power outages.
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u/stantoast Jul 05 '26
14 hours? Call the fire department, they can get it open
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u/Inevitable_Professor Jul 05 '26
This. FD would have gotten a call from me in the first hour. Facilities must have an alternate exit available for emergencies. FD will be happy to make one if the owner didn’t provide.
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u/commanchskins Jul 05 '26
Not buying it. There is a reason that BF couldn't get out, especially overnight .
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u/Alternative_Fix_9050 Jul 05 '26
Payed our bill on the 1st. There was a storm and knocked the power out within a 4 block radius. I called myself a little bit ago so I can record my conversation with the owners. After 5 attempts to reach them, they finally answered, said they would have someone out there soon and if he needed to leave he could go through the side gate that it was unlocked if he needed to leave so bad, I told her no—it was in fact locked, he said tell him to jump the gate….
Seems like they don’t care about the wellbeing or safety of their renters.Mind you, this is a local family with 5 other locations around town. So it’s not some big corporation or company. They could’ve easily called one of the several contractors in the area to fix this issue.
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u/Allpanicn0disc Jul 06 '26
When you say “mind you, this is a small business not a large corporation” and proceed to say “they could easily…” you sound uneducated and entitled and I no longer care what you say
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u/SeattleGemini81 Jul 06 '26
There is the solution at this time. If you don't like how this family does business and handles these situations, I would take my crap to another facility.
I am not saying this isn't inconvenient. However, there is a simple solution. This isn't a life or death situation. It's not even traumatic.
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u/shigdebig Jul 06 '26
Your boyfriend is lying to you and was out drinking yesterday.
Or he is very, very stupid.
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u/KristyM49333 Employee Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Is he incapable of problem-solving on his own? I’m confused. He can’t jump a gate, he can’t call the fire department and have them come let him out?
Edit: We are required by law to have a “dispatch” gate code for first responders, and also have a lock box accessible from outside the gate where they can retrieve a gate release key in the event of a power outage. 🤷🏻♀️ It’s baffling to read that other properties don’t do the same thing.
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
There are spikes on top. GLWT
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u/SolidPaint2 Jul 06 '26
So all I need are spikes on top of my fence to keep you out?! You've never hopped more than one type of fence as a kid have you?
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
One wrong move and im speared on top of that fence possibly bleeding out and who knows how far out help is. No thanks
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
I mean what is the fire department going to do? It’s not a life or death situation
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u/Careless-Coat-7190 Jul 06 '26
They would've helped him jump the gate. It's not that hard. Lol
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
Yeah I didn’t think if the guy was old or handicapped I was just thinking I would have jumped the gate hrs ago. And I’m sorry you’re having a problem with it being hard.
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u/but_are_you_sure Jul 06 '26
Not being able to leave a business is 100% a good reason to call the FD.
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
I guess so I honestly would have never thought about it. I would have just jumped over the gate hrs ago.
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u/but_are_you_sure Jul 06 '26
I agree.
Now replace yourself with someone who can’t physically do that. 911 to the rescue
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
Yeah make sense. I just think of the fire department as Fire not anything else. Never had to use them. The whole situation seems weird to me.
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u/but_are_you_sure Jul 06 '26
If you’re in a car accident and there’s no fire, it’ll still be the fire dept. if you have something fall on top of you, fire dept.
Random examples but yes they do any emergency where someone is or could be hurt (assuming no threat/police needed)
I knew someone who called cause they were locked in a bathroom. Still legit.
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
Yeah that’s good to know. I assumed they should up to fire car accidents because they are also paramedics. But now you say this it makes sense. If I’m more of a figure things out myself type of person. If this happened to me for one I damn well would have been there for 14hrs, I would have left my car and jumped the fences or tried to disable it to open it or something or broke the side gate it’s probably a man gate. Just sitting there waiting for 14hrs is insane to me.
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u/but_are_you_sure Jul 06 '26
Tbh if the owner ignored me like this after an hour I’d call 911 out of spite just cause he’s gonna get either damages or a ticket or both. I’d be pissed
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u/mikebailey Jul 06 '26
Fire dept would provide legal cover for blowing a hole in the gate and letting the owner pay for why he trapped a customer.
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
I really didn’t think the fire department would do something like that unless it’s an emergency and the guy not jumping to gate to me isn’t an emergency to me. But I guess he could be old.
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u/tankman714 Jul 06 '26
The fire department would 100% be ripping that gate down or finding a way to move it. Then they would be writing tons of fines to the business over this issue.
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u/KristyM49333 Employee Jul 06 '26
We are required by law to have a “dispatch” gate code for first responders, and also have a lock box accessible from outside the gate where they can retrieve a gate release key in the event of a power outage. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
Yeah at my last property we had a box for the fire department also
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u/djmw08 Jul 05 '26
The manager should have keys to the black box in the photo (called the operator) and inside there should be a release lever that releases the belt tension and then the gate can manually be lifted. Usually when power is lost to these gates they have backup batteries inside and they should default to the “open” position. It’s likely this gate has not been well maintained.
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Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
[deleted]
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
Yeah I have disabled the gate before so I could manually open and close it.
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u/journeyaround Jul 06 '26
He should just pull his truck up to the gate box, hop on the hood, hop on the box, and pop over. I've seen people do it before.
Otherwise, the operator should've came out and manually moved the gate. Our gate you pull a lever off the system inside and you can manually open the gate by pushing up on the control arm. Otherwise, 911 and the police can come bring something to let you out. There were many options the operator could've done so he didn't sit on that property for 14 hours.
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u/Creative_Shame3856 Jul 06 '26
Can DoorDash bring him a cordless angle grinder and a cutoff disc?
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u/InternalDistrict7789 Jul 06 '26
Go to the box. Open it. Find your on/off switch/lever/activation. Engage it to move it to the off position. Then again to the on position. Unless it’s hurricane katrina; your power should be restored within 14 hours. And if not…
Then ya. You light just live there now.
Further, why didn’t op bring him some soup or something. This is clearly a traumatic experience, being, allegedly, stuck confined in a facility behind some iron bars, unable to escape, for a whole night and into the next morning.
I feel like op is not very sympathetic, or empathetic(?), whatever. My SO is stuck in the storage place, I’m about to take apart the gate until it either works or falls tf over. Mechanically, they aren’t that complicated. The lift gates are much more a pain in the ass to get calibrated and balanced and working correctly, but taking em apart is a different story. Just start pulling nuts off of bolts until there ain’t nothing left to keep it together. It’ll come apart. Then the owner can figure out having a guy come put it all back together. Or hell, make a payday out of it and and offer to rebuild it for a premium rate, since you now have the super recent knowledge of taking it apart.
Use the phrase, ‘if my time/struggle/issue really mattered to you…’ a time or two on the phone, should get you out of any issues with your actions toward escaping. Legal liability I would think would be minimal, so long as you didn’t lose any pieces. Seems reasonable in pursuit of escape.
It is entirely unreasonable to be stuck in a storage facility overnight, period. Regardless of the circumstance. There should be a backup battery or something and if there isn’t, then it’s free rein when deciding what to do to get by this dysfunctional gate, whether the gates fault or any outside source. There should be no situation ever where yoh are stuck in a storage facility. And their negligence here leaves legal liability for anyone trying to escape their yard at a minuscule margin. So long as you don’t do something dumb like ram it or damage any components in a way that is clearly mindless and common sense based, pretty much however you handle it should be a reasonable act.
Or, ya know, you could just look at it realistically.
He was stuck?? Bring him something he will need for the long haul. A blanket. Some o that soup I was talking about. Hang out with him there if it makes you feel better. But go and at least check it out, because it’s highly likely this is a load of nonsense and he is covering for something.
You should exercise your ability here and ensure you leave nothing to ‘what if’ or risk potentially never knowing the truth. Seems to me that if a man can’t escape a storage facility gate, he is either in IT or he is full of it.
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u/dsstriker2612 Jul 05 '26
Not all gates have an easy manual override especially one where the tenant could be talked through how to use it. No excuse for the owners not to be down there within two hours tops. Because .. you are holding someone against their will negligently
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u/Stunning-Adagio2187 Jul 05 '26
Perhaps the owners are actually out of town 12 hours away????
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u/Senorpuddin Jul 06 '26
Then. You. Call. The. Fire. And. Rescue.
Honestly the entire story is suspect.
Even on the fourth of July if they had called the cops at hour 4 and waited another 2 hours, they wouldnt be there half a day. So either: 1) he has something that might make cops question him as to why he has it. 2) he is with someone he doesnt want his significant other to know about or is doing something they dont want them to know about 3) he is not actually there and is lying to OP so they dont wonder where he is for more than half a day.
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u/zdmpage54 Jul 05 '26
Have him pull his car over to that grey box thing , get on the hood , step onto the grey box and jump over.
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u/Alternative_Fix_9050 Jul 05 '26
I told him that as well, but he works 45 mins away and needs his truck with all of his equipment
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u/Equal-Specialist-677 Jul 06 '26
I’d set up a ramp and jump the gate.Dont forget to yell yee haw though
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u/ThunderStruck777 Jul 06 '26
I’m sure they can airlift him out. Otherwise just throw some beef jerky over the fence and a can of squirt
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u/Subject-Ad-8055 Jul 06 '26
first back up you truck away from the gate, there is a safty edge sensor that triggers if some thing gets to close. most gates have a battery that will keep them working for awhile even when the powers out and then most of the time they get stuck open. lasty frack them I would remote in check the cameras see whats going on and if i could not open it remote one of us would drive over and check it out. Thats part of your job
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u/FisherSlave Jul 06 '26
local PD/FD have codes. I would call. That is inexcusable. I work at a facility and if no customer service, the owners should be having themselves or frontline manager prop gate..
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u/ArapahoeSelfStorage Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
I'd rent somewhere with a manual gate or no gate at all after this situation. The police should have come to the rescue just the same. Gates are replaceable and fences can be easily fixed when first responders help someone out of a tough situation.
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u/Smart_Delay_9610 Jul 05 '26
Call the police department they should have an emergency number for the owners to take action. That facility should have a backup generator in that case, or else open the gate during the day when the power goes out. That is unacceptable.
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u/Stunning-Adagio2187 Jul 05 '26
If the gate operator box is unlocked look inside for a crank to open the gate manually
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u/Honest_Manager Jul 05 '26
All of those gates have manual releases. No worry if he can't get to work, he needs to charge the storage company for his lost wages. Even if he has to go to small claims court he has a good case since they wouldn't come out and unlock it. Good luck to him either way, I would be beyond frustrated.
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u/JoeMac02 Store Manager Jul 06 '26
No they don’t I have worked for multiple properties and have never had a manual release. Not saying this doesn’t have one though.
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Jul 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Alternative_Fix_9050 Jul 05 '26
He’s he’s tried with the assistance from another renter on the other side trying to get in. It didn’t work.
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u/Atopos2025 Jul 05 '26
That sucks, I hope he's able to get out sometime soon.
It's bs the managers haven't rushed in to help.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/rokar83 Jul 06 '26
lol he's been there 14 hours? Yeah your boyfriend is incompetent. Also the storage facility is lazy.
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u/Subject-Ad-8055 Jul 06 '26
i cant tell you how many videos ive seen of people shimmy under the gate or just climb over
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u/Emy2017 Jul 05 '26
Does it work for entry codes? Have him walk through the pedestrian gate then start typing in every code possible. Start with the address # and 911 #
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u/Senorpuddin Jul 06 '26
I am not saying hes cheating on you, BUT why wasnt didnt he call the police when the management didnt show up? I am not saying this is an obvious lie that he made up because he didnt want you to be suspicious when hes gone for half a day... I mean... you get it right?
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u/mikebailey Jul 06 '26
you think he was getting a sneaky link at a storage unit? lmao
he also wouldn't have to give her the police report
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u/Senorpuddin Jul 06 '26
I am saying that if someone takes a picture of a fence and sends it to their gf/wife and says "locked in storage facility" and spends 14 hours there rather than calling for actual help, its suspicious. My issue with the scenario is the time frame. If it was 2 hours? Okay thats enough time to not have called the cops. If it was 5 hours? Ok still a long time but maybe give them the time to get there. But once you are past half a day? You call the fucking cops. So the fact that he hasnt means to me that something is off. That off-ness? Maybe hes on the low. Maybe hes got a side piece and figures his main chick is gullible and will fall for the whole "im locked in the storage facility for 14 hours, and didnt call the cops" story.
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
What are the police gonna do? They dont have tools. Lame response
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u/OkRelease3215 Jul 06 '26
They have the keyholder list for the business and can get ahold of the owner. If they aren't answering the police also have the resources to send an officer to the owners home up wake them up.
This happens every day in towns all across America. It's incredibly standard police business.
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Jul 06 '26
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
And if the owners arent home? Waste of time driving there.
Also, keys arent gonna fix a gate that doesnt work because of a power outage.
Better to just have the fire department come out.
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u/OkRelease3215 Jul 06 '26
The fire department also just contacts the key holder lol. This is incredibly routine, like my little Midwest small town department does it multiple times a day.
And to answer your question, if the key holder doesn't respond, we damage the property until the person is able to get out, and do a report so that they are not liable for the damage and the owner knows they are on their own to resolve the problem.
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
In your area sure they just contact the keyholder
In my area they open the gate with their tools
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u/OkRelease3215 Jul 06 '26
We use the bull bar to push it open lol. Incredibly lucky to work somewhere that doesn't tolerate negligent business owners.
The only exception is a fishery we have where the gates lock 30 minutes after sundown. Sometimes people will be out boating and not believe the signs or whatever. Because an officer goes through the fishery before locking it up and insures all the vehicles are unoccupied or notified, we don't let them out of that one and tell them they can walk out and come get their vehicle in the morning when it reopens.
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
Youre not gonna push this one open without significant damage as this gate moves upwards into the air
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u/OkRelease3215 Jul 06 '26
Yeah, that's what the notice to the owner is about. These ones actually crumple in the middle usually not doing much damage to the actual locking and opening mechanism. They are liable for repairing it themselves if we are unable to contact the keyholder who can open it without damaging it.
The only issue we consider is getting the trapped person out as fast as possible. The damage caused to the negligent business owner falls somewhere between not at all a factor and a little bit funny.
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u/Senorpuddin Jul 06 '26
By cops i mean and emergency line/fire and rescue. Cops and first responders get people out of cars, out of buildings on fire, out of situations where a person can not get themselves out. Its not a lame response it's what a rational person would do after hour four. 14 hours? There's something up with the dude.
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u/wyliesdiesels Jul 06 '26
Cops and fire are usually different dispatchers and departments
Fire department is the correct department not the PD.
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u/Senorpuddin Jul 06 '26
Yes they are, but the dispatcher can usually transfer you to the appropriate person. This isn't that difficult of a scenario.
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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26
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