Documenting forced entry in your storage unit
This is general information, not legal advice. Consult qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.
$29
one-timeDownload right after checkout
Templates and checklists only — not legal or insurance advice. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
Secure checkout by Stripe
Critical: document before touching
Photograph the unit before moving the lock, door, or contents.
- Photograph first, inspect second
- Take photos from multiple angles
- Include unit number in photos
- Use good lighting or flash
Lock and security hardware
What to photograph
Overall lock condition
- Full lock with unit number visible in frame
- Lock body from all four sides
- Any damage, cuts, or tool marks
- Surrounding area showing lock placement
Cut or damaged lock details
- Close-up of cut shackle
- Tool marks on metal
- Comparison with intact lock (if available)
- Any debris or metal shavings
- Bolt cutter or tool marks on hasp
Replacement lock
- If facility replaced lock, photograph the new one
- Ask facility to preserve original damaged lock
- Request photos from facility if they took any
- Document when replacement occurred
Door and frame inspection
Even if the lock was cut, photograph all potential entry points:
- Full door shots: Closed and open positions
- All four door seams: Top, bottom, left, right
- Door hinges: Condition and mounting
- Any gaps or bends: Door bowing or frame damage
- Pry marks: Along door edges or frame
- Paint or finish damage: Scratches indicating forced entry
Hasp, latch & strike plate
- Hasp overall: Is it bent, twisted, or damaged?
- Mounting screws: Stripped, pulled out, or loose?
- Latch mechanism: Working properly or damaged?
- Strike plate: Bent, pried, or pulled from frame?
- Screw holes: Enlarged or stripped out?
- Metal fatigue: Stress marks or bending
Ceiling and adjacent openings
Thieves sometimes enter through ceilings or shared walls:
- Interior ceiling: Any holes, cuts, or disturbance?
- Wall-to-ceiling junctions: Where walls meet ceiling
- Shared walls: With adjacent units on all sides
- Insulation: Displaced or disturbed material
- Lighting or vents: Any access points
- Wide shots: Showing overall interior condition
Unit identification
Make absolutely sure your unit number is documented:
- Unit number placard in every photo series
- Facility signage visible in background
- Hallway markers or location identifiers
- Your rental agreement with unit number
- Wide shot showing unit in context of building
Photo checklist included
Our Storage Claim Evidence Kit includes a forced entry photo checklist, plus:
- Discovery timeline worksheet
- Inventory worksheet with ownership and value fields
- Facility evidence request templates (CCTV, logs, reports)
- Suggested folder structure and submission checklist
- Submission checklist before filing