Dozens of storage units at the CubeSmart facility on South High Street in Columbus have been hit over recent months, and renters say thieves are not just grabbing TVs and tools. One customer reports that among the items stolen were the cremated remains of her grandmother, a loss that has turned a routine property crime into something far more personal. After repeated burglaries, families are rushing to clear out what they can, pressing CubeSmart for answers and wondering whether the site’s security is up to the job.
According to NBC4, police records show officers were called to the CubeSmart property at 3391 S. High St. 111 times between Jan. 1 and June 11 as multiple customers reported break-ins and missing belongings. The station’s Better Call 4 team interviewed renters, including Brianna Lefever, who says her unit has been hit four times since July 2025 and that her grandmother's ashes were taken. NBC4 also reports that customers have been told by staff that surveillance cameras were not operating or that any available footage would not be shared with renters.
Police logs show earlier break-ins
A Columbus Division of Police press release dated Oct. 31, 2024, documents an earlier incident on the 3400 block of South High Street in which about 20 storage units were targeted, suggesting the area has a track record of storage-related burglaries. The city bulletin lists incident report number 240755072 and notes that investigators were notifying renters as they worked to recover stolen property and identify suspects. According to the release, the incident details are available from the Columbus Division of Police.
On-site reporting finds security gaps
NBC4 investigators who went to the South High Street facility reported finding holes in the perimeter fence, a broken gate, and loose wiring at the property. Tenants told the station that those kinds of issues made the site feel like an easy mark for anyone looking to slip inside. NBC4 also reports that officers were seen responding to yet another reported break-in on June 24, with multiple cruisers at the scene. Renters told the station they want working surveillance, clearer and more consistent communication from management, and help tracking down stolen keepsakes.
Complaints, local crime data and emotional stakes
CubeSmart's local Better Business Bureau profile carries an F rating for failing to respond to more than 280 complaints, a public sign of mounting customer frustration with the company. SpotCrime analytics show that theft accounts for roughly 43% of reported crimes in Columbus in recent months, underscoring the broader risk to renters’ property across the city. Stories from other communities show how painful storage theft can be. A Hoodline report in Portland detailed a case where a defendant admitted to stealing a glass memorial ball that contained a child's ashes, an example that highlights the emotional aftershocks when stolen items are tied to a family’s grief.
For now, renters say they are moving what they can to other units or new facilities, documenting valuables with photos and inventories, and filing police reports for every theft. Tenants and consumer advocates are urging customers to ask for working surveillance footage, keep written records of conversations with facility management, and check whether homeowners' or renters' insurance policies cover belongings stored offsite. Hoodline has contacted CubeSmart's local office and corporate public relations for comment and will update this story if the company responds.
