Brittany Middlebrook said her family’s rented unit at the Public Storage location on Fort Caroline Road was burglarized.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville family says thousands of dollars’ worth of furniture, clothing, electronics and personal documents were taken from a storage unit they believed was secure.

Brittany Middlebrook said her family had rented a unit at the Public Storage location on Fort Caroline Road for about nine months when she received a call from the facility on Aug. 3 telling her the unit had been burglarized.



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“I was devastated,” Middlebrook said. “We worked hard to have our stuff and to keep our stuff, so it was very devastating.”

Middlebrook said she was told the burglary happened the night of Aug. 2.

She said items taken from the unit included flat-screen televisions, clothing, shoes, furniture, cellphones and personal mail containing family information. She estimates the loss at about $8,000.

Middlebrook said her family used its own lock on the unit.

There was a fire extinguisher on the floor near the unit, according to Middlebrook, leading her to believe the lock may have been broken with the extinguisher.

“I guess that’s what they hit it with to break in, and they just took everything,” Middlebrook said.

Middlebrook said she filed a police report with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, but as of Tuesday night, no arrests had been made. We have requested a copy of the police report.

Middlebrook said the experience has raised concerns about security at storage facilities and prompted her to urge other renters to take a closer look at where they keep their belongings.

“People put their stuff in storage for their stuff to be safe and secure,” Middlebrook said. “You’ll never think that you have your stuff in a storage and your stuff actually gets stolen, so it’s really sad and heartbreaking.”

First Coast News asked management at the Fort Caroline Road facility about Middlebrook’s concerns. An employee declined to comment and referred the station to Public Storage’s corporate office.

The station called the number provided but was referred back to the property manager. First Coast News left a voicemail and contacted Public Storage’s media relations team twice within 24 hours. The company had not responded as of publication.

The report comes after First Coast News reported in July on another Jacksonville family that said it lost about $56,000 in belongings during a burglary at an iStorage facility. That property is now under new ownership by Public Storage. First Coast News has not established any connection between the two reported burglaries.

Middlebrook said she wants whoever is responsible for the burglary of her family’s unit to be held accountable.

“They still haven’t been caught,” she said. “You really, really hurt me and my family.”


What renters can do

People storing valuables can take several steps to document their property and reduce their risk:

Use a sturdy, high-quality lock designed for storage units.

Photograph or record video of items before placing them in storage.

Keep an itemized inventory, including model numbers, receipts and estimated values.

Review homeowners, renters or storage-insurance coverage before storing valuables.

Visit the unit periodically and report signs of tampering immediately.

Ask a facility about its access controls, lighting, cameras, door alarms and response procedures before signing a rental agreement.

Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a burglary can contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 904-630-0500.