Soldier Returns, Finds His Belongings Gone

[rockin'robin]

ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- A US soldier, fresh from a tour of duty overseas, comes home to find his personal belongings gone, not stolen, but auctioned off. That soldier had stored his property in a local storage unit while serving our country. When he returned, he got some heartbreaking news.

It's a good reminder to keep tabs on your stuff, no matter where in the world you are. Sgt. Robert Andrews paid $35 a month to keep his belongings safe at a storage unit while he was deployed. But when he came back this week, he learned it was all gone.

"Twenty-two years of military service, gone," said Sgt. Andrews. "What do you do about that?"

Sgt. Andrews left for a tour of duty in 2006. Forced to leave behind his belongings, he packed them away at Affordable Storage in Alvin.

He said, "My card had been constantly billed up until September of this year."

In September, Sgt. Andrews' credit card was declined. He says Wells Fargo froze his account due to a fraud alert. Days later, Sgt. Andrews says his account was back up and charges went through -- charges except for perhaps the most important one.

"We don't get rid of their stuff just to get rid of it," said storage manager Richard Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says tenants sign a lease agreeing to pay and update changes of address or phone number. There is specific mention of military tenants.

When they got no response from Sgt. Andrews after sending a certified letter, they sold his priceless treasures all for $35.

Gonzalez said, "As long as I can reach him, and I can talk to him, we make arrangements."

"I would say (it was) at least $10,000 worth of stuff, easy," estimated Sgt. Andrews.

The storage unit manager says he holds auctions about three times a year. He says in this case there is no way for Sgt. Andrews to get his stuff back or to be compensated for it.

Soldier returns to from tour of duty overseas to find his belongings sold by storage company - 12/10/09 - Houston News - abc13.com

 

[posts from hell]

Same thing happened to Paris Hilton. Should I feel bad?

It's ultimately his responsibility.

 

[Chuck]

I think for military people, if they buy a car or house, and they go to war? They can legally still have their property until they come back, without payments.

 

[Jiro]

I think for military people, if they buy a car or house, and they go to war? They can legally still have their property until they come back, without payments.

it doesn't work like that.

 

[cdaigle430]

This is nothing like Paris Hilton, nothing......I do feel bad for the guy, people make mistakes or sometimes overlook important things like this. It's just like losing everything in a fire. He was gone for three years, paid every month for three years and because of a glitch lost everything he owns. Maybe his community will get together and help him?

ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- A US soldier, fresh from a tour of duty overseas, comes home to find his personal belongings gone, not stolen, but auctioned off. That soldier had stored his property in a local storage unit while serving our country. When he returned, he got some heartbreaking news.

It's a good reminder to keep tabs on your stuff, no matter where in the world you are. Sgt. Robert Andrews paid $35 a month to keep his belongings safe at a storage unit while he was deployed. But when he came back this week, he learned it was all gone.

"Twenty-two years of military service, gone," said Sgt. Andrews. "What do you do about that?"

Sgt. Andrews left for a tour of duty in 2006. Forced to leave behind his belongings, he packed them away at Affordable Storage in Alvin.

He said, "My card had been constantly billed up until September of this year."

In September, Sgt. Andrews' credit card was declined. He says Wells Fargo froze his account due to a fraud alert. Days later, Sgt. Andrews says his account was back up and charges went through -- charges except for perhaps the most important one.

"We don't get rid of their stuff just to get rid of it," said storage manager Richard Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says tenants sign a lease agreeing to pay and update changes of address or phone number. There is specific mention of military tenants.

When they got no response from Sgt. Andrews after sending a certified letter, they sold his priceless treasures all for $35.

Gonzalez said, "As long as I can reach him, and I can talk to him, we make arrangements."

"I would say (it was) at least $10,000 worth of stuff, easy," estimated Sgt. Andrews.

The storage unit manager says he holds auctions about three times a year. He says in this case there is no way for Sgt. Andrews to get his stuff back or to be compensated for it.

Soldier returns to from tour of duty overseas to find his belongings sold by storage company - 12/10/09 - Houston News - abc13.com

 

[rockin'robin]

I hope whoever bought his stuff will step forward and give it back!...or the community will help him.

He was in Iraq, for god's sake! And his credit card was frozen due to an fraud alert.....seems the Self-Storage place should have tried "several" times to collect the dues.....but nah!....They could have called his family members also!....It's just a blatant scheme to make $$$ off of people!

I don't trust Self-Storage places! Once when my house flooded, we put our furnishings in one....everything we had until we were able to remedy the situation....and it was broken into and a lot of things stolen, expensive things!

I don't care one iota about "Paris Hilton"! But I do care about our soldiers. They are over there in the war protecting us....and some greedy Americans over here are stealing from them! How low can anyone get??

 

[posts from hell]

I hope whoever bought his stuff will step forward and give it back!...or the community will help him.

He was in Iraq, for god's sake! And his credit card was frozen due to an fraud alert.....seems the Self-Storage place should have tried "several" times to collect the dues.....but nah!....They could have called his family members also!....It's just a blatant scheme to make $$$ off of people!

I don't trust Self-Storage places! Once when my house flooded, we put our furnishings in one....everything we had until we were able to remedy the situation....and it was broken into and a lot of things stolen, expensive things!

I don't care one iota about "Paris Hilton"! But I do care about our soldiers. They are over there in the war protecting us....and some greedy Americans over here are stealing from them! How low can anyone get??

He still had to have responsibility, so did Paris Hilton.

"Blatant scheme" to make money? Tell me how so, the storage unit only made $35.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

That's why...

You pay yearly... not month to month.

 

[sallylou]

Alvin is a small place. It's not like the storage company management couldn't track down someone related to the soldier. Although the company had the legal right to do what they did, it's not going to play well in this small community.

 

[GARYMCCLAIN]

ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- A US soldier, fresh from a tour of duty overseas, comes home to find his personal belongings gone, not stolen, but auctioned off. That soldier had stored his property in a local storage unit while serving our country. When he returned, he got some heartbreaking news.

It's a good reminder to keep tabs on your stuff, no matter where in the world you are. Sgt. Robert Andrews paid $35 a month to keep his belongings safe at a storage unit while he was deployed. But when he came back this week, he learned it was all gone.

"Twenty-two years of military service, gone," said Sgt. Andrews. "What do you do about that?"

Sgt. Andrews left for a tour of duty in 2006. Forced to leave behind his belongings, he packed them away at Affordable Storage in Alvin.

He said, "My card had been constantly billed up until September of this year."

In September, Sgt. Andrews' credit card was declined. He says Wells Fargo froze his account due to a fraud alert. Days later, Sgt. Andrews says his account was back up and charges went through -- charges except for perhaps the most important one.

"We don't get rid of their stuff just to get rid of it," said storage manager Richard Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says tenants sign a lease agreeing to pay and update changes of address or phone number. There is specific mention of military tenants.

When they got no response from Sgt. Andrews after sending a certified letter, they sold his priceless treasures all for $35.

Gonzalez said, "As long as I can reach him, and I can talk to him, we make arrangements."

"I would say (it was) at least $10,000 worth of stuff, easy," estimated Sgt. Andrews.

The storage unit manager says he holds auctions about three times a year. He says in this case there is no way for Sgt. Andrews to get his stuff back or to be compensated for it.

Soldier returns to from tour of duty overseas to find his belongings sold by storage company - 12/10/09 - Houston News - abc13.com

I was a general manager for 3rd largest self storage in us. You can not sell a GI'S unit when he is overseas. The manager should have made a note in his file. He can sue them and win. I was told to sell units when it was wrong to do so thats why I quit. I over saw everything west of missouri thats about 300 self storages and the things managers do they steal from the storage owners,the people who rent from them etc. Not all managers but about 10% of them do for sure. I wanted to put them in jail but was told not to rock the boat. But sir I was a GI in 1968-1973 and i pray you sue them. If you need help let me know.

 

[posts from hell]

I was a general manager for 3rd largest self storage in us. You can not sell a GI'S unit when he is overseas. The manager should have made a note in his file. He can sue them and win. I was told to sell units when it was wrong to do so thats why I quit. I over saw everything west of missouri thats about 300 self storages and the things managers do they steal from the storage owners,the people who rent from them etc. Not all managers but about 10% of them do for sure. I wanted to put them in jail but was told not to rock the boat. But sir I was a GI in 1968-1973 and i pray you sue them. If you need help let me know.

Nice to know.

 

[rockin'robin]

Wow!...Sure hope he sues their asses!

And BTW....yeah, self-storage places do make $$ off of people. They know what you put into the unit...they have their own keys....and if ur somewhat late....they will auction off the items to their family members, etc., friends....

 

[Jiro]

I was a general manager for 3rd largest self storage in us. You can not sell a GI'S unit when he is overseas. The manager should have made a note in his file. He can sue them and win. I was told to sell units when it was wrong to do so thats why I quit. I over saw everything west of missouri thats about 300 self storages and the things managers do they steal from the storage owners,the people who rent from them etc. Not all managers but about 10% of them do for sure. I wanted to put them in jail but was told not to rock the boat. But sir I was a GI in 1968-1973 and i pray you sue them. If you need help let me know.

I have to ask - I'm not sure how they can steal from storage units. I rent 2 storage units and you need to use your own lock.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

Same thing happened to Paris Hilton. Should I feel bad?

It's ultimately his responsibility.

You're a real an ass! How can you compare Paris Hilton to soldier who risk his life so you could post your insulting remark! The owner of the storage place should had given a guy a break! Maybe he never gotten the message from the owner ! I feel bad for the soldier!

 

[Dixie]

I thought the manager had to have a master key to all the units in case the police wanted to search a specific unit as long as the police have a search warrant for that specific unit. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

[whatdidyousay!]

I was a general manager for 3rd largest self storage in us. You can not sell a GI'S unit when he is overseas. The manager should have made a note in his file. He can sue them and win. I was told to sell units when it was wrong to do so thats why I quit. I over saw everything west of missouri thats about 300 self storages and the things managers do they steal from the storage owners,the people who rent from them etc. Not all managers but about 10% of them do for sure. I wanted to put them in jail but was told not to rock the boat. But sir I was a GI in 1968-1973 and i pray you sue them. If you need help let me know.

I was thinking that a self storage could not sell a GI'S unit, that they had to have some rights that the public does not have!

 

[Dixie]

I was thinking that a self storage could not sell a GI'S unit, that they had to have some rights that the public does not have!

I was thinking that in these instances a family member had to be contacted to take control of the items in the unit. If the family did not want to pay for the unit then they had x-amount of days to remove the items, if they wanted to keep the items there then they would have to take over responsibility for that unit.

There's something sketchy about this particular storage unit facility.

 

[posts from hell]

You're a real an ass! How can you compare Paris Hilton to soldier who risk his life so you could post your insulting remark! The owner of the storage place should had given a guy a break! Maybe he never gotten the message from the owner ! I feel bad for the soldier!

:roll:
Like I said, EVERYONE has their responsibilities to tend to.

If YOU failed to pay your storage fees, should I bother?

I brought Paris Hilton up because - tada - she gets treated like a human being that lives in the USA. Same for the solider, same for you.

 

[cdaigle430]

Your right, this is nothing like Paris Hilton.

You're a real an ass! How can you compare Paris Hilton to soldier who risk his life so you could post your insulting remark! The owner of the storage place should had given a guy a break! Maybe he never gotten the message from the owner ! I feel bad for the soldier!

 

[cdaigle430]

I agree, somethings not right here. I bet he made a heck of alot more than $35.

I was thinking that in these instances a family member had to be contacted to take control of the items in the unit. If the family did not want to pay for the unit then they had x-amount of days to remove the items, if they wanted to keep the items there then they would have to take over responsibility for that unit.

There's something sketchy about this particular storage unit facility.