There’s something undeniably thrilling about the unknown, and few things embody that mystery more than an abandoned self-storage unit. When these units go unpaid, they’re often auctioned off to the highest bidder, without giving them a chance to look inside. If you’ve ever seen the show Storage Wars, you know that sometimes all that’s inside is a pile of junk, but sometimes you strike gold. However, there are also a few instances where you might come across something crazy, creepy, or even downright valuable. Here are a few of the strangest and most valuable things found in storage units.
Some Weird and Wonderful Things Found in Storage Units
You’d think that when you put stuff in storage, you’ll remember it, especially sentimental items or things that could potentially make you some money. But, for whatever reason, that’s not always the case. Sometimes people store things, then completely forget and go on with their lives. Here are some of the weirdest and most wonderful items that have been found.
1. Unopened Burger King Whopper
While this might not sound like one of the strangest things people have put in their storage unit, it was a whopper from 1967. As you may have guessed based on some popular videos online, the burger was not decomposed in any way.
2. Unreleased Michael Jackson Music
Joe Jackson, Michael’s father, had been keeping a bunch of unreleased tracks (250 to be exact) for himself. They were found inside a storage unit and were technically not owned by anyone due to a gap in recording contracts.
3. Elvis Collectibles
One storage unit was found with a ton of old Elvis memorabilia, from rare collectibles to newspaper clippings. The entire collection ended up being worth about $90,000.
4. NASA Rocket
Apparently, after NASA’s space program was discontinued, someone transferred some equipment out of the facility and into a self-storage unit. Later, the NASA rocket and countdown clock were found by a very surprised buyer.
5. Tons of Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies used to be a big hit for kids, but they also carried a significant value when kept in good condition. Even just one (the Queen Elizabeth Beanie Baby) was going for up to $18,000. One storage unit buyer discovered a ton of pristine plush toys. This find was said to be worth thousands of dollars at the time.
6. A Live Alligator
In California, one of the unusual items found in a self-storage unit was a live alligator. But that’s not all. The alligator was reportedly there to guard a stash of marijuana and firearms, which were quickly seized by the police. Don’t worry, though; the alligator was relocated safely to a zoo.
Creepiest Discoveries in Self-Storage Units
While most storage units are mundane at best, some hide secrets that seem ripped straight from a horror film. These finds aren’t just strange; they’re unsettling, morbid, and sometimes downright terrifying. Here are some of the creepiest and most unforgettable things that have been found in storage.
7. A Human Skull
This was found in a storage unit in Florida and was quickly taken into custody for proper handling and burial. The apparent story behind this grim find was that it was a previous renter’s grandfather’s skull, who had been a war veteran, and the renter had brought it back from a tour abroad. The rest of the family had no idea that he had kept it as an heirloom.
8. A Collection of Mummified Cats
This was found in an abandoned storage unit in Florida, whose previous owner was a collector of ancient Egyptian artifacts. There were quite a few, all of which were handled by authorities to ensure they remained intact due to their historical significance.
9. A Human Leg
In 2007, a unit was purchased at a storage auction that had a pretty nice-looking barbecue smoker inside. But when the new owner opened the smoker, there was a human leg wrapped in tinfoil lying on top. The story’s not too sinister, though. It was the original owner’s leg, which he had lost in a plane crash. He kept it as he eventually wanted to be buried with it, but simply forgot where he put it. There’s a whole documentary about it called Finders Keepers (spoiler alert: the new owner didn’t return the leg!).
10. Harvested Body Parts
This is probably one of the creepiest things discovered in a self-storage unit. The previous owner had been a medical examiner who would harvest body parts in funeral home autopsies, then store them in his unit. Tons of different body parts were found, from brains and hearts to tissue samples and more.
11. Deadly Snakes
There was also a storage unit that was home to quite a few deadly snakes… along with live cockroaches. The two tenants were paying $150 per month, and that was all that was inside.
The Most Valuable Finds in Storage Spaces
When you don’t open your newly acquired unit to an old collection of memorabilia or a skeleton, you might just get lucky. Although valuable self-storage unit finds are rare, they can happen. Here are a few examples of when they did.
12. $2 Million Diamond Necklace
This keepsake was found somewhere in London. For such a valuable item, you’d think the owner would have remembered. However, it was left behind by the renter (a wealthy businessman) who forgot about it when his rental period expired.
13. $7.5 Million Cash
Apparently, back in 2018, a man paid $500 for a storage unit and found a safe inside. While safes inside a storage unit are typically empty, this one was filled with $7.5 million in cash! He ended up negotiating a finder’s fee, however, and returned most of it to the owners.
14. A James Bond Car
The car from the movie The Spy Who Loved Me was found in a storage unit in 1989, which was purchased for less than $100. It was one of the original submarine cars from the movie!
Why So Many Oddities?
Self-storage units are the modern-day attics of society. They’re a great place to store things you don’t necessarily want to deal with, or that you don’t have room for. For some people, that includes some pretty strange things. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Some people may try to hide illegal activity, others may have a psychological component involved, while others may just forget (such as the case of the barbeque leg!). Although many of the items on this list are prohibited from being stored in facilities, some people find that it’s worth the risk.
What Happens to These Items People Have Put in Self-Storage?
When a storage unit is auctioned off, the contents legally become the property of the winning bidder. As long as the storage facility follows the correct legal process, which usually includes several attempts to contact the original renter, the auction is valid, and the new owner can do what they want with the items. But not everything is so simple.
In rare cases, the original owner can reclaim their belongings. However, this typically only occurs if they act quickly or challenge the auction in court. There are also some ethical considerations for some of the more shocking discoveries, which usually require law enforcement or the appropriate authorities. From here, they can determine what the best course of action is, especially if there are illegal items or things that could be tied to a crime.
Want to Store Your Oddities?
If there’s one takeaway from these tales, it’s this: your storage unit should be secure, reliable, and, ideally, free of snakes and severed limbs. To find self-storage you can rely on, partner with The Lock Up Self Storage today. Our temperature-controlled self-storage units will help keep your belongings in great condition, regardless of how long you need to store them. Our flexible leasing options will keep you covered whether you need short-term or long-term storage. The Lock Up Self Storage facilities also have top-of-the-line security features like perimeter alarms, gated access codes, and 24/7 CCTV. To learn more about our self-storage units at The Lock Up, call us today at 1-866-327-LOCK or stop by one of our locations for a tour.
