Storage units, those nondescript spaces that hide behind padlocked doors, can sometimes hold extraordinary and bizarre secrets. There are even multiple television shows about it. While we expect them to house forgotten furniture and dusty photo albums, some discoveries defy imagination.
Here are some of the weirdest finds in storage units—but be warned, some things might make you queasy! And, don’t worry, our storage services aren’t as bizarre.
Identity theft
In Denver, Brandon Michael bought an abandoned storage unit expecting to find items he could sell for a quick profit. Instead, he discovered bags full of passports, social security numbers, and hospital records. Alongside this trove of personal information were drug paraphernalia and a printer used for making counterfeit documents.
The items were traced back to a lady who had stolen them from a local hospital as revenge after being fired. What some people will do for revenge!
A nest of pythons
During an episode of Storage Wars, buyer Brandon Sheets unearthed a find that was nothing short of hair-raising. Inside the storage unit, Sheets discovered a nest of albino pythons. The previous owner had been breeding these snakes with hopes of selling them as pets. This clandestine breeding operation, hidden away in a storage unit, was both shocking and concerning, raising questions about animal welfare and legal breeding practices.
Finding a submarine car
One of the coolest and most unexpected finds in storage unit history occurred in 1989. A man bought a unit for $100 and discovered a futuristic submarine car inside. This car was one of the eight used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. While seven of the cars had been accounted for, the eighth had been missing until then. The car, in immaculate condition, was later bought by Elon Musk for around $997,000. This discovery stands out as one of the most exciting and valuable finds ever made in a storage unit.
A human leg
Perhaps one of the most macabre discoveries ever made in a storage unit involved a human leg. In 2007, Shannon Whisnant purchased the contents of a storage unit in North Carolina, only to find a human leg wrapped in tinfoil inside a barbecue smoker. The leg belonged to the previous owner, John Wood, who had lost it in a plane crash and kept it with the intention of being buried with it when he died. Wood had forgotten where he stored the leg, leading to this bizarre chain of events. Whisnant, rather than returning the leg, turned the unit into a tourist attraction, charging people to see it. This strange tale is now documented in the film ‘Finders Keepers’.
Cold hard cash
At a charity event, Dan Dotson, an auctioneer and star of Storage Wars, was approached by a woman with an incredible story.
A family friend had bought a storage unit that Dotson had auctioned off, only to find a mysterious safe inside. After several attempts to open it, they finally succeeded and discovered $7.5 million in cash. This find is the ultimate treasure trove, turning an ordinary storage unit into a life-changing windfall.
Rest assured, there is no such weird and whacky happenings when it comes to our storage services. But it’s always fun to learn what has happened across the world in the past.
These discoveries made in these units are a testament to the unpredictable and sometimes bizarre nature of what people choose to store. But, almost all the time, it’s just furniture and home furnishings.
For safe, secure storage services and units, please contact us today.
