TWO self-storage facilities have been burgled in the space of a week.

Raiders struck at Shurgard, in Uxbridge Road, Hayes, and Victoria Road, Ruislip. Police say there are a number of victims.

The Hayes store was raided in the early hours of December 8, while the burglary at the Ruislip branch was reported to police on Thursday, December 15.

The true scale of the theft is unknown. Each store has hundreds of units of different sizes, rented out for personal and business use.

Unit holders have access 24 hours a day throughout the week, but the premises are only manned during office hours.

Rita Lovelace, of Selan Gardens, Hayes, took a unit for her belongings while looking for a new house.

She told the Gazette that s5,000 worth of gold jewellery was stolen in the Hayes raid.

"On the level where my lock-up is, there are around 10 other units, and all of them had been opened," she said.

"When I went down there, peoples things were still scattered in the corridors.

"The doors and lifts have access codes, so I didnt think in a million years that this could happen here. We pay a premium for it to be safe."

Frank Boot, head of communications at Shurgard, said: "We cant offer total protection against criminals.

"We are not a bank vault, and we are exposed to theft like any other business or property.

"What we try to do is optimise the protection we do offer through surveillance and security systems, but regrettably these two sites have been burgled.

"The most important thing to us is the customer, and we have been advising those affected how they should go about filing their insurance claims.

"We will continue to improve the security measures in place, and were working closely with local police to catch the perpetrators."

Shurgard, which has its HQ in Brussels, has 19 sites in London and around 200 stores in Europe, with approximately 100,000 customers.

If you have any information that could help police, call Hillingdon CID on 020 8246 1568.

Do you have a unit at Shugard? Were your belongings taken in the burglaries? Are you aware of any other thefts at these stores? Email jackgriffith@trinitysouth.co.uk