It’s no secret that someone can walk down the sidewalk in New York City and purchase a pirated film. Often it’s the latest summer blockbuster, something along the lines of The Avengers or The Hunger Games. The average tourist in New York often wonders how street sellers can get away with such transparently illegal activities. The answer is simple: it’s a Federal crime; it can’t be punished by the state.
However, New York Police have been getting to the heart of the matter, finding a unique way to take pirated music and films off the streets: they hit the warehouses; specifically self storage and mini storage units in Cypress Hills.
Storage unit rentals are meant for law abiding citizens to store wares that they cannot fit in their own homes. However, some shady individuals and organizations use storage units to store items illegally. Apparently, New York criminals had been utilizing a Cypress Hill-based self storage facility and its mini storage units to house tens of thousands of pirated materials. In late June, police raided the facility, discovering the self storage rentals stuffed to the brim with counterfeit merchandise.
While this is not the first time mini storage units have been used in a manner outside the law, the tactics of the New York State Police in handling this problem are extremely unique. Law enforcement even went so far as to issue a restraining order against the storage facility itself, indicating that police believe the owners of those mini storage units knew that its storage rental units were being utilized for highly illegal purposes.
It’s a shame that this storage facility in New York was being used outside the law to propagate pirated films and music. When you agree to use a storage unit, look over the agreement you were provided, and ensure that the items you wish to store are permissible per that legally binding contract. There’s more to potentially illegal storage than pirated movies. Some facilities forbid storage of plants, firearms, etc. In addition, items such as jewelry, etc. may not be permitted due to liability issues.
Make surer your mini storage units are used for good, not evil. Stick to the contract and ensure that your precious items are kept safe and sound.
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