I recently relocated to Washington and have temp housing for several months at Harbor Steps. When I was out of Washington on business for two weeks recently, my mountain bike was stolen. It was chained inside a bicycle parking space, a 6-walled windowless room that can be entered only by a key provided by Harbor Steps. I reported this incident to management and the police, who labeled this a burglary. A day after I reported the burglary, the GM of Harbor Steps and the chief of security called me. In short, they said:

We re sorry your bicycle was stolen.
Despite this theft, security at Harbor Steps is actually very good.
Regarding the lack of forced entry, I was told that there were other ways of entering that room without a key - an astounding statement!
No, there are no security cameras inside that room or in that area.
When told that there had been at least one other bicycle theft from that same room, the response was, Well, there have been only two incidents.
Do you have renter s insurance' If you did, you would have no problem getting another bike.

I felt their reaction to the theft of my property which I entrusted to their security was patronizing, particularly when the victim is blamed for not getting insurance. I saw no indication they would seek improvement in security. Due to this clear lack of accountability, I can only conclude that security is an issue at Harbor Steps. You routinely see people without security card keys following others who legitimately enter the facilities with card keys in the northeast tower where I stay. If people can enter bicycle parking areas without keys as the chief of security stated to me, then it is logical to think that people can enter rooms in the same manner.

User Responses
From: hemant_umbarkar	Date: 08/15/2009
Absolutely right. I faced the same in July 2008.

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