A CaSSOA accreditation is a useful shortcut, but it is not the whole picture. Two CaSSOA Gold sites can have noticeably different real-world security, and a non-accredited site can occasionally be excellent if it has been built recently to a good standard. The way to evaluate a site properly is to look at the specific features.
This guide walks through what to look for, in roughly the order they matter.
The Perimeter
Theft on storage sites starts at the perimeter. If a determined thief can walk through, drive through, or cut through the boundary easily, the rest of the security is decoration.
What you want to see:
- Continuous fencing all the way round, with no gaps, gates left propped open, or sections held together with cable ties.
- Fencing height of at least 2 metres, ideally with anti-climb features.
- No "back way in" — no fence sections shared with adjoining properties that the site does not control, no gates onto access tracks left unsecured.
- Clear sightlines along the perimeter — you should be able to see along the fence in either direction without trees or buildings blocking the view of cameras.
The warning signs are obvious: low fencing, gates that look like they are usually open, makeshift repairs, or perimeter sections obscured by vegetation.
Gates and Access Control
The single most common point of failure is a gate that is not actually controlled. What you want:
- Electronic access control (fob, keypad or app), not a key everyone has.
- Gates that auto-close within a few seconds of being opened, not slow gates that anyone can follow through.
- Logged access — the system records who comes in and who leaves, and when.
- Only one entry/exit point, or if multiple, all equally controlled.
A good site will explain the access system in detail without being asked. A poor site will be evasive.
CCTV
CCTV is the area where there is the most variation between sites. Look for:
- 24/7 recording (not "we record when staff are in"). Theft happens at 3am.
- Motion-triggered alerts (not just passive recording).
- Infrared night cameras — colour cameras alone are useless after dusk.
- Coverage of every pitch and the perimeter — not just the gate.
- Recording retention of at least 30 days, ideally cloud-backed so a thief cannot wipe the recorder.
- Visible camera presence — visible cameras deter, hidden cameras only document.
Ask to see the camera setup. A confident site is happy to walk you round.
Lighting
Often overlooked but critical:
- Continuous low-level lighting across the site at night, not just sensor-triggered floods at the gate.
- No dark corners — pitches against fence lines should still be lit.
- Lighting that does not blind the cameras — a common mistake at amateur sites.
A site that goes pitch black at night gives a thief cover.
Signage
Visible "CCTV in operation" and "no unauthorised access" signs around the perimeter genuinely deter casual opportunists. They cost almost nothing and a serious site will have them.
Surface and Drainage
This is not security in the usual sense, but it matters:
- Hard-standing pitches (concrete, tarmac, hardcore) — not grass, not mud.
- Properly drained so winter rain does not pool around tyres or soak into pads.
- Wide enough access lanes that you can manoeuvre without scraping fences or other vehicles. Damage from awkward manoeuvres is the most common minor incident on storage sites.
A muddy site causes its own problems beyond the obvious — vehicles dragging mud onto local roads can attract council attention, and damp ground around tyres degrades them faster.
Operational Features
Things you will not see on a tour but matter day to day:
- A real point of contact who answers the phone.
- Clear access hours, including evening and weekend access for owners.
- An incident response process — what happens if the alarm triggers? Who responds? In what timeframe?
- A booking and turnover process — does the site know who is on what pitch, or is it ad hoc?
- Insurance held by the site itself for public liability.
On-Site Presence
Whether the site has on-site staff matters less than people think, if the camera and access systems are good. A well-instrumented site can be safer than a poorly instrumented site that has someone in a portacabin during office hours. That said, a known on-site presence is a deterrent in its own right and many of the best sites have one.
The Walk-Around Test
When you visit a site, walk the perimeter. You will learn more in ten minutes of walking than an hour of talking.
- Are there gaps?
- Where would I climb in?
- Where are the cameras pointing?
- Where is the lighting weak?
- Where would I park if I wanted to come back later unobserved?
If you are uncomfortable with what you see, the site is not for you.
Warning Signs to Walk Away
Common red flags:
- Gates propped open during the day "for convenience"
- CCTV "we will fix it next month"
- Vehicles on site that have clearly not moved in years and seem unaccounted for
- No visible signage
- Vague answers to specific questions
- Sites that are impossible to phone
Final Thought
Site security is a stack: fencing, gates, cameras, lighting, signage, surfaces, operations, response. Any single layer can be excellent and still leave a gap if another is weak. CaSSOA accreditation tells you the layers are at least at a baseline standard. A walk-around tells you the layers are working in practice.
When in doubt, the question to ask yourself is the simplest one: would I leave my own vehicle here?