Nearly 40 storage units were burglarized in Caseyville after crooks used a code to unlock a gate leading into the business.

Police believe an unknown number of suspects drove into the gated area of Busy Bee Storage early Saturday morning, broke the padlocks of 39 storage units and ransacked the stored items.

The business, located at 735 S. Main St., can only be access by entering a programmed code into a locked gate. The code is given to customers renting storage units.

Officer Gerard Spratt said police have been working to contact residents whose units were burglarized.

"Some were broken into and nothing was taken," Spratt said. "They looked around and if they didn't like what they saw they moved on to the next one."

One of the renters, Delores Loness, of Caseyville, said she is heartbroken to lose family heirlooms, Christmas decorations, yard equipment and air conditioners she stored at the site.

"Everything's gone. It's just devastating," Loness said. "I just want to bawl every time I sit and think about it. I can't ever replace (the items) again because times are getting so hard. Personally, I hope they catch them and never let them out of jail."

Loness said other renters lost racing equipment, tools and tires stored at the site. Police have not yet determined the total loss of the burglaries.

Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the burglaries contact the department's dispatch center by calling 618-277-3500.

Contact reporter Daniel Kelley at dkelley@bnd.com or 618-239-2501.

Contact reporter Daniel Kelley at dkelley@bnd.com or 618-239-2501.